March 22, 2010 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Pakistan Report: Christian Woman Raped, Tortured – Protests Denied

In Pakistan, media sources report that a Christian woman was raped for refusing to convert from Christianity to Islam.

Catholic News has updated this story to state that the husband self-immolated himself in despair (and died) over the rape and torture of his wife who was falsely accused of a “crime,” and who refused religious conversion.

BosNews is reporting that Christian groups sought to protest the ” ‘refusal’ of police to detain” those allegedly responsible, and that such Christian group protests were denied because of “terrorism threats.”

Catholic News: Pakistani Christian self-immolated, not burnt by Muslims — after torture, rape of wife

Earlier reports stated:

Asia News reports

“Pakistani Christian couple refuses to convert: husband is burnt alive, wife raped by police” by Fareed Khan“Both husband and wife worked for a wealthy Muslim businessman in Rawalpindi. Their three children, ranging from 7 and 12, were forced to watch their parents brutalised. The man has suffered 80 per cent burns, and hospital doctors do not think he will survive. Christian organisations stage protests.”
“Arshed Masih, 38, is still fighting for his life in Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, a city not far from Pakistan’s capital. With the help of police, Muslim extremists last Friday set him on fire for refusing to convert to Islam and raped his wife, local sources told AsiaNews. The incident occurred in front of a local police station.”
“In 2005, Masih and his wife began working for a wealthy Muslim businessman, he as driver and she as his wife’s maid. Recently, the two fell out of favour with their employer and his family because they insisted on remaining Christian.”
“During the incident, Masih’s wife, Martha, ‘was raped by police agents,’ local sources said. The couple’s three children, ranging in age from 7 and 12, were forced to watch their parents being brutalised.”
“‘Masih and his wife are currently being treated in hospital,’ Holy Family Hospital officials said. ‘He was listed in serious condition with about 80 per cent of his body burned,’ the BosNewsLife agency reported. With that kind of burns, hospital officials said the 38-year-old victim (pictured) is not likely to survive.”
“On Sunday, the Government of Punjab government announced an investigation into what happened. ‘The matter will be investigated and the culprits will be arrested,’ Punjab’s Minister of Law Rana Sanaullah said.”
“The Christian couple lived with their children in the servant quarters of Sheikh Mohammad Sultan’s estate in Rawalpindi. In January, religious leaders and Sultan reportedly told Arshed to convert to Islam with his whole family. After he refused, they threatened him with ‘dire consequences’.”
“Arshed offered to quit his job, but the businessman allegedly said he would ‘kill’ him if he were to leave.”
“Last week, tensions rose after Sultan reported the theft of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (almost US$ 6,000), and an official complaint (First Information Report) was filed with police.”
“Although the Christian couple was not named as suspect, the businessman offered them to drop the case if they converted to Islam or ‘else that both would not see their children again.'”
“The rest is known. Arshed Masih chose to remain loyal to his Christian faith, and last Friday he was set on fire and his wife raped by police.”

BosNews reports

“Citing ‘terrorism threats’, the government of Pakistan’s Punjab province banned protests Monday, March 22, against the ‘refusal’ by police to detain those who burned a Christian man for not converting to Islam, while raping his wife.
“‘There is a possible threat of terrorism, so it is better to avoid any processions,’ the government told Life for All, one of the Christian advocacy groups organizing the demonstrations.”
“It wasn’t clear who had made the threats. Officials of Pakistan’s Christian minority expressed concerns however about attacks by extremists, including fighters linked to al-Qaida and other militant groups.”
“Monday’s demonstrations were to be organized in the cities of Lahore and Rawilpindi, where police and religious leaders allegedly attacked the Christian couple Friday, March 19.”

Pakistan Christian Post reports:
“Rape of Martha and burning of her husband Arshad Masih is worst shape of enforced conversion to Islam in Pakistan.”

Hate Group “Westboro Baptist Church” Cheers on Shooting of NYC Police Officer

The “Westboro Baptist Church,” listed as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, today cheered on the shooting of a New York City police officer on the “Westboro Baptist Church” (WBC) blog “GodSmack.”

