Month: October 2009

Saudi Arabia: Extremist “Police” to “Set Up Human Rights Unit” — Woman Rights Activist Calls It “Biggest Joke in History”

— Saudi vice police’s move to create human rights division described as biggest joke in history
— ANI reports:
— “Jerusalem/Riyadh, Oct 5 : A plan by Saudi Arabia’s vice police to set up a human-rights division within its ranks to improve its image has been described as the biggest joke in history by human rights
activists.”
— “‘This is the best joke in history. The commission and human rights? How can two opposites sit together! Get real. The commission and its activities go completely against human rights and freedom,’ wrote A-Salihi.”
— “The Jerusalem Post quoted Wajiha Al-Huweidar, a Saudi human-rights activist, as saying the move was nothing short of hypocritical.”
— “‘Since when is interfering in people’s private lives part of the human-rights agenda?’ she asked The Media Line rhetorically. ‘It reflects what they do. They harass people all year long and during holidays they give away candy to people,’ Al-Huweidar said.”
— “‘The religious police know very well that most Saudis want to see them disappear from streets and public places, because they only represent aggressiveness and oppression,’ Al-Huweidar said.”
— “‘I think the Saudi government has realized that its reputation is damaged worldwide and its image is ruined among Saudis, so now they are trying to beautify this repressive institution by using a new slogan… The religious police have to understand their time is over and they have to go,’ he added.”
— “Other human-rights activists welcomed the idea. ‘We think this is a good thing and an appropriate step,’ Muflih Al-Qahtani, president of the Saudi National Society for Human Rights, told The Media Line. ‘We hope this unit will play an active role in spreading the culture of human rights and work on protecting people from any violations they are exposed to,’ Al-Qahtani said. ‘It should be noted that the recent changes in the way the members of the commission have dealt with issues, and their efforts to become closer to the different social levels, indicates a desire to protect rights,’ he added.”
— “The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the kingdom’s religious police, has come under fire over the past few years for their strict and sometimes brutal clamp-downs on what is perceived as un-Islamic behavior, fueling international criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record.”
— “The organization enforces religious rules such as a ban on men and women mixing, Islamic dress code, prayer attendance and the prohibition on the possession and consumption of alcohol.”
— “The features of the restructured commission would include restructuring the legal administration and creating new units, among them one that will deal with human rights.”
— “This new unit will begin operating shortly under the direct supervision of the commission”s director and it will deal with human rights ‘in accord with just Islamic principles and international rights treaties.'”
— “The decision to set up the human-rights unit coincides with several cases for which Saudi religious authorities are coming under scrutiny from human-rights organizations.”
— “Saudi Arabia is governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law known as Wahhabism. Earlier this year Saudi King Abdallah Bin Abd Al-Aziz initiated sweeping reforms which included firing the head of the religious police. It is thought that the reforms were an effort to moderate the country’s leadership and present to the West a more toned-down image of the Saudi kingdom.”

Stratfor reports:
— “Saudi Arabia: ‘Religious Police’ To Set Up Human-Rights Unit”
— “Saudi Arabia’s so-called ‘religious police,’ the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, plans to go through a restructuring and will set up a human-rights division, Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported Oct. 5. A spokesman for the commission said the new division will deal with human rights ‘in accord with just Islamic principles and international rights treaties.'”

“Egyptian Police Arrest Christian Father for Attempting to Free Kidnapped Daughter”

— AINA reports: “Egyptian Police Arrest Christian Father for Attempting to Free Kidnapped Daughter”

— “At dawn on Saturday, October 3, 2009, Egyptian State Security forces arrested a group of Christian Copts in different parts of the city in Alexandria, after severely assaulting them in front of their neighbors. Their wives were also arrested, but because of intense objection protests by neighbors at the way they were handled and of the screams of their terrified children, they were released. The men who were arrested are relatives of Rafaat Girges Habib, a man who helped a Coptic father free his kidnapped daughter from her Muslim husband’s home. The arrests continued until Habib turned himself in to the police.”

— “Egypt4Christ, based in Alexandria, reported that what started this incident was a telephone call on September 30 from Myrna, the only daughter of Coptic accountant Gamal Labib Hanna, in which she begged him to come and save her from her Muslim husband, Mohamad Hefnawy.”

— “Myrna was abducted 10 months ago, forced to convert to Islam and married by a ‘customary marriage contract’ by Osama Hefnawy to his son Mohammad. Being 19 years old at the time, Myrna was under-age for a girl to be married. According to Islamic Sharia a woman cannot get married before she reaches the age of 21 years; she can only get married before through a mandate from her father or uncles alone. Those requirements can be waived for the benefit of a non-relative only through a court ruling, which was not obtained in Myrna’s case.”

— “On their way to free his daughter, the father, together with his brother and brother-in-law, passed by a cafe near St. George’s Church, Sidi Bishr, where Rafaat Girges Habib, a plumber who has done jobs in the father’s home, volunteered to accompany them to bring Myrna back.”

