Major Stories – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

White Supremacist Terrorist Dylann Roof Linked to Nazi, Confederate Racist Groups

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our shared universal human rights for all people, and we reject and defy the ideology of white supremacy which has been promoted by so many hate groups and terrorists.

On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof committed a terrorist attack against the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, in Charleston, South Carolina, where he murdered 9 African-American men and women during a night time Bible study. R.E.A.L. has learned that terrorist Dylann Roof was inspired and linked to white supremacist, Nazi, and Confederate websites.

Inspired by white supremacist groups, Dylann Roof left a twisted white supremacist manifesto against African-Americans, “Jewish agitation,” and other identity groups, as a “rationale” for his terrorist attack. Terrorist Dylann Roof defended Southern slavery of human beings on Confederate plantations, demeaning African-Americans as “stupid and violent,” calling for violence against African-Americans, and claiming he was taking his “fight” to Charleston in what resulted in his terrorist attack on the Emanuel AME Church, since he stated there was “no real KKK” taking violent action. The terrorist Roof continued his racist attack on Hispanics as “enemies,” and sought to “destroy the Jewish identity.”

The terrorist Dylann Roof stated in his “manifesto” that he was educated to hate African-Americans and other minorities from his contact with the white supremacist Council of Conservative Citizens (CofCC aka CCC), which R.E.A.L. has previously reported on. The CofCC’s racist extremist views include the twisted vision that “God is the author of racism. The national CofCC group is based in St.Louis, Missouri, not far from the Ferguson atrocities against African-Americans. (Missouri leaders allied themselves with the Confederate States of America (CSA) on October 31, 1861.) The CofCC group’s founder Gordom Baum died in March 2015. The CofCC group has been led by its president Earl Holt, who provided donations to several conservative political campaigns.

Mr. Holt has declined to address the issue of the CofCC’s influence in inspiring terrorist Dylann Roof other than being “deeply saddened,” and asked a former CofCC director to be the public spokesman on this. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) reported that the CofCC president made statements about taking “a large caliber handgun”… to “help mitigate violent black crime at its source…” days before the Dylann Roof terrorist attack. The SPLC states that the CofCC “has denounced Roof’s actions but stands by their statements, maintaining they mean what they say on their website.” The CofCC stated the terrorist “Roof outlines other grievances felt by many whites,” and continued “we utterly condemn Roof’s despicable killings, but they do not detract in the slightest from the legitimacy of some of the positions he has expressed. Ignoring legitimate grievances is dangerous.”

In R.E.A.L.’s activism to defy white supremacist groups, we learned that the CofCC leaders regularly worked together with their racist allies in the Stormfront organization, including CofCC members appearing on the Stormfront radio program to promote white supremacist events and to recruit for new members to the cause of racial and religious hatred. The Stormfront organization has combined the Nazi and Confederate extremists of white supremacy into a singular “supermarket of hate,” as described by CBS News. It’s members have regularly praised and supported other terrorists committing attacks on the United States, as we have documented.

Dylann Roof was also linked to the Nazi website, the Daily Stormer. This information has been reported by the SPLC, who identifies Roof as poster “AryanBlood1488.” The SPLC states that: “The Daily Stormer is a neo-Nazi website run by Andrew Anglin that both generates original content and aggregates articles from other white supremacist sites across the Internet. Its comment section is much less moderated than its peer sites and hosts a diverse community of white supremacists from across the extremist spectrum. In his alleged manifesto, Roof writes, ‘I mean that our culture has been adopted by everyone in the world. This makes us feel as though our culture isnt [sic] special or unique.’ In an almost verbatim statement at the Daily Stormer on January 31, 2015, ‘AryanBlood1488’ writes, ‘White culture is World Culture, and by that I don’t mean that our culture is made up of ones from around the world, I mean that our culture has been adopted by everyone in the world. This makes us feel as if it isn’t special, because everyone has adopted it.’ Notably, on another article titled ‘No Longer Posting Council of Conservative Citizens Articles’ published to the Daily Stormer on the same day, ‘AryanBlood1488’ expresses his reverence for the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), a white nationalist hate group, for ‘waking him up’ to ‘black on white crime.’ ‘I have serious, great respect for the CofCC because they are the ones who woke me up to black on white crime in the beginning,’ writes ‘AryanBlood1488.’ ‘It was the first site I went to the day that changed my life, the day I decided to type in ‘black on white crime’ into Google.’ ”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also reported similar links of Dylann Roof to the Nazi hate site, according to a report from NBC News. The Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post provided similar reports.

Raw Story also reported that “Roof also lived for a time in Lexington, just a few miles away, which is home to onetime Aryan Nation leader and Christian Identity pastor August Kreis – whose activity and influence has waned as a result of severe diabetes and his arrest last year on child sex abuse charges. An analysis of Roof’s writings suggests that he was an active participant in The Daily Stormer white nationalist message board.”