The New York Daily News reports that “A uniformed police officer was shot three times in a Bronx apartment Monday by a man furious that his elderly mother’s home health aide was rejecting his advances. After health aide Yesenia Rodriguez asked him to stop propositioning her, Santiago Urena pulled a gun and threatened her. She called police. Urena, 57, then opened fire without warning on arriving Officer Robert Salerno, 25, police said. Salerno, a three-year veteran from the 44th Precinct, was hit twice below the stomach and taken to Lincoln Hospital in serious condition, officials said.”

For defending this health care worker for an elderly woman and getting shot in the process, the “hate group” “Westboro Baptist Church” (WBC) cheered on this attack on a U.S. police officer, claiming that this was their view of God “repaying” American police officers who “have been mistreating WBC now for years.”

On March 22, 2010, the WBC hate group stated that:

“You USA cops have been mistreating WBC now for years, violating your sworn duty and allowing miscreants to access our peaceful members while they picket. God will get you for that, and here’s how we know that’s so:God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19. That’s right, you scoffers and mockers, God talks! And he says he will repay you TO YOUR FACE for what you do to the apple of his eye. Too bad, so sad for you!”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) urges all Christians to reject and condemn this message of hate from the “Westboro Baptist Church.” Moreover, we urge all Christians to convey to “Christian-named” “hate groups” such as the “Westboro Baptist Church” that John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

For all those who hate, whether their rationale is based on racial or religious supremacy, R.E.A.L. urges you to

Choose Love, Not Hate.

Love Wins.

A Secret Revealed on American Renaissance

The “white nationalist” “hate group” VDARE once again posts from another “white nationalist” “hate group” leader, “white supremacist” Jared Taylor of “American Renaissance (AR).”

In his latest complaint “Reap the Whirlwind” on the VDARE “hate group” web site (and others), Jared Taylor bemoans how few have stood up to criticize those hotels that chose not to host his group’s event in February 2010 to promote “white nationalist” hate against their customers of other races.

In Jared Taylor’s latest article, he states that Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) was one “of the groups that claimed responsibility for shutting down the AR conference.” As I have written and stated repeatedly, R.E.A.L.’s goal was to educate hotels and the public about the AR conference in February and we repeatedly asked for the opportunity to offer a counter-message to American Renaissance’s message of racism and hate, with our message of racial harmony and love. We sought to counter American Renaissance’s message attacking diversity, with our message showing the strength of our diversity in America itself.

Nor was there any “suppression” of American Renaissance’s right to assemble. They had every right to assemble as I did to reach out to the public on February 19. In fact, R.E.A.L. invited them to join us and the rest of the public at our Columbia Heights event in Washington DC right out in public view. American Renaissance and Jared Taylor chose not to show up, just like their supporters failed to show up, except for two frightened youths from Occidental Dissent (one hiding his face behind a black bandanna) that cowered at another street corner.

Despite this, Jared Taylor is calling for an investigation into who is responsible for the rejection of American Renaissance’s message of racial hatred. I can help him with such an investigation. In fact, R.E.A.L. did not “shut down” the AR conference, nor did any of the other “groups” that Jared Taylor blames.

I will reveal the “secret” to Jared Taylor here as to who is really responsible for hotels and the public rejecting the message of hate that the American Renaissance sought to promote:

— It was America itself.

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave — America Needs No "Renaissance" from the Truths that we hold self evident - that All Men Are Created Equal...

This is the real adversary that Jared Taylor, American Renaissance, VDARE, and their supporters simply cannot tolerate. What those of who support “white nationalism” never grasp is that it was never “one person” or “one group” that rejected and protested against the message of racist hate from “American Renaissance.”

America itself has simply had enough of such racist hate in our nation.

America knows that it doesn’t need a “renaissance” from the truths that we hold self-evident — that All Men Are Created Equal — no matter what the American Renaissance group seeks to believe.

America wants no “renaissance” of “white nationalist” hate. America wants no “renaissance” of racism. America wants no “renaissance” that disparages blacks and Hispanics. America has grown up, and has lived through those dark days. America has no intention of going back to the “bad old days.”

Such support for human equality and rejection of racism is a fundamental part of the very declaration of what it means to be an American. This is what those who are blinded by racist hate cannot comprehend.

