June 2010 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

White House: Groups Call for Saudi Arabia King Abdullah to Support Women’s Rights, Religious Freedom

On June 29, 2010 in Washington D.C., human rights groups and volunteers picketed the White House sidewalk and Pennsylvania Avenue while Saudi Arabian King Abdullah met with U.S. President Obama.

June 29, 2010: Saudi Arabia King Abdullah and U.S. President Obama Meet

While King Abdullah and President Obama were meeting, Muslims and non-Muslims, men and women, united to demonstrate in front of the White House to call for President Obama to urge Saudi King Abdullah to support women’s rights and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, and urged King Abdullah to follow through with previous calls for reforms.

June 29, 2010 - White House Demonstrators from CDHR, IIC, The Gulf Institute, and R.E.A.L — June 29, 2010 - White House Demonstrators from Various Groups: CDHR, The Gulf Institute, IIC, and R.E.A.L.

Groups of demonstrators included representatives of and volunteers supporting The Institute for Gulf Affairs, Islamic Information Center (IIC), Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR), Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), and Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). CDHR, Gulf Institute, and R.E.A.L. had all separately planned demonstrations for that day at the White House. Some groups decided to consolidate their efforts at the White House.

June 29, 2010: Demonstrators Protesting for Women's Rights, Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia Outside White House

Demonstrators in support of freedom for religious minorities and women in Saudi Arabia represented a broad cross-section of individuals: women, men, Muslims, non-Muslims, Arabs, non-Arabs, white and black Americans. They stood before the White House to urge President Obama to focus on what must be America’s real “common cause” with Saudi Arabia – our shared human rights and human dignity.

June 29, 2010 - Diverse Individuals Unite for Human Rights and Freedom in Saudi Arabia

Demonstrators from the combined supporters of The Institute for Gulf Affairs, IIC, and R.E.A.L. also chanted slogans at the Saudi mission leaders and the White House during the meeting between President Obama and King Abdullah.

One woman demonstrator led a chant for women’s rights, shouting to the Saudi leaders that “women are not property,” and calling for Saudi Arabia to “end gender apartheid in Saudi Arabia.”

Other demonstration chants at the White House including “end religious oppression in Saudi Arabia,” “free Hadi and Nathalie,” and “religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Mission Outside the White House Gates

Protesters picketed the White House sidewalk with signs and distributed fliers on human rights issues, as Saudi mission leaders were entering the White House gates. One individual entering the White House stopped to take photographs of the demonstrators. The IIC’s Mahdi Husain and R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm picketed past Saudi mission individuals as they took photographs of the demonstrators.

Muslim Mahdi Husain (Right) of the IIC and Christian Jeffrey Imm (Left) of R.E.A.L. Picket Together for Religious and Women's Freedom in Saudi Arabia — Muslim Mahdi Husain (Right) of the IIC and Christian Jeffrey Imm (Left) of R.E.A.L. Picket Together for Religious Freedom and Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia -- Standing Publicly and United for Human Rights

The demonstrators also called upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to act on victims of religious oppression in that nation. The Institute for Gulf Affair’s Director Ali Al-Ahmed denounced such religious oppression, remarking on Hadi Al-Mutif, the longest serving religious prisoner in Saudi Arabia. Hadi Al-Mutif has been in prison for 17 years for a joking comment as a teenager that was viewed as blasphemous by a Saudi court, and was originally accused of apostasy and sentenced to death, even though Hadi Al-Mutif is a Muslim. Hadi Al-Mutif remains in prison and has alleged physical abuse, and much of his time in prison has been in solitary confinement. The Gulf Institute has been promoting a petition calling for the freedom of Hadi Al-Mutif.

The Gulf Institute Director Ali Al-Ahmed Tells Media of the Religious Oppression and Imprisonment of Hadi Al-Mutif in Saudi Arabia

R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm also distributed an orange flier summarizing the concerns of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regarding the need for religious freedom, freedom of worship, and religious tolerance in Saudi Arabia. The USCIRF made specific recommendations to President Obama to address such concerns in his meeting with Saudi King Abdullah.

The demonstrators called for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support women’s rights in that nation, and called for changes to the guardianship program that exists in Saudi Arabia.

Demonstrators also called for the religious freedom of Canadian Nathalie Morin who, along with her children, has been held a prisoner by her common-law husband in Saudi Arabia. The DC Chapter of the Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), held a protest demonstration outside of the Saudi Embassy on this subject on Saturday, June 26, 2010. The June 26 protest was led by MPV’s Fatima Thompson. The Canadian branch of MPV also held a protest in Toronto on June 26, outside the G20 Summit.

Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) DC chapter activist Fatima Thompson Protests for Women's Human Rights - Photo from June 26 Protest Outside Saudi Embassy

At the Tuesday, June 29 protest at the White House, MPV’s Fatima Thompson passed out fliers to the White House visitors, engaging them to become aware of the plight of Nathalie Morin and Hadi Al-Mutif in Saudi Arabia. She urged women to become educated on the women’s rights issues challenging Saudi women in terms of the guardianship program and the challenge to women’s rights in daily life and law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Nathalie Morin, shown here with her eldest son, Samir (now nearly seven years old), says she has been trying to return to Canada for 2½ years. (Family photo)

While Fatima Thompson was distributing fliers, R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm also addressed the White House visitors with his portable microphone system from the Pennsylvania Avenue area, while holding up posters with photographs showing the abuse that Nathalie Morin and her children have undergone in Saudi Arabia. R.E.A.L.’s Imm stated, “if a woman was beaten like this, if children were abused like this, in the United States, wouldn’t we call the police? The attack on women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is very much a law enforcement issue – one of enforcing our universal human rights for women’s rights and dignity – consistently around the world.”

In Saudi Arabia: Abuses of Canadian Nathalie Morin and Her Children - Held Against Her Will — In Saudi Arabia: Abuses of Canadian Woman Nathalie Morin and Her Children - Nathalie Morin is Held Against Her Will

After protesting at the White House, the demonstrators then moved to outside the Blair House down the street from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue for visiting dignitaries to continue to send their message in support of religious freedom and women’s rights to the visiting Saudi mission. Demonstrators saw Saudi King Abdullah and his aides during the protest demonstration outside of Blair House.

June 29, 2010 - Human Rights Activist Demonstrating Outside Blair House

While human rights activists demonstrated on June 29, 2010, Saudi King Abdullah and U.S. President Obama met and told the media of some areas of common interests. The news media reported that the two were finding common grounds on the topic of Middle East peace, as well as frustration with the media. King Abdullah, stated, regarding the media: “May God spare us from all of the bad things they can do to us. (Laughter) And may God — and may God bless us with all the positive things they can do for us and for humanity,” to which President Obama replied “Well, that is an excellent prayer.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our unqualified, universal human rights for both women and men, and for the religious freedom, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all. R.E.A.L. stands in support of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. But most importantly, R.E.A.L stands in support of our fellow human beings, and recognizes that all human rights campaigns are missions of mercy, and the most important element to successful human rights is compassion and dignity to all.

R.E.A.L. urges all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

R.E.A.L. urges the press of the world not to be silent about human rights violations and oppression, whether it is found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the United States, or anywhere else in the world. R.E.A.L. urges the media and press to continue to be a voice of conscience in reporting the news of the world, no matter how inconvenient the truths of our conscience may be to world leaders.

Without such a compass of our conscience in human rights, all of our freedoms, including our freedom of expression, will remain endangered in too many parts of the world.

We must all be responsible for equality and liberty.

Additional Photos are at this web link.

As additional photos are obtained from other volunteers, we will update this blog posting and the web link of photographs.

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Demonstration Group Contacts:

The Institute for Gulf Affairs
Ali Al-Ahmed, Director
Website: http://www.gulfinstitute.org/

Islamic Information Center (IIC)
Mahdi Husain, Public Relations
Website: http://www.IslamicInformationCenter.org

Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR)
Ali H. Alyami, Executive Director
Website: http://www.cdhr.info

Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV)
Washington DC Activist: Fatima Thompson
Website: http://www.mpvusa.org/

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) volunteer group
Founder: Jeffrey Imm
Website: https://www.realcourage.org
Email: info@realcourage.org

R.E.A.L. Supports Our Universal Human Rights for All Human Beings

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Groups’ Upcoming Events

The human rights groups all have additional upcoming events this summer. The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR) has a conference on Muslim scholars’ warnings on radicalism on July 20, 2010 in Washington DC on Capitol Hill, 4:00pm – 6:30pm, Rayburn House Office Building Room B-369. The Islamic Information Center (IIC) has a conference in Washington DC at the Capitol Hilton on July 23 through 25. The Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) group has an annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia on August 6 through 8.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has a public outreach scheduled for Sunday July 11 at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool at 2 PM, where it encourages Muslims and non-Muslims to join together to demonstrate our shared support for democracy and freedom, in response to groups that seek to deny such freedoms, and urges those interested to contact R.E.A.L. at info@realcourage.org

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Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights - Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

India: “Hindu Honor Killings”

Reports on honor killings in India, and articles by women’s rights activist Phyllis Chesler

Sify News: Honour killings: Conflict between tradition and modernity
— Sify News: “With a spate of so-called ‘honour killings’ shocking the nation in recent weeks, human rights activists say the increase in such cases is a testimony to the growing conflict between rigid family tradition and modernity.”
— “They also feel the problem can be resolved by increasing awareness and bringing tougher legislations.”
….
— “A series of cases, where young men or women were murdered for marrying outside caste or within the same sub-caste or against the family’s wishes have come to the fore in recent times. Delhi had back-to-back cases in the past two weeks.”
— “Only a few politicians have spoken against such crimes because caste can determine an election win or loss, felt Kant, whose organisation had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Supreme court on this issue.”