Dylann Roof and Nazi Daily Stormer Website (Source: SPLC)

The Confederate Flag and The Law

More of the public continues to call for the swift end of official and institutional activities promoting the Confederate flag and symbols of hate, which have disgraced the great United States of America for too long. Patriotic Americans condemn the Confederate symbol of white supremacy racism and its promotion of human slavery, because it is an offense to our nation, to our support for shared human rights, and to the equality and dignity of African-Americans and all of our fellow Americans.

But is it more than simply offensive and degrading to African-Americans and American patriots? Patriots and public activists must examine how such official promotion of Confederate flags and symbols conflicts with the Constitution of the United States, and determine what we need to do in terms of the actions of public citizens, including citizens’ arrests, and class action lawsuits, in the event that government officials continue to fail to enforce the law. We need more than passionate views and statements; we need passionate action on behalf of this great nation.

Is the government display and honoring of the Confederate flag and Confederate symbols legal? An examination of the white supremacist Confederate cause to enslave, degrade, and intimidate African-Americans, as well as an examination of the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws clearly indicate that official and public honoring of Confederate flag and symbols is not simply disgusting, it is clearly against the law.

Many Americans have ignored this question, because of widespread misunderstanding over the true intent of the law and the criminal message of the white supremacist Confederate States of America (CSA) “culture,” as well as because of the mistaken belief that the Confederate enemy threat to this nation ended with the formal ending of the Civil War 150 years ago. As we have seen, the Confederate cause of white supremacist hatred, intimidation, and violence continues to this day.

The flag and symbols of the Confederate States of America were specifically associated with a promotion of white supremacy and the contemptible practice of human slavery. Many Americans simply view this as shameful and disgusting. But a careful examination of our Constitution and federal law shows that such institutional white supremacist intimidation is more than simply disgraceful; it is against the law – it is criminal.

To understand this, we need to dismiss with the nonsense that the Confederates were fighting some courageous war for “states’ rights,” but rather they sought to create an unyielding institution to degrade, deny human rights and dignity, kill, and abuse African-Americans based on their goals in defense of human slavery of African-Americans. This can be seen by an examination of the Confederate’s own words on their views, goals, and objectives.

In the Confederate States of America’s own Constitution, the Confederates, who declared open treasonous insurrection and rebellion on the United States government and its Constitution, created a “mirror constitution” of their own, except that in that document of shame, the Confederates openly promoted the use of human slavery. The perverted Confederate Constitution called for laws defending the “institution of negro slavery as it now exists in the Confederate States” (CSA Const. Article IV, Section 3(3)), “denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves,” (CSA Const. Article IV, Section 2(1)) and calling for Confederate Congressional control over the business of “slavery” from any states outside of the CSA. (CSA Const. Article IV, Sections 9(1) and 9(2))

The Confederates did not view African-Americans as human beings, only as property. The Confederates sought to enforce this twisted view in defiance of all natural law into an institution, states, regulations, and even their own “Constitution.” So for the Confederates, the right of white supremacist’s free travel became the right to travel “with their slaves and other property.” (CSA Const. Article IV, Section 2(1))

The Confederate States of America’s individual states declarations of secession define their goals as seeking to protect their white supremacist institution of human slavery. As described in the individual secession statements, the Confederates viewed that “Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery” (Mississippi), in defense of “African slavery” (Georgia), defending a white supremacist culture of “slaveholding States of the South” (South Carolina, Alabama, and Virginia), and “that the governments of the various States, and of the confederacy itself, were established exclusively by the white race, for themselves and their posterity” (Texas). The mission and values of the Confederate States were to defend only white supremacist governance, viewing “the African race…as an inferior and dependent race” (Texas), rejecting “negro equality” (South Carolina), rejecting “political equality between the white and negro races” (Texas). The Confederates viewed African-Americans “beneficial and tolerable” only as slaves who were “an inferior and dependent race” (Texas).

What government official, military individual, court, law enforcement individual, or any person representing any part of the United States of America should be legally allowed to promote the symbols and flags of such criminal and despicable positions? How could we allow anyone in a position of government of any type to “honor” and commemorate such institutionally criminal views and values? How can the government enforce its obligations under the U.S. Constitution and U.S. law, while allowing this “honoring” of Confederate flags and symbols?

The Constitution of the United States has been amended to be crystal clear that such despicable actions and institutional oppression against African-Americans were against all national law. It was changed consciously and deliberately and in full knowledge of the actions of the Confederates so that Americans could state, regarding this African-American Holocaust, “Never Again.” U.S Constitution Amendment 13 (ratified December 6, 1865) stated that slavery was not permitted in the United States. Amendment 15 (ratified February 3, 1870) stated that the “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 law states that it is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2)) to “by force or by threat of force, injure, intimidate, or interfere with anyone …by reason of their race, color, religion, or national origin.”

The United States federal law makes it a CRIME for such white supremacist intimidation to interfere with lawful participation in “speech or peaceful assembly,” voting, “participating in or enjoying any benefit, service, privilege, program, facility, or activity provided or administered by the United States,” “applying for or enjoying employment,” enjoying any federal government or state benefit or service, attending college, using any public goods, services, facilities or accommodations (from foods, restaurants, gasoline, theaters, restaurants, etc.), traveling by any means, serving on a court, and many other activities.