When I spoke to hotels, their very senior management, and public relations department, I spoke about the TRUTHS that we share – that all men and women are created equal – and that our diversity is a part of our acceptance of such truths. This is why most businesses have public diversity programs. Not because of pressure. But because it is the RIGHT thing to do. It is the AMERICAN thing to do.

So when R.E.A.L. and myself contacted senior decision makers on this issue, that is what we spoke about – the TRUTH. We never made any threats; we reject, condemn, and would help in prosecuting those who made any threats. It is not threats that drive business decisions, but it is businesses’ understanding and respecting ALL of their customers, and the American values that their customers have.

While I am disappointed that businesses did not offer R.E.A.L. an opportunity to have a counter-message event, they consistently rejected “white nationalist” racial hate.

These businesses did so EVEN WHEN IT COST THEM MONEY.

Their conscience was greater than their drive for profit.

Their commitment to all of their customers’ respect and human dignity was more valuable than racist money.

Yet you still don’t get it.

The very concept of America’s definition of its identity – inherent in our very national declaration escapes you. Americans already have a consensus on equality. Americans already have a consensus on racial hate. Americans already have a consensus on hate such as “white nationalism.”

We don’t need an army of “activists” to tell Americans what they already know.

And American businesses are ready to put their MONEY where their values are. Not once, not twice, not three times, and not even just four times. All different people, all different companies, all different races and backgrounds. And not all of them were corporate businesses… some were private businesses — with no shareholders, no corporate boards who would be embarrassed. But they had one thing in common — they were Americans who share the truths that we hold self-evident — that ALL men were created equal.

No they made their decision not because pressure by others, but guided by the compass of their conscience as Americans.

America and the businesses RUN by Americans REJECT racial hate and “white nationalist” hate. They stand tall, at their own expense, even being attacked, and when they don’t expect anyone to appreciate it – in SUPPORT of human equality, dignity, and diversity.

They Choose Love, Not Hate.

Love Wins.

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Postscript

Jared Taylor quotes the Bible in the conclusion of his article, warning that those who defy “white nationalism” will “reap the whirlwind…”

While R.E.A.L. is a secular organization, we don’t believe that only “white nationalist hate groups” should be empowered to quote religious scriptures.

So our reply to you, Jared Taylor, is a quote from the same Bible that you quote:

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Saudi Woman Criticizes Muslim Clerics in TV Poetry Contest – Gets Death Threats

Saudi woman Hissa Hilal uses a television poetry contest (The Million’s Poet) to criticize Muslim clerics, and was viewed as a response to “as a response to Sheik Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak, a prominent cleric in Saudi Arabia who recently issued a fatwa saying those who call for the mingling of men and women should be considered infidels, punishable by death.”

Hissal Hilal has since received death threats. The National reports that “The Saudi newspaper Al Watan reported that a member of the Ana al Muslim (I am the Muslim) website – which has previously posted videos about al Qa’eda operations – called for Ms Hilal’s death. One member was quoted by the newspaper as posting the message: ‘Can anyone tell me her address?'”

NDTV also reported that “Her poem got loud cheers from the audience and won her a place in the competition’s finals, to be aired on Wednesday.”

"Hissa Hilal performing on Millions Poet" (Photo: Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage)

Hissa Hilal’s poetry reading on television has been translated to include the following verses:
“I have seen evil from the eyes of the subversive fatwas in a time when what is lawful is confused with what is not lawful;”

“When I unveil the truth, a monster appears from his hiding place; barbaric in thinking and action, angry and blind; wearing death as a dress and covering it with a belt [referring to suicide bombing];”

“He speaks from an official, powerful platform, terrorizing people and preying on everyone seeking peace; the voice of courage ran away and the truth is cornered and silent, when self-interest prevented one from speaking the truth.”

