“Palestinian Taliban Arrest Palestinian Feminist. Government Promises Investigation” – by Phyllis Chesler

“Palestinian Taliban Arrest Palestinian Feminist. Government Promises Investigation” – by Phyllis Chesler
— “An Interview with Asma’a Al-Ghoul”
— “Asma’a Al-Ghoul is a Palestinian secular feminist who has written poignant, heartbreaking pieces about honor killings and women’s rights in Gaza”
—- July 5, 2009: Gaza woman journalist: Hamas “police” “accused me of laughing in public” – now gets death threats

Jordan: Man who kills raped sister in “honor killing” gets jail time cut in half

Jordan: Court halves man’s jail term for ‘honour’ killing

— “A court on Tuesday halved the jail term of a 29-year-old Jordanian man who shot his raped sister 12 times “in the name of honour”, a judicial official said.”
— “The criminal court initially sentenced the man to 15 years with hard labour for killing his sister in 2008 in Mowaqqar, southeast of the capital Amman, but immediately reduced it to seven-and-a-half years.”
— “‘The woman disappeared from home for six months after she was raped last year,’ the official said.”
— “Police kept the woman in custody for protection and later handed her over to the family, but the brother shot her 12 times in different parts of her body once she arrived home, killing her immediately.”
— “The man told police that he committed the crime ‘in the name of honour,’ according to the official.”

Iran: Concerns Over Detained Iranian Christian Women Amid Political Turmoil – may face execution for religious freedom

(Iran) Concerns Over Detained Iranian Christians Amid Political Turmoil
— “two detained Christian women are ‘in danger of being forgotten’ amid concerns they may face execution, Iranian Christians said Tuesday, July 7”
— “Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, and Maryam Rustampoor, 27, have been held for over four months in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison apparently for converting to Christianity from Islam”

Pakistan – ICC Report: “Update: Jihad Attack on over 100 Christian Homes in Pakistan”

(Pakistan) ICC Report: “Update: Violent Extemism Attack on over 100 Christian Homes in Pakistan”
— ICC reports on mob violence and attacks on Christian women
ICC reports: “ICC has received additional details on a Muslim mob that assaulted and robbed Christians before burning over 100 of their homes…”
— ICC reports that mob of “three to four hundred” used “sticks, hatchets, and acid”
— ICC reports that “the imam at the local mosque” said “Kidnap the Christian women, destroy their belongings, and get ready for Violent Extemism”
— ICC reports that “Noreen was in her home taking a shower when the mob attacked.  Frightened she tried to run onto the roof, but the Muslims dragged her out by her hair and threw acid on her.  She later tried to commit suicide.”
— ICC reports that “Allah Rakhi said, ‘I was sitting in my home when the mob came in and started breaking furniture and other things.  They beat me with a stick, ripped my clothes off, and took the money in the house.'”
— ICC reports that “Another woman miscarried her unborn child after being beaten.”
— ICC reports that “Despite promises of support from local politicians and officials, no arrests have been made.”

Pakistan – ICC Report: “Police Brutalize Christians after Robbing their Homes” – in Punjab’s Wazirabad

(Pakistan) ICC Report: “Police Brutalize Christians after Robbing their Homes” – in Punjab’s Wazirabad
— ICC reports on brutalization of Christians and attacks on Christian women
ICC reports: “On June 4th, local police entered a Christian village in Pakistan, arrested several men, and dragged women out of their home and by their homes and through the streets by their hair.
— ICC report states that accusations are that Christians “not keeping the sewage lines clean enough”
— ICC report further quotes Stephen Gill “a local Christian leaer” who states “The police raided and ransacked Christian homes and stole our valuables, including cell phones, cash, jewelry, and other expensive household items”
— ICC report states “Police beat 11 Chritian men who protested the raid and then threw them into police vans.  They were all taken to the police station and later thrown into jail.”
— ICC report states “The police also grabbed the women by their hair and dragged them out of their homes and into the street, where they ‘ripped apart’ their clothes as they mocked them, calling them ‘choohra’ (a derogative word for ‘Christian’).  They arrested at least six women.”

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

Arab News: “Man in ‘honor killing’ may face death penalty”
— “A man may face the death penalty if found guilty of gunning down his two sisters as they were being discharged by Social Affairs officials into the custody of their father.”
— “The two women had been caught in suspicious circumstances with two unrelated men on Thursday.”
— “Police believe the brother murdered his two sisters to save the family honor. The names and ages of the young women and their brother were not made public.”
— “According to Riyadh police, the man followed his father to the social protection home and then waited until the women came out. He reportedly shot one sister in the head and discharged three bullets into the other. He then tossed the gun near the bodies. Guards at the Social Affairs shelter quickly apprehended the man.”
— “The man will face the death penalty unless his family forgives him. If he is spared capital punishment he will still face jail time served in the name of the public right.”
— “Women are usually turned over to Social Affairs shelters if they are caught with unrelated men until their guardians can get them out of custody.”

Saudi Arabia: Abused woman flees shelter; shelter “accused of helping woman flee”

Saudi Arabia: Shelter accused of helping woman flee
— “The woman ran away while police were preparing to take her to jail in line with a court order while it examined her case. Samar fled her parents’ home after accusing them of abusing her and sought refuge at the shelter.”
— “The woman ran away while police were preparing to take her to jail in line with a court order while it examined her case. Samar fled her parents’ home after accusing them of abusing her and sought refuge at the shelter.”
— “A source closely involved with her case told Arab News that the father is mentally unstable and that he would beat her and take away her salary.”
— “He added that there are two lawsuits relating to her filed in court. The first case was filed by Samar’s father who accused her of running away and disobeying her parents. The second was filed by Samar herself against her father demanding that he be removed as her guardian.”
— “The source also said Samar has been called to court five times and that she has failed to appear each time.”
— “The source criticized the shelter, accusing it of accepting cases without proper investigation, something that he said has caused ‘chaos.’ He accused the shelter of helping the woman flee.”

UK: Islamic fundamentalists jailed for arson attack at publisher’s home

(UK) Islamic fundamentalists jailed for arson attack at publisher’s home
— “Three Islamic fundamentalists were jailed yesterday for an arson attack on a London publisher who planned to print an ‘offensive’ book about the Prophet Muhammad.”
— “The attack on the home of Martin Rynja has been compared to the campaign against the publication of Salmon Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses.”

‘A la carte’ Muslim arsonists jailed
— Judge “told them British citizenship was not ‘a la carte,’ adding: ‘If you chose to live in this country, you live by its rules.'”

Pakistan – ANS report: “Pakistani Christian Blasphemy – Accused is Suffering from Heart Disease”

(Pakistan) ANS report: “Pakistani Christian Blasphemy – Accused is Suffering from Heart Disease”
— “Mushtaq and his friend Wallayat Masih were accused of blasphemy when they lay sheets inscribed with Quranic verses on the grave of a Christian man”