The intent of this U.S. federal law and the amendments to the Constitution in the light of the white supremacist Confederate insurrection and rebellion was to make it clear that such racist activity was CRIMINAL, not simply deplorable. The intent is clear that the changes to law were enable CRIMINAL PROSECUTION of such white supremacists denying basic human rights, not simply to shake our heads in disgust and dismay.

So in view of these aspects of the U.S. Constitution and federal law, why would it be legal for government and government-funded institutions to display such symbols of white supremacist hate to create a “culture” of intimidation in our government offices, in public places, in colleges, in restaurants, and in other public places where federal law specifically makes it a CRIME to intimidate people from using? In fact, it is clear that the law of the land intended to criminalize such actions by government agencies and institutions intimidating African-Americans in public places.

It is against the law for our government agencies to create such a culture of intimidation against African-Americans in government offices and facilities with Confederate flags and monuments to such white supremacy. Our United States Congress should know that it cannot legally permit the South Carolina Confederate flag or any symbols of the white supremacist Confederacy in any Congressional or government buildings to create an atmosphere of intimidation to American people they represent. It is against the law for the government of South Carolina to fly this Confederate white supremacist flag on capital and public grounds.

It is against the law for the United States military and armed forces to create a culture of intimidation against African-Americans by honoring the white supremacist Confederate flag, their treasonous leaders, and military leaders, including “honoring” of such Confederate leaders in government military institutions.

It is against the law for state government agencies to have issued and still issue “Confederate license plates” to create a culture of intimidation against African-Americans and contempt for the law on our highways and public places.

It is against the law for any college, including the Citadel, to display such Confederate flags and symbols of white supremacist intimidation against African-American in violation of this law.

It is against the law for African-Americans to be intimated and forced to attend schools and educational institutions with names honoring white supremacist Confederate leaders, with intimidating white supremacist Confederate flags and statues at such educational institutions. The law clearly shows this applies to any university, school, or educational institution.

It is against the law for parks and other public places to promote this white supremacist Confederate flag and symbols to intimidate the African-American public from the use of these parks and public institutions, and to intimidate their public speech or peaceful assembly in such areas. It is against the law for our park administrations to sell, promote, and honor white supremacist Confederate flags, monuments, and other items to intimidate African-Americans from using such facilities, and to license commercial vendors to sell such white supremacist Confederate items, as well.

Regarding highways, travel, and “any facility of interstate commerce,” it is against the law for government organizations and institutions to designate names of such public facilities based on white supremacist Confederate leaders and to adorn them with Confederate white supremacist monuments to intimidate African-Americans from using such facilities of interstate commerce. The “Jefferson Davis Highway,” named after the notorious Confederate white supremacist leader, is in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and California; this includes direct avenues of interstate commerce in clear violation of federal law. Furthermore, the Federal Highway Administration maintains a friendly “history” of this disgraceful abuse of our interstate commerce, named after a white supremacist leader who led the campaign to kill 400,000 American soldiers and enslave at least hundreds of thousands of African-Americans.

In addition to all of these other laws, our U.S. Constitution has another legal obligation to enforce, specifically to all those in any government, under U.S. Constitution Amendment 14, Section 3, which states: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

We have seen numerous terrorist attacks on our nation, associated with those allied to the “insurrection” and “rebellion” by the Confederate white supremacist movement. This does not include only the Confederate terrorist attack in Charleston by Dylann Roof, but also other recent attacks by Confederate terrorist Wade Michael Page in Wisconsin, the terrorist shooting of African American churches in Tennessee by Confederate terrorists Daniel Cowart and Paul Schlesselman, and the plot by such Confederate terrorists to kill 102 African Americans in an attack on a church, as well as an attack on then Senator Barack Obama.

The idea that the Confederate enemy threat ended with the legal end of the Civil War is a misguided and incomplete view of history. The reality is that Confederate enemies chose to use other tactics to promote their policies and views of white supremacy against Americans, including terrorist tactics of insurgent warfare. This enemy is very much still alive in this nation.

So in view of all of these facts and the law of the land, it is clearly against the U.S. Constitution and against the law for members of our government who “hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State” to give “aid or comfort to the enemies” of our nation and those enemies who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.” This legal standard clearly applies to those members of our federal, state, or local government who would honor, promote, and praise such Confederate white supremacy symbols and leaders, giving “aid” and “comfort” to a very real enemy that still exists among us today.

When we start with an understanding of RIGHT AND WRONG, and we are educated on THE LAW, it is not difficult to see the many, many violations of the law by institutions seeking to create a culture of public intimidation against African-Americans in this nation.

I grew up as a child seeing the rawness of this white supremacy hatred and sickness in our nation. I vividly recall a visit to Virginia Beach, Virginia, asking my father what a sign meant that was in front of a hotel there that read “White Clientele Only.” My father went on to tell me how he learned of how his African-American co-workers would be intimidated and denied the rights to eat in public places that were also viewed as exclusive for “white clientele only.” I saw the disgrace of the white supremacy hate against Americans directly with my own eyes. I saw the contempt of Confederates for our nation, as they tore down an American flag that my father had in Virginia.