India: A Demonstrator Calls for a Comprehensive Law against "Honor Killings" (Photo: Sify News)

Outlook India: Congress for Stern Handling of Honour Killing Cases
— Jayanthi Natarajan condemns “honor killings,” murders, and violence
— did not comment on “gotra marriages”
— Outlook India: “Asked whether Congress supports Khap Panchayats’ demand for a change in Hindu Marriage Act, she said, ‘We have not taken any view on changes in the Hindu Marriage Act.'”

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A TV grab of Kuldeep Singh and his wife Monica (Ankit Chaudhury's sister) murdered in "honor killing" in North Delhi, along with a third victim Shobha (sister of Mandeep Nagar)

Times of India: Honour killing case: Pistol used by accused recovered
— accused Mandeep Nagar, Ankit Chaudhury, and Nakul Khari
— Triple “honor killing” case – killing Ankit’s sister Monica and her husband Kuldeep Singh, and Shobha, Mandeep’s sister
— Times of India: “Making a headway in the Ashok Vihar honour killing case, Delhi Police have recovered from Rishikesh the pistol allegedly used by three youths to kill three of their relatives for marrying outside their caste.”
— “A team of city police recovered the .32 bore pistol from Rishikesh where they had taken the accused — Ankit, Mandeep and Nakul — for further investigation in the case. The trio were arrested from Ghaziabad on June 24.”
— “The accused had told police that they had thrown the pistol in the river after killing Ankit’s sister Monica and her husband Kuldeep for marrying outside the community. Later, they allegedly killed Shobha, Mandeep’s sister, who had earlier eloped with a person outside her community.”
— Outlook India: 3 Honour Killing Suspects Sent to 5 Days’ Police Custody
— IBN: Cops find weapon used in Delhi honour killings
— IBN: “The weapon used in the gruesome triple honour killing case of a Delhi couple and another young girl has been reportedly recovered. The pistol used to kill Monica, her husband Kuldeep Singh and her cousin Shobha was found in Rishikesh.”
— New Kerala: Delhi: Honour killing after 4-year marriage – in Ashok Vihar, north Delhi
— Couple shot dead in Ashok Vihar

India: Men Accused in Delhi "Honor Killings" -- Mandeep Nagar, Ankit Chaudhury, and Nakul Khari -- Accused of killing Ashok Vihar, Shobha Nagar, — India: Men Accused in Delhi "Honor Killings" -- Mandeep Nagar, Ankit Chaudhury, and Nakul Khari -- Accused of killing Ashok Vihar, Shobha Nagar (Photo: IBN Live)

Times of India: NRI held for suspected honour killing in Punjab
— Amritpal Kaur “honor killing”
— Times of India: “A non-resident Indian (NRI) will be produced in a court here on Wednesday following his arrest on Tuesday night for allegedly murdering his teenaged step-daughter in a suspected case of honour killing.”
— “Mehtab Singh was arrested after the police got a tip-off that he had brought his step-daughter Amritpal Kaur, 17, from Brussels, Belgium, earlier this month and clandestinely cremated her here after saying that she died of food poisoning.”
— “Police officials said the death of the girl seemed to be mysterious and that the step-father had shown undue urgency in cremating her.”
— “The police are investigating if the girl was killed by Mehtab Singh as she had fallen in love with a youth, Lakhwinder Singh, in Belgium.”
— “Lakhwinder belonged to another lower caste and this was not to the liking of Mehtab Singh. He is believed to have poisoned her a few days back and got her cremated.”