— “As they went to the apartment where Myrna was held, they were met by Osama Hefnawy, father of Mohamed and five other Muslims, who threatened them. A struggle ensued, and Myrna left with her father. She was taken away to an establishment dealing with abduction cases like hers, especially that it was found out that she was six months pregnant.”

— “Osama Hefnawy immediately filed a report with the police and the State Security Headquarters in Al-Farana, Alexndri downtown. Myrna’s paternal uncles were arrested and charged with abduction, together with her father. Myrna’s family apartment was broken into and the shop of Rafaat Girges Habib was completely demolished by the police.”

— “Myrna’s father was forced to go to the police station to negotiate the release of his relatives and ‘for matters to be resolved amicably’ as he was told by Lieutenant Ahmed Mekki, of the Police Department of Investigation, who contacted him on his cell phone.”

— “Myrna’s uncles were forced to go and bring her back to the police station, where she was handed over to Osama Hefnawy. In addition the police took the necessary commitments from her relatives not to harass him. Coptic father Labib was released Friday morning.”

— “Lawyers reported to Egypt4Christ that the arrested Copts were tortured and their clothes were smeared with blood, especially Romany, brother of Rafaat Girges Habib.”

Myrna Hanna

Pakistan Christian Post: “Attack on Gojra Christians was supervised by government of Pakistan”

Pakistan Christian Post: “Attack on Gojra Christians was supervised by government of Pakistan”
— Pakistan Christian Post reports: “Faisalabad: October 5, 2009. (Joshua Lahro reports for PCP) The Christians of Gojra openly blamed government of Pakistan to hatch conspiracy to attack on them on August 1, 2009, and protected Islamic militants who burnt alive 7 Christian women and children and destroyed 60 homes here today when US Aid officials reached in Gojra Town to distribute cash and relief goods.”
— “It was big gathering at a Catholic Church in Gojra named St. Albert Church at 4:00 PM where US Aid officials arrived in company of Pakistani Christian selected leaders in parliament to distribute goods and cash among Christian victims of Islamic militants violence.”
— “The Christian youth of Gojra protested against monetary aid to them and threw boxes of aid out of Church and raised slogans ‘We not want money or any aid but justice’ ‘Withdraw cases registered against us'”
— “The Muslim police of Gojra on intimation of Government of Pakistan and Government of Punjab registered cases against 129 Christians to conspire violence on August 1, 2009. The cases were also registered against Muslims but all were released on bail by Lahore High Court.”
— “It is on record that Islamic militants attacked Christian Town Gojra and burnt alive seven Christians and gunned down 4 more while set on fire 60 houses but police registered cases against Christians. The police is demanding bribe of fifty thousand Rupees to one hundred thousand from Christians to take out their names from FIR and arresting those who deny to pay bribe. Police says that Christians must pay because they have money which government gave them as compensation.”
— “The Gojra Christians also raised slogans on occasion of distribution of US Aid ‘Not want cash but withdrawal of fabricated cases against them’ ‘We do not need aid but we need justice, protection and equal rights’
— “Mr. Pervez Rafiq (M.P.A PPP), Mr. William Rose (member dist. council Fsd), Mr. Khalil Sindho (M.P.A PML(N), Mr. Dost Khosa (Muslim M.P.A PML(N) ) and Mr. Joel Amir Sahotra were also with officials of US Aid.”
— “Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC condemned government of Pakistan to register false cases to conspire violence against 129 Christians and demanded immediate withdrawal”
— “‘Christians shall socially boycott selected Christians in Punjab government and Federal government if fabricated cases are not withdrawn against Christians of Gojra’ said Nazir Bhatti”
— “Nazir S Bhatti urged Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities and Kamran Michael, Minister in Punjab government to use their powers to withdraw false cases against Christians of Gojra or to face social boycott.”
— “‘Repeal blasphemy law to end violence against Christians in Pakistan’ demanded Nazir Bhatti”