We have come far from those dark, horrible days, but we have not come far enough. We have changed much, but we have not changed enough. Most of all, we have enforced the law, but we have not enforced the law enough, and it is PAST TIME for our REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT and OUR RESPONSIBILITY to get the law of the land enforced against the Confederate white supremacist movement in this nation.

This is a call to action directly to the U.S. Department of Justice, to the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on this epidemic of criminal behavior by those “giving aid” to Confederate white supremacists, as well as a direct call for action by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta. This is not just the responsibility of protesters and activists, this is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TOO – we are looking for your leadership to enforce the law of the land. But while we seek our Department of Justice to act, this does not reduce OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT one bit – we are responsible for awakening our government, our institutions, and our businesses to ENFORCE THE LAW. If they cannot act swiftly through our calls for justice, then our calls for Class Action Lawsuits and other actions to ensure justice are required.

Today, in Charleston, South Carolina, an American patriot, Brittany “Bree” Newsome, took down the Confederate flag of white supremacy over the Charleston capitol grounds. She was arrested for the misdemeanor of defacing a monument, and a campaign of “#FreeBree” has been started. But who has broken THE LAW? Clearly, the law has been broken by the South Carolina government, and Bree Newsome’s actions were truly to ENFORCE THE LAW OF THE LAND, which is being broken by such government representatives. Bree Newsome was making a CITIZEN’S ARREST against the criminal symbol of Confederate white supremacist intimidation and hate being illegally honored on the public grounds at the Charleston capital.

After 150 years, it is truly past time for Americans to find the courage to enforce our laws.

If our representative government and our great nation is afraid and unwilling to enforce THE LAW in these blatant issues of honoring and promoting such white supremacist Confederate symbols, especially when such Confederates commit acts of terrorism on this nation, then let us not be such incredible hypocrites when we judge other nations who fail to act on extremists in their midst. Our support for the law, for our universal human rights and dignity is not simply a goal for the rest world, it is an imperative for the United States of America.

Some will want to debate this as a matter of “free speech” versus “civil rights” as if this was some philosophical matter detached from the urgent needs for safety, rights, dignity, and equality of Americans today. Some will want to argue this as a matter of “history” versus “legalities,” when the history they want to ignore is the enslavement, oppression, and mass murder of African Americans. The history they want to ignore is the hundreds of thousands of American patriots who died to fight such slavery. The history they want to ignore is the white supremacist contempt for human rights and dignity and the mutilation of our nation’s soul by the white supremacist atrocities, which we continue to see today.

But at some point, the American people must take a stand to show we understand the difference between right and wrong, that we have respect for the laws of this land and the human rights of this world, and we will not let that crimes committed by Americans in the past define us as Americans and as nation – today or in the future.

Some things are worth fighting for. In Arlington National Cemetery and in graves around this nation, 400,000 American patriot soldiers, including freed African-American slaves and many patriotic white Americans – GAVE THEIR LIVES and DIED – to defend our Union and to defy the cause of white supremacist HUMAN SLAVERY. When our children, the world, and each other see America, we must remember that.

We must remember, when faced with terrible wrongs, we can and we must have the courage to do what is RIGHT.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” It has been stated in contexts around the world, as it should. But let us not forget that it was written from by Dr King while he was in the Birmingham, Alabama jail to urge Americans to work for justice everywhere throughout this great nation. We must heed these words today, and end the criminal injustice of the Confederate white supremacist intimidation in our public places.

We need to remind the enemies of this nation. We need to remind those whose twisted values would honor white supremacy. We need to remind those who are fighting for democracy in foreign lands. We need to remind our children, who are looking for our leadership in this hour of decision. But most of all, we need to look to each other, eye to eye, hand to hand, heart to heart, in every race, religion, gender, and identity group, that makes up this great, integrated, and diverse nation of America.

We need to look to one another and remind ourselves, not just of our rights, but also of our RESPONSIBILITY… as WE ARE – the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This isn’t someone else’s fight. This isn’t someone else’s problem. This is our RESPONSIBILITY – to defy the enemies of our nation and the enemies of our human rights. It is our responsibility to continue to work to make this nation the land of the free and the home of the brave.

It is our RESPONSIBILITY for American Equality and Liberty – for all.

ISIS Terrorist Cowards Make Ramadan Attacks on Mosque, Muslims, Women, Children – 200 Killed in Five Countries

ISIS terrorists launched a string of terrorist attacks in multiple nations on June 25 and June 26, 2015 to murder Muslims, women, children, elderly, and tourists – in Syria, Kuwait, Tunisia, France, during the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. The vast majority of the 153 murdered in these ISIS terrorist attacks were Muslims. This is also the case in another 50 killed by ISIS ally Al-Shabab today, June 26. Combined, the ISIS terrorist and terrorist ally Al-Shabab attacks killed over 200, targeting mostly Muslims.

In Syria, the ISIS terror group killed at least 145 civilians in an attack on the Syrian town of Kobani and a nearby village on Thursday, June 25. Reuters reported the “attack on the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani and the nearby village of Brakh Bootan marked the biggest single massacre of civilians by Islamic State in Syria since it killed hundreds of members of the Sunni Sheitaat tribe last year.” The gruesome images of Muslim children’s bodies destroyed into pieces and row after row of children’s bodies after the ISIS terror attack in Kobani is heart-rending.