Hindustan Times: Honour killing: Girl hacked to death by mother
— Rekha Yadav “honor killing”
— Hindustan Times: “In yet another case of suspected honour killing, a 16-year-old girl was hacked to death in the district allegedly by her mother who disapproved of her relationship with a neighbour, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.”
— Rediff: Honour killing: Now mother hacks girl to death

Sify News: Another suspected honour killing in Haryana

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The Asian Age: “India has over 1,000 honour killings a year”
— Asian Age: “As instances of ‘honour killings’ are reported with alarming — and increasing — regularity across the country, a research paper to be presented at an international conference in London by some Indian jurists on crimes against women next week suggests that the total number of such killings could be well over 1,000 every year in India.”
— “The research paper titled ‘Social-legal perspective of forced marriages’, prepared by Chandigarh-based senior lawyer Ranjit Malhotra, an alumnus of the University of London and dealing with cases of intercontinental marital disputes and custody of children, says that at least ‘900 incidences of honour killings’ take place in three states alone — Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh — every year.”

— on July 2, 2010 in UK, Ranjit Malhotra to present research paper “Social-legal perspective of forced marriages” claiming total number of honor killings in India could be over 1,000 every year
—- Program for July 2, 2010 event

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Hindu Honor Killings? Yes, In India – by Phyllis Chesler

Hindu Honor Killings Article Challenged by Hindu Human Rights Activists – by Phyllis Chesler

— Phyllis Chesler: “In June, 2010, (this very month), 16 Hindu victims (five male-female couples, five girls alone, one man alone) were murdered, their bodies finally discovered, the perpetrators finally arrested or sentenced. The murderers were all members of the girl’s family-of-origin in a planned conspiracy.”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our unqualified universal human rights for all human beings, including equality and liberty for all women of every religion, ethnic background, race, and identity group. We urge all to support such universal human rights for all women, without question, and to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Tuesday, June 29 – White House Event – Women’s Rights and Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia

On Tuesday, June 29 at 12 Noon at the blocked off area of Pennsylvania Avenue, between the White House and Lafayette Park, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supporters will urge President Obama and Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to seek women’s equal rights and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, during their meeting that day at the White House.

If you are interested in attending or for more information, contact: Jeffrey Imm, info@realcourage.org, 301-613-8789

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has submitted an assembly plan notification to the Washington DC Metropolitan Police for public awareness activity. In May, we had a similar event regarding negotiations with the Taliban while Afghan President Karzai was at the White House. If weather or security conditions warrant, we will move to Lafayette Park, which we have also discussed with the National Park Service (NPS).

Calling for Women’s Equal Rights

We challenge the lack of women’s equal rights in Saudi Arabia, including the laws that demand segregation of women in public life, the male guardianship program, and the inequality for women in education, employment, health, and equality before the law. We reject the treatment of women, including public lashing, abuse of women at the hands of religious police, and a culture which has allowed women to become viewed as second class citizens – in the law and daily life.

We challenge the gender apartheid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and call for its leaders to accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which calls for such freedoms “in the equal rights of men and women” in every part of the world.

We also call upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to recognize the unqualified, universal human rights for all women in Saudi Arabia, for a life not based on segregation, fear, intimidation, and oppression, but as equal partners in that nation and in the world.

Calling for Human Rights of Religious Freedom

Our consistent support for freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, which states that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” We call upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the nations of the world to support such unqualified, universal human rights on our fellow human beings right to believe and worship as they see fit. We support all of our fellow human beings RIGHT TO BELIEVE – without exception, without qualification – free from intolerance, intimidation, and fear.

The U.S. State Department continues to denote the lack of freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that Saudi Arabia be listed as a Countries of Particular Concern (CPC). We share the concerns about religious freedom in Saudi Arabia described in both the U.S. State Department and the USCIRF reports, and we urge U.S. President Obama to follow the recommendations of the USCIRF in his June 29 meeting with Saudi King Abdulaziz. (See also Adobe Acrobat PDF of USCIRF letter to U.S. President Obama.)

In terms of religious freedom, we urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) leaders to support Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in the interests of world peace and harmony, as well as the long term security both for the KSA and the world.

Calling for Consistency in Our Universal Human Rights

We believe that support for such universal human rights is a demonstration of our love for our fellow human beings.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

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Postscript: I know that some believe that calling for the KSA to support women’s human rights, the UDHR, and UDHR Article 18 for religious freedom may seem impossible. In 1979, I also stood before representatives of the Apartheid Government of South Africa calling for the end to the racial supremacism of Apartheid laws created in 1750. This was just 6 years before the founding of the first Saudi nation-state by Prince Muhammed Ibn Saud and Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab.

The end of apartheid was announced in 1990, and by 1992, apartheid was ended in South Africa. But in 1979, such calls then too were viewed as impossible . But we have seen in the world that the march for human freedom is relentless and consistent, like the waves of the ocean, such universal human rights will ultimately not be denied. It is our obligation to continue to participate in that march for freedom, as human beings Responsible for Equality AND Liberty.

