A terrorist shooter, described by police as a white male, is AT LARGE after a racist terrorist attack on Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, in Charleston, South Carolina. There were 9 killed in the terrorist attack: six females and three males. Eight died at the scene, and the 9th died at the hospital. Once the authorities notify families, they will release the full list of names. The authorities are calling this terrorist attack a “hate crime.” This included the death of the churches’ leader Reverend Clementa Pinckney. A report states that the terrorist told one member of the church meeting “I am going to let you live. I want you to tell them what happened.” A five year old child hid during the terrorist’s shooting rampage, by pretending to be dead, according to reports.
NBC reports that the terrorist sought out the pastor.
Sylvia Johnson, a cousin of church shooting victim Pastor Clementa Pinckney says she spoke with one of the survivors “and she said that he had reloaded five different times… and he just said ‘I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go.'”
Earlier, Reverend Pinckey, who is also a South Carolina state senator, backed a bill that called for body cameras for police in response to a killing of Walter Scott by a police officer on April 4, 2015 in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Pastor Reverend Clementa Pinckney of the Episcopal AME Church Killed in Terrorist Attack on June 17 Night (Source: AME Website)
Every Wednesday evening, the church holds a Bible study in its basement. The Emanuel AME church is described as one of the “oldest AME church in the south.” The white terrorist apparently attended the Bible meeting. Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen says the terror suspect attending a meeting and stayed for almost an hour before gunfire erupted.
Reports say the white terrorist shooter is still at large. But they were still describing the terror suspect as a clean-shaven white man, 5′ 9″, in his 20s, with a slender build. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and Timberland boots. A photo is being circulated of the suspected. The suspect was pictured leaving the scene in a black four door sedan.
The Charleston police state they want people with information to call 843-720-2447.
CCTV Photo of White Terrorist Suspect in Attack on Episcopal AME Church (Source: Charleston Police)
Another photo of terrorist suspect
“Need to Identify” Statement from Charleston Police
The terrorist attack on the Christian church took place at 9 PM on Thursday, June 17, 2015. It has been reported that 9 people were shot, and that there are “multiple fatalities,” in what is clearly a racist terrorist attack, intended to target African-Americans.
Local Pastor Thomas Dixon: “It’s really bad. It’s a very bad scene.” (Source: YouTube)
Local pastor Thomas Dixon told CNN that “It’s really bad. It’s a very bad scene.” “Apparently the person just entered the church and opened fire. That part has not been fully articulated on what happened yet … they are still looking for the suspect.”
The police briefly arrested a white male, David Corrie of Ladson, wearing a backpack as he was coming out of a store, after they heard some popping noises in the area. Corrie had camera and recording equipment.
Pastor Reverend Clementa Pinckney of the Episcopal AME Church Attacked Wednesday Night (Source: AME Website)
Episcopal AME Reverend Clementa Pinckey was reported to be one of the victims of the terrorist attack. Reverence Pinckey. Clementa Pinckney is also a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District since 2000,
Responsible for Equality And Liberty denounces this terrorist attack and calls for our supporters of any faith to pray for the victims and their families of this terrorist attack.
The ongoing imprisonment of Pakistan Christian woman Asia Bibi highlights the ongoing oppression of Pakistan Christian, other Pakistan religious minorities, as well as Pakistan majority Muslims, by the oppressive blasphemy law, used as a tactic to silence unpopular voices and to oppress others. As part of our commitment to our shared universal human rights, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) challenges Pakistan’s blasphemy law and its use to kill, oppress, and intimidate others.
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) chairwoman Katrina Lantos Swett and Mary Ann Glendon have gone to Pakistan to speak to Pakistan government officials to change the Pakistan blasphemy law. These USCIRF leaders state that the Pakistan “blasphemy law on its face flatly violates both freedom of religion and freedom of expression,” and they call for the U.S. State Department to “designate Pakistan a ‘country of particular concern’ for its continued record of failure in protecting religious freedom.”