ISIS terror group killed at least 145 civilians in Kobani, Syria, including children, women, elderly

YPG spokesman Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters 46 civilians had been killed. The YPG spokesman said at least 145 had died in the assault launched by a group of Islamic State fighters estimated to number in the dozens. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said an estimated 50,000 people had been displaced within Hasaka city while 10,000 had left northwards toward Amuda town, close to the Turkish border. It warned that up to 200,000 people could eventually flee.

In Kuwait, on June 26, ISIS terrorists bombed the the Shiite mosque of Al-Sadiq on the Muslim day of prayer, in the middle of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam. The ISIS terror group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of the mosque. CCTV camera images showed the ISIS terrorist entering the mosque, during the Friday prayers, then using a cowardly suicide bomb to murder the unsuspecting Muslim worshippers. The gruesome photos of the killings in the mosque included young children who had gone for Ramadan prayers. The terrorist attack on Muslims left at least 8 dead, and many injured. The ISIS terrorist group bragged that it had killed and injured dozens in the attack on the Kuwait mosque. The Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah condemned the “cowardly terrorist act.”

ISIS Cowards Attack Shiite mosque of Al-Sadiq during Muslim Ramadan Prayers

In Tunisia, a reported ISIS terrorist attacked the Hotel Imperial Marhaba in Sousse, opening fire on beachgoers, and killing at least 39 people and injuring at least 39. At least five victims were British, according to the U.K. Foreign Office. An ISIS report stated that one of their terrorist used as a suicide bomb and that two of their terrorist members opened fire with guns on tourists at the beach resort. One of the reported ISIS cowards gunning down people on the beach includes the now dead attacker named as Abu Yahya Al-Qayrawani (from Kairouan/Tunisia), who was shot by police during his rampage against helpless people. One courageous man Matthew James was shot three times as he used his body as a human shield to protect his fiance.

Cowardly ISIS Terrorists Shoot at Beachgoers in Sousse, killing at least 39 people and injuring at least 39.

In France’s Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (Isere region) near Grenoble, a terrorist sought to explode gas cylinders at an American gas products company, Air Products, and beheaded a man. The alleged killer has been arrested and named as Yassine Salhi, 30, with the victim believed to be his employer. The French victim’s (Hervé Cornara) body was mutilated, labeled with Arabic lettering, and staged with two Khilafah shahada Arabic flags next to his body (one black and one white) next to his body, with the victim’s head posted on a fence. FRANCE 24 and the NYT reported that Yassin Salhi was being monitored since 2006 due to his association with “very radical” extremist groups. Police authorities arrested a second individual (Frédéric Jean Salvi), said to be “close” to him and is reportedly a radical cleric sought by Indonesian authorities, and his wife was also questioned, but has since been released. The president of the company targeted in the attack, Air Products, is a Shia Iranian named Seifi Ghasemi. Authorities believe Salhi may have been influenced or connected to ISIS.

Cowardly Terrorist Beheads Unarmed Man in France, Then Praises Khilafah

On Friday June 26, the ISIS ally of Al-Shabab killed 50 in Somalia, in an attack on an African Union base in military base in southern Somalia, with another 20 soldiers and 40 civilians missing and feared kidnapped for Al-Shabab’s slavery. This followed a June 24 attack by Al-Shabab on a UAE diplomatic convoy by a suicide bomber killing six Muslims.

ISIS Ally Al-Shabab in Somalia Kill and Kidnap Unarmed Civilians, Enslave Women

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) extends its prayers and sympathy to all those whose loved ones and lives were tragically impacted by such cowardly terrorist attacks. These attacks demonstrate, once again, that the only real ideology such cowardly terrorists have is a commitment to the destruction of our universal shared human rights of freedom of religion, security, dignity, equality, and liberty.

These cowards who target those in prayer, those on the shore, and those simply going about the daily lives are not the “warriors” that claim to be. They are sick, cowardly thugs who seek to snuff out the lives of children, women, elderly, and those who can’t defend themselves, because this is the only type of “fighting” capable by such cowards. They rationalize their attacks on houses of worship, our children, mothers, and families as promoting an ideology, but the only ideology they have is cowardly hate. We call for all those who glamorize such cowards to see them for who they really are in these attacks, mostly on Muslims, during Ramadan.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty is committed to our shared universal human rights, dignity, security for all people around the world, and in opposition to such criminal gangs who seek to rob us of our shared human rights. We urge all people to defy such enemies of human rights, and to be responsible for equality and liberty.

Rohingya Muslim Mass Graves in Multiple Countries

Multiple news sources have been reporting updates on the human rights crisis and ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, including mass graves in multiple countries, as a result of refugees fleeing from oppression in Myanmar to Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries. This includes a new report of the discovery of new mass graves on Monday, June 23, 2015, near the Thailand immigration offices and half a mile from a Thailand police office. Both Thailand government officials and Malaysia police officers have been arrested as co-conspirators.