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Logistics and Map:

If you are taking the Washington DC subway (Metro), you should exit at the Farragut West (Orange/Blue Lines), Farragut North (Red Line), or McPherson Square (Orange/Blue Lines) metro stops.

FARRAGUT WEST METRO STATION to WHITE HOUSE Walking Directions: 1. Exit station through 18TH & I (EYE) ST NW entrance. 2. Walk approx. 1 block S on 18th St NW. 3. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave NW. 4. Walk approx. 3 blocks SE on Pennsylvania Ave NW.

FARRAGUT NORTH METRO STATION to WHITE HOUSE Walking Directions: 1. Exit station through CONNETICUT AVE & K ST NW entrance. 2. Walk a short distance S on Connecticut Ave NW. 3. Walk straight on 17th St NW. 4. Walk approx. 1 block S on 17th St NW. 5. Turn left on I St NW. 6. Walk a short distance E on I St NW. 7. Turn right on Connecticut Ave NW. 8. Walk approx. 1 block S on Connecticut Ave NW. 9. Bear right on Jackson Pl NW. 10. Walk approx. 1 block S on Jackson Pl NW. 11. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave NW. 12. Walk approx. 1 block E on Pennsylvania Ave NW.

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Additional Background on KSA and Women’s Rights Issues:

Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia
Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia
— Adobe Acrobat PDF File

Saudi Cleric Fired for Rejecting Segregation of Sexes — Ahmed Qassim Al-Ghamdi

Saudi Cleric Calls for Gender Segregation or Death: Shaikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak

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

Saudi Arabia: “Domestic abuse goes unreported due to sensitivity”

Escaping Saudi Arabia’s gilded cage — on oppression of women in Saudi Arabia

“Saudi Arabia — The World’s Largest Women’s Prison”

Saudi Woman Challenges Male-Only Polygamy, Accused of Blasphemy

Saudi judge: It’s OK to slap spendthrift wives

Saudi religious police blamed in ‘honor’ killing of sisters

Saudi Arabia: Brother kills two sisters in Social Affairs shelter over “honor”

Saudi Arabia: 75 year old woman lashed, press concerned about men

Saudi Arabia: Philippine Woman Imprisoned for Being Rape Victim

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Additional Background on KSA and Religious Freedom Issues:

USCIRF Recommendations to President Obama for June 29 Meeting

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called upon President Obama to urge “the Saudi government to implement effective strategies for preventing people from embracing violent extremism in the first place. They will need to focus on reforms that ensure that intolerance has no place in their culture. Despite the Saudi government pledging to the United States nearly four years ago that it would undertake such reforms, very little progress has been made. In this regard, we appeal to you to raise three important issues: revising the Saudi government-controlled curriculum and textbooks; reining in the government-funded Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice (CPVPV), or religious police; and releasing Hadi Al-Mutif, the longest serving religious prisoner in Saudi Arabia.”

U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Report 2009 on Saudi Arabia – Excerpts

The U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Report 2009 on Saudi Arabia states that:
“Freedom of religion is neither recognized nor protected under the law and is severely restricted in practice.”
“Moreover, the public practice of non-Muslim religions is prohibited, and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) continued to conduct raids on private non-Muslim religious gatherings. Although the Government also confirmed its stated policy to protect the right to possess and use personal religious materials, it did not provide for this right in law, and the CPVPV sometimes confiscated the personal religious materials of non-Muslims.”

“the Government continued to enforce its official interpretation of Sunni Islam. Some Muslims who do not adhere to this interpretation faced significant political, economic, legal, social, and religious discrimination, including limited employment and educational opportunities, underrepresentation in official institutions, and restrictions on the practice of their faith and on the building of places of worship and community centers. The largest group affected was the Shi’a. Non-Muslims, most of whom are citizens of other countries, also face significant restrictions on the practice of their faith. There were fewer charges of harassment and abuse at the hands of the CPVPV, but incidents of CPVPV excesses continued to cause many non-Muslims to worship in secret, for fear of the police and CPVPV. Textbooks continued to contain some overtly intolerant statements against Jews and Christians and subtly intolerant statements against Shi’a and other religious groups, notwithstanding Government efforts to review educational materials to remove or revise such statements.”

“On January 16, 2009, the Secretary of State re-designated the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).”

USCIRF 2010 Report on Saudi Arabia – Excerpts

“Despite King Abdullah undertaking some limited reform measures and promoting inter-religious dialogue in international fora in recent years, the Saudi government persists in banning all forms of public religious expression other than that of the government’s own interpretation of one school of Sunni Islam and also interferes with private religious practice. Ismaili Muslims continue to suffer severe discrimination and abuse on account of their religious identity and there is an ongoing crackdown on Shi’a Muslim dissidents, which has resulted in numerous arrests and detentions. Members of the Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice (CPVPV or religious police) continue to commit abuses, overstep their authority with impunity, and are not subject to judicial oversight. Moreover, the government continues to be involved in supporting activities globally that promote an extremist ideology, and in some cases, violence toward non-Muslims and disfavored Muslims.”