In Punjab alone, Dawn has reported262 cases of alleged blasphemous behavior.
Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi sentenced to death for “blasphemy”
Noreen Asia Bibi (known mostly as Asia Bibi) was convicted of blasphemy by a Pakistani court in November 2010, receiving a sentence of death by hanging, based on a June 2009 argument with Muslim women who were upset with her for drinking the same water as them. A trumped up charge was made that she subsequently insulted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, which she has denied but was the basis for her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment. Over 400,000 signatures have been placed on petitions calling for her release. Christian minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti and Pakistani government politician Salmaan Taseer called for her release and opposed the blasphemy laws, and they were both killed by terrorists. Her family remains in hiding due to terrorist threats.
Pakisan: Christian Pastor Rashid Emmanuel Accused of Blasphemy Gunned Down in Faisalabad Court (Source: Jabran Inayat and GVM Television)
We have reported on many other blasphemy cases: Christian pastor Rashid Emmanuel and his brother Sajjad (who were gunned down in the streets in Faisalabad). The two brothers had left a court hearing on on charges of “blasphemy,” when they were gunned down on the court house steps, even when they had a police escort. There were rumors that they might be found innocent and released. Asia IT News reported that for days religious leaders had been “fanning the flame” of hatred against the two brothers.
We have reported on those Pakistan Christians fleeing for their lives, from such false “blasphemy” charges, such as Ms. Saiqa and Jehanzaib Asher.
Pakistan Christian Qamar David Convicted of “Blasphemy” Died in Prison Under Mysterious Circumstances, After Threats
With literally hundreds of cases, we cannot imagine how many we do not have specific names, places, and dates, to report on, as shown by the 262 cases in Punjab alone. One of our Pakistan contacts advises us that they are aware of dozens of blasphemy cases against Pakistan Christians with unregistered newspapers giving local coverage to such blasphemy cases, which extremists use to rationalize hatred and violence against the local Pakistan Christian community.
Our source states that people involved in recent Pakistan blasphemy cases have included Naeem Masih, Ejaz Taj, Shokath Haroon, Saiqa Mukthar, Kamran Victor, Nayab Wilson, Javed Joseph, Saima Bibi, all of whom need the support of the international human rights community. Pakistan Christians charged in trumped-up blasphemy cases are also facing fatwas against them declared by extremist Mullahs. The human rights community needs to continue to find ways to protect these people whose human rights are in immediate danger, as well as to find ways to press Pakistan to end its out-of-control blasphemy laws.
Pakistan majorities need to also realize that these blasphemy laws are not just a threat and a problem for Pakistan Christians, but are also used to oppress and threaten Pakistan minority and majority Muslims as well.
Pakistan: Ahmadiyya Muslim man, Masud Ahmad, was falsely arrested and imprisoned for blasphemy
The out-of-control blasphemy laws in Pakistan are an offense to the universal human rights not only of Pakistan Christians and other religious minorities, but also an offense to all Pakistan people and the people of the world.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports and defends the universal human rights of all people, and it reminds Pakistan of its obligations and commitment under international law. We challenge the Pakistan blasphemy law as a direct attack on our shared universal human rights.
Pakistan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ratified as of June 23, 2010, as well as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Pakistan Blasphemy Law is in direct contradiction to its international agreement of ICCPR Article 18, which includes “1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” The Pakistan Blasphemy law is in direct opposition to these shared universal human rights for the Pakistan people and for all people. Pakistan needs to decide whether or not it is a member of the nations of the world that respects human rights and dignity, or it is a clear and unquestionably self-declared rogue nation which rejects these global standards necessary for a free people.
R.E.A.L. urges the Pakistan government and the Pakistan people to end the oppressive blasphemy law which attacks the rights of Pakistan Christians and other religious minorities, and which is used as a method to harass and intimidate people with a grudge against a Pakistani in any identity group. These attacks on our shared universal human rights have to end. We urge Pakistan to realize the need for change and to become responsible for equality and liberty.