Australia broadcasting media reported that this human rights atrocity begins with the responsibility of Myanmar government actions to force the Rohingya out of the country by destroying their homes and businesses, burning them down and bulldozing them. “About 140,000 Rohingya were forced away from the city, into an area of dried up mud flats near the sea now known as the Sittwe internally displaced people camp. They live on rations provided by the United Nations and the area has been fenced so they cannot leave.” Australia reporter Mark Davis stated “A Buddhist extremist mob turned on them very violently, their houses were burnt down, their businesses were burnt down, their wealth was taken away from them and they were pushed out of Sittwe and fled to the coast.”

As we have previously posted, the news media has reported on Myanmar Buddhist extremists’ burning alive of Rohingya Muslims within Myanmar, including a March 2013 atrocity at Meikhtila, where 36 Rohingya Muslims, mostly teenagers, who were slaughtered before the eyes of police and local officials who did almost nothing to stop it. The Associated Press reported on such atrocities of burning people alive, including burning 36 children: “Their bones are scattered in blackened patches of earth across a hillside overlooking the wrecked Islamic boarding school they once called home. Smashed fragments of skulls rest atop the dirt. A shattered jaw cradles half a set of teeth. And among the remains lie the sharpened bamboo staves attackers used to beat dozens of people to the ground before drowning their still-twitching bodies in gasoline and burning them alive.” According to Radio Free Asia, seven were arrested for this atrocity. This is the level of persecution and atrocities against human rights in Myanmar which drove these refugees to flee their country.

A man stands among the rubble of a burned building in Meikhtila, where 36 Muslims were burned to death (Source: RFA) — A man stands among the rubble of a burned building in Meikhtila. Myanmar, where 36 Muslims were burned to death in March 2013 (Source: RFA)

New reports have provided details on mass graves found in Thailand and Malaysia, as a result of human trafficking of such refugees who fled from Myanmar. Mass graves have been the result of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar, and becoming victims of mass murder at the hands of human traffickers. Reports of military atrocities waged against the Rohingya Muslims have included rape and forced labor, and the Post Media network has reported Rohingya Muslim Abdul Hashim saying that men have even been known to be burned alive.

Rohingya Muslim Mass Graves in Malaysia and Thailand (Source: The Guardian)

In Malaysia, the Post Media Network reported on mass graves on June 5, 2015, stating “Thrust under the spotlight this week by the discovery of 139 graves in Malaysian jungle camps used by suspected human smugglers, the Rohingya are stateless in their own southeast Asian nation, denied citizenship, their movements and even marriages severely restricted by the government.” The Guardian reported that “Malaysian police say they have uncovered 28 suspected human trafficking camps located about 500 metres from the country’s northern border, a day after authorities reported the discovery of multiple mass graves.”

Thailand: A child's shoe abandoned at a smuggling camp for Rohingya refugees, with torture facilities and graves (Source: ABC) — Thailand: A child’s shoe abandoned at a smuggling camp for Rohingya refugees, with torture facilities and graves (Source: ABC)

The Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has also sent reporters who have found additional mass graves and torture camps. On June 11, 2015, Australia Broadcasting reported on a smuggling camp where people were put in cages, reporting that “small children are believed to be among up to 1,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled a filthy Thai people-smuggling camp where people appear to have slept in bamboo cages and been punished in a torture chamber.” “The ABC’s 7.30 program visited the camps near the southern Thai town of Padang Besar, where residents knew about the trafficking of Rohingya Muslims but kept quiet for fear of retribution from smugglers. Some locals financially gained from the trade in human misery.”

On Monday, June 23, 2015, Australia Broadcasting had a new report on a mass grave discovered just minutes from the Thailand immigration offices. ABC stated that “As Thai and Malaysian authorities continue their hunt for hidden graves of refugees in a remote border jungle, the biggest gravesite of all may have been discovered hidden in plain sight. Just 800 metres (half a mile) from the front door of the police centre in the Thai border town Padang Besar, and a five-minute stroll from the Thai immigration office, lie dozens of concealed graves of Rohingya refugees who have fled abject persecution in their homeland Myanmar. More than 100 secret graves might lie in the small cemetery, and overlooking the site just metres away is the house of the smuggler believed to have put them there.”

Young Rohingyan man 'Buraq' shows where the bodies of his friends are buried in a mass grave site near the border crossing into Malaysia from Thailand (Source: Australia Broadcasting) — Young Rohingyan man ‘Buraq’ shows where the bodies of his friends are buried in a mass grave site in Padang Besar, Thailand, near the border crossing into Malaysia from Thailand (Source: Australia Broadcasting)

Australia news reporter Mark Davis interviewed Rohingya victims, and stated “If families didn’t pay the men were beaten to death, the women were raped to death in many cases, and the children were not spared.” A former guard of one of the Thailand human trafficking camps reported showed the reporter where additional bodies were buried. “The former guard led Davis to a mass grave in the nearby town of Padang Besar where he had personally buried about 20 Rohingya bodies in a field of about 100 graves. The site was located behind a police station and overlooking this graveyard was the newly built mansion of one of the smugglers.”