“USCIRF again recommends in 2010 that Saudi Arabia be designated as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC. Although so designated by the State Department since 2004, an indefinite waiver on taking any action in consequence of the CPC designation has been in place since 2006.”

“Little discernible progress has been made nearly four years after the State Department publicly announced that, as a result of bilateral discussions, the Saudi government had confirmed that it would advance specific policies with the aim of improving religious freedom conditions. The Saudi government continues to engage in an array of severe violations of human rights as part of its repression of freedom of religion or belief. Abuses include: torture and cruel and degrading treatment or punishment imposed by judicial, security, and administrative authorities; prolonged detention without charges and often incommunicado; and blatant denials of the right to liberty and security of the person, including through coercive measures aimed at women and the broad jurisdiction and abusive actions of the CPVPV. The full implementation by the Saudi government of the July 2006 policies would diminish some of its institutionalized abusive practices that have resulted in severe violations of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.”

NYC: Brooklyn Mosque Protests and Bomb Threat

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people – without exception. We reject protests against houses of worship. (See also report: “Why Freedom of Religion Matters for MAS Mosques”).

In the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, New York, it was reported that on June 27, 2010, between 200 and 300 people sought to protest a planned mosque 2812 Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn. A group called Bay People, Inc. is leading the mosque protests.

Voorhies Avenue area in dispute for planned mosque

The sponsor of the project, the Muslim American Society (MAS), is also the same sponsor of a mosque project in Midland Beach on Greeley Avenue that is also being protested. The MAS group’s leader, Mahdi Bray, has been investigated for support for Hamas by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) for comments made at a rally in 2000. IPT states that MAS was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood; the IPT states “MAS denies it is a part of the organization, [although] it acknowledges that its foundations are with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Reports have indicated that the protesters are divided between those who view that the Voorhies Avenue cannot accommodate the traffic for a new mosque, and those that reject the planned mosque due to Islamophobic views. The local blog/newspaper Sheepshead Bites addresses this split between the protesters in its article “Rally Reveals Conflict Within Anti-Mosque Movement.”

Voorhies Avenue Signs Protesting Planned Mosque (Photo: Sheepshead Bites)

A protest notice by Bay People, Inc. alleged called for protesters “Please be polite and tolerant.”

But The Brooklyn Paper has reported that one local counter-protester Guseyn Ibragimov who called for freedom of religion, was booed down and “ordered him to get off their street.” The Brooklyn Paper reporter Thomas Tracy also indicated that the divisiveness has spilled over into calls for violence and bombing against the proposed mosque, not unlike those seen in recent reader comments on the New York Post web site and those made on AM radio stations.

The Brooklyn Paper also quoted an anonymous local man, who reportedly lives across the street from the planned mosque, and who threatened to bomb the planned Voorhies Avenue mosque, telling the reporter: “If they build a mosque there, I’m going to bomb the mosque.. I will give them a lot of trouble… They’re not going to stay here alive.”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports our universal human rights for all. We reject and oppose all calls for intolerance, hate, violence, and terrorism. We urge all those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden their hearts.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

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Media Reports:

The Brooklyn Paper: ‘What kind of America’? Hate-filled rally to stop mosque

Sheepshead Bites: Rally Reveals Conflict Within Anti-Mosque Movement

Photographs of June 27, 2010 protest against New York City mosque in Brooklyn

NYC – Staten Island: “Prayers Tuesday for peaceful resolution to mosque debate”

NYC – Continuing Reports on Staten Island Mosque Protests

Below are news stories regarding ongoing protests about a planned Staten Island mosque on Greeley Avenue in the Midland Beach area.