Indonesia: Home-Based Christian Worship Shut Down by Extremists

“Islamic Groups Shut Down Worship of Church in Indonesia”
– COMPASS Direct News reports “Under pressure from Islamists, local officials order halt to services in home.”
— “Several Islamic organizations have pressed officials in a sub-district near Indonesia’s capital city to forbid Jakarta Christian Baptist Church to worship in a house, resulting in an order to cease worship.”
— ” The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the Betawi Forum Group, and political party Hizbut Tahrir have told officials in Sepatan sub-district, Tangerang district, near Jakarta that worship activities cannot be conducted in a residence. The house belongs to the Rev. Bedali Hulu.”
— “Both District Officer Ismet Iskandar and a sub-district officer support the closure and have ordered Hulu to use his home only as a residence, the pastor said. The sub-district officer, who goes by the single name of Rusdy, has sent a notice ordering an end to all worship at the house.”
— “‘But they have not put forth a solution,’ Hulu said. ‘For a long time we have suggested that we build a place of worship, but there has been no response from the local government.'”
— “On Sept. 27 a large crowd came to the house and demanded a stop to the Sunday worship service, Hulu said. Visibly frightened and anxious, the congregation hurried through the service.”
— “An Islamic throng also came to the house on Sept. 13, with hundreds barging in and forcing the congregation out, Hulu said. Worship did not take place that day.”
— “In another incident on the night of Sept. 19, unknown persons burned a vehicle belonging to the church. Hulu said the car was parked in front of his house. The next day Hulu reported the incident to police, who promised to catch the culprit, though at press time no one had been arrested.”
— “Security forces, however, were able to maintain peace the next day when a mob showed up at the house, Hulu said; worship took place free of incident.”
— “Church members feel terrorized by the mobs, the pastor said, but the nearest house of worship is several miles away, and many congregants do not have access to transportation. The Sepatan church has been serving worshippers, mostly day laborers, in Pisangan village since 2005.”

DC: SIOA Sought to Disrupt Muslim Prayer Session with Animals

In Washington, DC, the long debated public Muslim prayer session “Islam on Capitol Hill” has come and gone without incident.

The anti-Islam Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group led by Daniel (“DL”) and Kendra Adams, had announced efforts to seek to disrupt a Muslim public prayer session in Washington DC on Capitol Hill on September 25, 2009. INN reported that the original SIOA plans to disrupt Muslim prayer on Capitol Hill on the SIOA website stated that SIOA members sought “every protest of this takiya-jihad-dawa event… [to] include some component of donkey, dog, and women.”  INN also reported “The reason for this unusual suggestion is made clear on the SIOA site as well: Muslim doctrine, according to the SIOA, says that ‘Islamic prayer is nullified if a dog, a woman, or a donkey are present.'”

However, it appears no animals were brought to disrupt the prayer session, and while there were some protesters, they essentially did not interfere with the Muslim worshipers’ Constitutional right of freedom of religion. Instead, they choose to hold an event of their own in a Congressional Office Building.

FOX News reported that the SIOA held an event at the Rayburn Congressional Office building instead.   FOX News reported: “There was also no denying that the day of prayer attracted some individuals and groups fanatical in their hatred of Muslims. At a separate event, held simultaneously in a conference room at the Rayburn House Office Building, a group calling itself Stop Islamization of America warned about the supposedly hateful, violent, and anti-Western teachings of the Koran.”   Another FOX News report on the Muslim prayer session stated “the most organized pushback so far is from a new organization of a nativist bent called Stop Islamization of America, or SIOA.”   The FOX News report said that “SIOA is using Friday’s event, ‘Islam on Capitol Hill,’ as a launchpad for the group and to stage a counterprotest.”

According to the SIOA announcement, “Seven experts are scheduled to speak on the subjects of Islam, terrorism and civic responsibility.  Rabbi Jon Hausman – Conservative political moderator Rebecca Bynum – Publisher, Senior Managing Editor – New English Review Dave Gaubatz – Veteran counter-terrorism investigator, author Catherine Martin – Veteran grass roots activist, Northern Virginia John Cosgrove – Counter-terrorism consultant Martin Mawyer – Founder, Christian Action Network Jerry Gordon – Senior Editor – New English Review.”

On September 27, 2009, the New English Review reported on the September 25 launch of the SIOA group at the Rayburn Congressional Office Building, including photographs and synopsis of speakers’ comments.  The New English Review reported on on another related new group “Former Muslims United” (FMU) that launched on September 24, in the House Longworth Office Building.  The new group “Former Muslims United” (FMU) is being led by Nonie Darwish and was attended by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer.

It is not known who sponsored the  SIOA conference on Capitol Hill, but the New English Review references a press release by Congresswoman Sue Myrick in their report.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has made its position clear on those who promote “Islamophobia” as the parent group of the SIOA, Stop Islamization of Europe does.  We are not afraid. While we challenge those religious extremist of ANY religion that seek to deny our universal human rights, we will not attack or demonize any religion or any identity group.

R.E.A.L. has also made its position clear on those who seek to only promote “Western civilization” as SIOA states that it does.   R.E.A.L. supports our universal human rights for all people, everywhere, including our freedom of religion and freedom from religion for all.

On the SIOA website, a leader and attendee at a European SIOE event states that “multiculturalism, tolerance, and ‘niceness’ are destroying the foundations of our cultures,” but that misses the point. In fact, our iberties are based not on individual “cultures,” but on our universal human rights of equality and liberty.

Our challenge to groups and ideologies that defy such universal human rights are not because we reject diverse cultures, not because we reject tolerance, and not because we reject “niceness.” Our challenge to groups and ideologies that defy such universal human rights is because we consistently support universal human rights as being Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

That includes challenging those who promote “Islamophobia.”

We urge all to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.