Australia news reported “Shockingly, most people around the camps must have known about their existence. Davis said the camps were not that remote. ‘One guard said there were 50 camps that had thousands of people in them, these were surrounded by villages and roads, this has been happening on an industrial scale for the last three years,’ Davis said. Hundreds of people, sometimes 500 in one day, would be transported to these jungle camps in trucks and cars. ‘The idea that someone didn’t know about this is laughable now,’ Davis said. The mayor of Padang Besar and his deputy have recently been arrested for their involvement in the trade and a senior Thai general has also been arrested but Davis said this was just the tip of the iceberg of who was involved.”

In Malaysia, the Rakyat Post met with Rohingya Muslim victims of the camps in Perlis (Malaysia) and Thailand who managed to secure their freedom from their captives. They interviewed one of the camp victims, Aminah Khatu, who stated “Before I left, they started burning down our homes. People kept saying ‘go to Malaysia, there people live happily’. This is why I got on the boat. I got on a small boat for a few days before being transferred to a ferry where we were left at sea for two months. Later on, we were transferred into a small boat to reach Thailand. I was in the Thailand jungles for a month.” According to the Post, “she said the conditions in the camp in the jungle were terrible and the ground they were placed on was always watery.” The Post reported that she stated ” ‘My children felt sick and one of them passed away there after he fell ill. I called my husband who was in KL (Kaula Lampur) at that time and told him that one of our children had passed away so he must get us out of the camp quick.’ She said her husband told her that he did not have money to do so immediately. ‘My husband told me he did not have enough money, but he later managed to gather RM5,000 by borrowing it from his friends. I passed the money to the agent and he took it, but he still refused to let us go. He cheated us and we remained in the camp for another 15 days. After that, my husband had to find another RM6,000 and paid that sum to them before they released us.’ She said her experience at the camp was horrible and they fed them very little. ‘We had nothing there. They fed us a little rice and curry and a little jelly. When someone died, they just threw the body in the jungle. Those who were very sickly were also thrown into the jungle to die.'”

In Malaysia, 12 police officers were arrested in connection with the Perlis, Malaysia mass graves and human rights atrocity. Malaysia Deputy home minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar stated that “12 police officers have been arrested, four by the police and eight by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). ”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports the universal human rights of all people, including their right to freedom of religion, security, dignity, as well as their right to protect their nationality, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 15. The Rohingya Muslim refugees must be given human rights, dignity, and a sanctuary from their oppression in Myanmar.

Myanmar Rohingya Muslim Refugees Resettling in USA — World Crisis Continues

In a follow-up from our report last year on Myanmar refugee resettlements, the U.S. Department of State Refugee Processing Center indicates a number of Myanmar Muslim refugees are finding resettlement options.

The U.S. Department of State Refugee Processing Center indicates that 3,000 Myanmar Muslims refugees have been resettled in the United States of America in the past year, with over 13,000 resettled in the United States since 2002. While it is progress that an increasing number have found refuge in the United States, the deep and horrific problems of Myanmar Rohingya Muslims require the attention of the world’s nations, and support for this human rights and refugee crisis. On June 6, we reported that the UNHCR is seeking an additional $13 million to deal with the Southeast Asia boat crisis.

The world must continue to respond to the human rights crisis in Myanmar, and the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma). A year ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Resolution 418 urging the Burmese government to end the persecution of ethnic minority Rohingya Muslims. But in dealing with such human rights crises, words are not enough and the Rohingya Muslim refugees must be given human rights, dignity, and a sanctuary from their oppression in Myanmar.

The progress stands in stark relief to magnitude of the ongoing human rights problem, with literally hundreds of thousands stateless refugees seeking safe conditions, who have fled to Asian countries including Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Rohingya Muslims seeking to cross the Naf river into Bangladesh are turned away by border guards. (Source: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)

As the U.S. Campaign for Burma states, “The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority living in northern Arakan/Rakhine State in western Burma. They have faced severe persecution and violence at the hands of the state and national governments for decades. There are approximately 1.33 million Rohingya in Burma, but the country’s 1982 Citizenship Law denies them citizenship in spite of the fact that Rohingya have lived in Burma for generations.” “On January 13, 2014, Rakhine mobs and security forces entered Du Chee Yar Tan, Maungdaw Township, and slaughtered over 40 Rohingya. A UN report confirms the gruesome deaths – severed heads of at least 10 Rohingya, some children, were found bobbing in a water tank.” “Forced to venture by boat to trafficking camps on remote Thai islands, the Rohingya are faced with violence, lack of food and water (often forced to drink their own urine), and those who have fallen victim to disease are thrown overboard if dead or close to dying.”

As we previously reported in November 2014, the Fortify Rights group did research concluding that, “Myanmar state security forces are complicit in and profiting from the increasingly lucrative maritime human trafficking and smuggling of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Fortify Rights revealed in a briefing released today. Since 2012, Myanmar state security forces in Rakhine State have collected payments from Rohingya asylum seekers fleeing Myanmar by ships operated by transnational criminal syndicates, according to information obtained by Fortify Rights. In some cases, the Myanmar Navy escorted boats operated by criminal gangs out to international waters.”