AP reports:
— “Protesting in verse: A Saudi woman criticizes Muslim clerics’ in a TV poetry contest”
— “It was a startling voice of protest at a startling venue. Covered head-to-toe in black, a Saudi woman lashed out at hard-line Muslim clerics’ harsh religious edicts in verse on live TV at a popular Arabic version of ‘American Idol.'”
— “Then last week, Hissa Hilal, only her eyes visible through her black veil, delivered a blistering poem against Muslim preachers “who sit in the position of power” but are “frightening” people with their fatwas, or religious edicts, and ‘preying like a wolf’ on those seeking peace.”
— “Her poem got loud cheers from the audience and won her a place in the competition’s finals, to be aired on Wednesday.”
— “It also brought her death threats, posted on several Islamic militant Web sites.”

— “Her poem was seen as a response to Sheik Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak, a prominent cleric in Saudi Arabia who recently issued a fatwa saying those who call for the mingling of men and women should be considered infidels, punishable by death.”
— “But more broadly, it was seen as addressing any of many hard-line clerics in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region who hold a wide influence through television programs, university positions or Web sites.”
— “‘Killing a human being is so easy for them, it is always an option,’ she told the AP.”

— AFP: “Veiled Saudi poet rises to stardom after bashing clerics”

Shaikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak calls for death for those "mixing" sexes (Photo: Reuters)

German court convicts former Nazi hitman Heinrich Boere

Egypt: Trial Delayed to April 18 for Accused of Murdering Copts in Nag Hammadi

The Egyptian Gazette reports that the trial of three Egyptian Muslims charged with murdering Copts will be delayed to April 18, 2010. The three are charged with murder in the January 6, 2010 attack in Nag Hammadi on Coptic Christmas Eve, after their Christian worship services.

The Egyptian Gazette reports: “A State Security Court Sunday in the Upper Egyptian city of Qena postponed until April 18 the trial of three Muslims accused of killing six Copts and a Muslim policeman in the Upper Egyptian city of Naga Hammadi last month.”

Photo of Accused in Nag Hammadi Attacks (Photo: Egyptian Gazette)

ICC reports that Mohammed al-Kammuni, Qorshi Abul Haggag and Hendawi Sayyed, “have been charged with murder and threatening national security.”

ICC also reports that the accused are believe to have “gunned-down six young Christian men and a police officer on January 6, as Copts were exiting Christmas Eve mass in Nag Hammadi. This attack was the largest assault on Copts since January 2000, when 21 were killed in sectarian violence.”

“Wagih Yacoub, a Coptic human rights activist, told ICC, ‘They have postponed the trial twice, and they are going to postpone it again and again… this is what we worry about. Soon the case will die… and all of a sudden we will wake up one day, and the guys will be innocent, and they will walk around on the street again after killing six kids at the Christmas mass. The Copts are furious about this postponement. We reject it and demand an immediate trial.'”

A Christian deacon who was killed during an attack on the Mar Yohana church in Naga Hammadi (Photo: al-Masry al-Yom - Photographer: Pakinam Amer)

January 6, 2010: Still from YouTube Video after January 6 Attack Outside Coptic Christian Church

Communist China: Google Stops Censoring Results

— Google: “today we stopped censoring our search services — Google Search, Google News, and Google Images—on Google.cn”

Google Blog’s Official Announcement to re-route Google.cn users to uncensored Google.hk

Google Stops Censoring Results, Making Block by China Likely
— Bloomberg reports:
— “Google Inc., following through on a pledge to stop censoring search results in China, began serving mainland Chinese users via its unfiltered Hong Kong site, a move that could prompt the government to block the service.”
— “The company began redirecting traffic from its China Web page, Google.cn, to Hong Kong, a part of the country that isn’t subject to censorship laws. The move, which escalates a two- month dispute with the government over censorship, was ‘totally wrong,’ the official Xinhua news agency said.”
— “By relying on Hong Kong, Google is trying to find a way to fight censorship laws while still keeping a presence in mainland China. The approach may not work for long because the government is probably going to block the site, called Google.com.hk, just as it has before with the main Google.com page, said Ben Schachter, an analyst at Broadpoint AmTech Inc. in San Francisco.”
— “‘It’s very likely that Google.com.hk will be blocked at least as aggressively as Google.com was, and more likely, probably more aggressively,’ he said.”
— “The company challenged the government of the world’s most populous country in January by threatening to allow all search results to be shown on its China Web site, including references to Tibet and the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Google has about 600 employees in the country. Google.cn included the search engine, Google News and Google Images.”