— Staten Island Advance: “Prayers Tuesday for peaceful resolution to mosque debate”

— Staten Island Advance: Another Sunday, another protest against proposed Staten Island mosque

— Staten Island Advance: Backers of Staten Island mosque go on offensive

— Staten Island Advance: In open letter, Muslim advocate sees ‘religious bigotry’ in opposition to Midland Beach mosque plan

— Earlier Staten Island Mosque Protest news media reports

Staten Island Mosque Protest (Photo: NYT)

The sponsor of the project, the Muslim American Society (MAS), is also the same sponsor of a mosque project in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn that is also being protested. The MAS group’s leader, Mahdi Bray, has been investigated for support for Hamas by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) for comments made at a rally in 2000. IPT states that MAS was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood; the IPT states “MAS denies it is a part of the organization, [although] it acknowledges that its foundations are with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports our universal human rights for all.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Chicago: Anti-Democracy Hizb ut-Tahrir Event Canceled at Marriott Hotel

The Chicago Marriott Oak Brook hotel states that the July 11 public conference by the Hizb ut-Tahrir America will not be held at that location. The anti-democracy political group, Hizb ut-Tahrir America, had widely promoted the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook hotel as the site for their second public conference, through social media and YouTube. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) learned today that the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook hotel has decided that the hotel will not to be the site for that event. The Hizb ut-Tahrir America has not yet advised its supporters of the planned change, and is not available for comment.

Human rights activists had been informing Chicago area hotels of Hizb ut-Tahrir America’s decision last year to distribute pamphlets calling for the “death penalty” for those who seek freedom of religion to leave Islam. At Hizb ut-Tahrir America’s July 19, 2009 event in Chicago, they distributed a pamphlet (page 62) that supports killing those individuals who leave Islam as guilty of “treason and a political attack on the Khilafah.”

The Hizb ut-Tahrir America website promoting this year’s conference in Chicago promotes links to the main Hizb ut-Tahrir website, Khilafah.com, where this pamphlet is still distributed online by Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Hizb ut-Tahrir America's 2010 Conference to Promote Islamic Caliphate (Photo: YouTube)

In 2009, Hizb ut-Tahrir America (HT) also had difficulty keeping a conference location for their July 19, 2009 conference. The 2009 HT event was originally scheduled to be held at the Aqsa School, an Islamic school located in Bridgeview, Illinois, until it was canceled on June 29, 2009; this happened after HT’s 2009 conference was clarified as an event to promote the Khilafah (Islamic caliphate). In 2009, CBS News reported that “The school’s business manager Rana Jaber said the group misrepresented the goal of the conference when they booked it as they claimed it was going to be a bazaar type event where tradition food and clothing would be sold.” However, by July 1, 2009, the HT event was eventually relocated to the Oak Lawn, Illinois Hilton, where R.E.A.L. led a pro-democracy demonstration outside the July 19, 2009 event, challenging Hizb ut-Tahrir’s views against democracy, human rights, and religious freedom.

Hizb ut-Tahrir America Widely Promoted the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook as Planned Conference Site - Before It Was Canceled (Photo: YouTube)

When asked by R.E.A.L. today about this year’s Hizb ut-Tahrir event, the Oak Lawn, Illinois Hilton has stated that it is not holding this year’s Hizb ut-Tahrir conference. Other Marriott hotels in Oak Brook are also not holding the event, although apparently there had been consideration to moving the event at one point to August 1, 2010. Marriott event planning reservations stated that Hizb ut-Tahrir does not have a conference planned at their facilities according to their current records. In terms of Starwood facilities, R.E.A.L. has confirmed that the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, and the Chicago Westin are also not holding the July 11, 2010 Hizb ut-Tahrir conference. Starwood national reservations also states that their records show that the Four Points by Sheraton Chicago is not holding the July 11, 2010 Hizb ut-Tahrir conference.

Over the past six months, Hizb ut-Tahrir America has been holding “webinar” Internet-based seminars promoting the Islamic caliphate and jihad. Hizb ut-Tahrir America also held another public conference in another Chicago suburb in December 2009.

On December 20, 2009, Hizb ut-Tahrir America held a smaller conference at a government-managed community center in the Chicago suburb of Lombard. The Lombard city government did not respond to concerns about HT’s distribution of pamphlets in Oak Lawn, Illinois calling for the death penalty for those who seek religious freedom. At the December 2009 event at the Lombard community center, Hizb ut-Tahrir America denounced democracy, denounced “the Kafir,” and urged Muslim attendees “do not take the Jews and Christians for your allies.” HT also blamed U.S. President Obama as part of a plot to take over Muslim-majority nations.

Hizb ut-Tahrir rejects democracy because it “is the rule of people, for the people, by the people.” (page 24) Hizb ut-Tahrir has called for Muslims to boycott voting.

HT has had a history of seeking to promote a global Islamic caliphate government, in seeking to train teenagers for “jihad” (page 37), has reportedly been involved in threats against Jews, Hindus, and has reportedly threatened Muslim university officials. HT also rejects the “gender equality movement” for women’s rights, saying that women must pursue a global Islamic caliphate instead.

British media have reported that intelligence sources state that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed spent time with Hizb ut-Tahrir, and that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was “former member of the Jordanian branch of Hizb.”

Muslim democratic leader Dr. Zuhdi Jasser has denounced Hizb ut-Tahrir America as “a conveyor belt to terror,” but also stated that we “change the narrative and start to promote groups that are reformist,” and “prove how invalid their [HT’s] ideas are…” Dr. Jasser leads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD).

On June 18, we challenged Hizb ut-Tahrir America to a public debate on their view of an Islamic caliphate versus R.E.A.L.’s support for democracy and human rights. They have not replied. We continue to leave that offer open, and we invite them to publicly debate such views at R.E.A.L.’s July 11, 2010 pro-democracy event in Washington D.C.

On July 11, 2010 (the previously scheduled date of the Hizb ut-Tahrir conference in Chicago), Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has planned a public event at 2 PM at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool steps in Washington DC to promote democracy, equality, and liberty. We choose that spot where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood – with his courage of compassion years ago – on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Steps, and called out to the American conscience “I have a dream.” We too have a dream of being united in support democracy, equality, and liberty. We know that realizing such a dream entails the responsibility of standing together – not just on what we oppose – but also on what we believe.

We urge all Americans, especially Muslim Americans, to join us in our nation’s capital on July 11, 2010 (the planned date of the Hizb ut-Tahrir) conference to send a message to those who seek to attack democracy and freedom, that we will stand united for such freedoms together – as one nation, one people, – responsible for equality and liberty – for all.

We urge other Muslims and all others in America who also share our commitment for such freedoms, especially for our shared freedoms and democracy to contact Responsible for Equality And Liberty via email at info@realcourage.org .

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See additional R.E.A.L. postings on the anti-democracy Hizb ut-Tahrir movement at:

http://bit.ly/htwatch

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Anti-Democracy Group Hizb ut-Tahrir Protest in Indonesia for Islamic Caliphate, Protesting Internet Usage

Rhode Island: Suspect in Swastika Vandalism on Synagogue Arraigned

WPRI reports that Ryan N. Johnson was arraigned on June 24 in the vandalism of the Temple Am David mosque in Warwick, Rhode Island, with a swastika and a racial slur. He did not enter a plea on a charge of desecrating a public space (a felony), but pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor vandalism charge.

Rhode Island Synagogue Vandalized with Swastika, Racial Slurs

Washington State: Muslim Van Vandalized Outside Mosque in Bellevue

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns religious intolerance, and we promote freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all of our fellow human beings. We are shocked and disturbed to hear of the report in Seattle, Washington suburb of a Muslim van being vandalized, outside of the Islamic Center of Eastside (Bellevue Masjid), in Bellevue Washington.

Islamic Center of Eastside, Bellevue, WA (Bellevue Masjid)

The Muslim van was vandalized with dog feces on the front and side windows. It was clearly labeled as a Muslim van. The vehicle was targeted, while other vehicles were ignored. The mosque sits next to a Mormon church which was not vandalized.

Muslim Van Vandalized in Bellevue - Across Street from Muslim Mosque and Mormon Church

Local Bellevue Muslims have been calling for law enforcement authorities to investigate the vandalism as a “hate crime,” according a KIRO video interviewing local residents. In addition, most other local non-Muslim residents interviewed also stated that they viewed it as a “hate crime.”

The Bellevue police say that it “malicious mischief”, but say that since there were no threats, they are not investigating it as a “hate crime” at this time. The Bellevue police have stated that they are increasing police patrols near the mosque, but without any video or witnesses, they believe that they have limited evidence for an investigation.

The Bellevue Reporter quoted Police captain Patrick Spak as stating: “We have to keep this in perspective. The van is not damaged and the building is not damaged. From a police department perspective, we don’t want to over-react, but we don’t want to under-react.”

Dog Feces Vandalism of Muslim Van in Bellevue, WA (Photo: KIRO Video Clip)

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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

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Other Media Reports:

— KIRO: Van Outside Mosque Apparently Smeared With Dog Feces

— KIRO video

— Bellevue Reporter: Feces smeared on Muslim van near Bellevue mosque

— Seattle Post Intelligencer: Feces smeared on Muslim van near Bellevue mosque

— Seattle Post Intelligencer: Group says van parked near mosque vandalized

Scotland: Shock after Nazi sign appears at Stonehaven

Scotland: Shock after Nazi sign appears at Stonehaven
— Scotland Press and Journal: “An investigation has been launched after a Nazi sign was erected in a north-east town. The sign, which was placed near a group of travellers who have pitched up in caravans next to Stonehaven’s open air pool, read ‘Nazi Gathering’ and displayed a swastika.”