“Of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya that have fled to Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia to escape persecution and adversity, approximately 300,000 Rohingya live in squalid conditions in Bangladesh where they are denied access to food supplies, medical aid, and education.”

We lead in human rights solutions with our hearts and our conscience. These suffering Myanmar Rohingya Muslims must have the same universal human rights as as all other people around the world.

American Patriots Must Reject Racism

The United States of America has had for too many years a long standing human rights problem with white supremacist racism. It is a shame and disgrace to a great nation, founded on the ideals of equality and liberty. As the President recently indicated, this human rights travesty is one that has taken generations to change and continues to require our commitment to change. Americans must step up to this human rights challenge to end such racial inequality, discrimination, hatred, and violence, and leave it in the past.

Respect for racial equality, dignity, justice, and liberty remains one of the most important patriotic values for Americans. American patriots cannot hate people because of their race or identity group. Such racial hatred is contempt for the “truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Such white supremacist racial hatred is a denial of the very identity of America itself.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) Challenge to White Supremacist Racist Groups and Confederate Memorials — Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) Activism and Demonstrations in Defiance to White Supremacist Racist Groups and Confederate Memorials

American patriots must also reject those who have contempt for the Constitution of the United States and our shared national laws. Such racist hatred routinely objects to fundamental Constitutional and legal standards which all Americans have as protections and responsibilities. White supremacist racial hatred has a contempt for the Constitution of the United States of America, and most racial hate groups actively oppose the U.S. Constitution Amendment 13 (ending slavery), Amendment 14 (ensuring citizenship for all people ” born or naturalized in the United States” including former slaves) and Amendment 15 (the right for vote can not be denied “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”).

Furthermore, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution also provides that those who have taken a vow to support the Constitution, but “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” are not to be given the privilege of holding federal government office or state government office positions. Specifically, Constitutional Amendment 14, Section 3 states: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” This clause of the Constitution is still in operation today, and it remains the law of the land.

Racist groups have repeatedly objected to the law of the land, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (14 Stat. 27-30), Enforcement Act of 1871 (17 Stat. 13) to defy the Ku Klux Klan (and unreasonable search and seizure used in police brutality cases) – parts which continue under 42 U.S.C. § 1983: Civil action for deprivation of rights, Civil Rights Act of 1957, (Pub.L. 85–315, 71 Stat. 634), Civil Rights Act of 1960 (Pub.L. 86–449, 74 Stat. 89), Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Pub.L. 88–352, 78 Stat. 241), Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. § 10101), Civil Rights Act of 1968, (Pub.L. 90–284, 82 Stat. 73), and the Civil Rights Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102-166).

In addition to ensuring the legal right to fair housing, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 law states that it is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2)) to “by force or by threat of force, injure, intimidate, or interfere with anyone …by reason of their race, color, religion, or national origin.”

Nearly 400,000 American patriots died fighting against racism, as Union soldiers during the Civil War, which brought the end to slavery. 400,000. So many died, they could not find graves for them all, and many were buried in Arlington Cemetery. Yet even that horrible sacrifice, as many American patriots fighting against racist slavery who died, as all Americans who died in World War II fighting Hitler and the Axis powers, was still not enough. We needed to create law after law to change the United States of America, and we did. Yet we continue the war, not “between the states,” but against white supremacists which still is not yet at an end in this nation. Yet, American patriots must realize that we cannot be truly an effective nation “with liberty and justice for all” until we WIN THIS WAR. We must bring it to an end, and it must be the goal of all American patriots.

If we begin with the starting point that American patriots must by their values, by their law, and in honor of our fallen heroes, defy and challenge white supremacist racial hatred and injustice, then we must ask ourselves why is it taking so many generations to heal this wound of racism on our nation’s soul? Why must we be so patient about it? Why aren’t more patriots incensed and furious over every new racist attack, not only on those victims who are racial minorities, but also on values and standards of our nation? Too many have tolerated parts of this nation to have a twisted nostalgia for Confederate racial hatred. Too many have allowed those with white supremacist activism to go unchallenged.

The idea that all we need to end this contempt for our shared human rights and dignity needs is more time, more generations, must be unacceptable to American patriots.

Is there a greater enemy to the United States of America than the white supremacist racism ideology, which led to as many deaths in a war as all wars combined, with over 400,000 American Union soldiers fighting against slavery? What greater enemy could there be than one that has led to the death of so many, and which actively sought the division of the United States itself? What more clearly defined insurrection could there be than an enemy which sought to secede from the United States itself?

Certainly a starting point would be any member of the American federal or state government who supports or gives aid to white supremacist groups opposed to our Constitution, as well as those who support or give aid to the enemy Confederate States of America (CSA) ideology and its symbols of hatred, which rebelled against the United States government. Any such federal or state government individual needs to be removed from office. They have no place in any role in any part of any government in this nation, as Amendment 14 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states.

Let us end our patience with the injustice and evil of white supremacist racism. Let us expect that any leader of our nation, including any presidential candidate, which does not have such impatience towards ending white supremacist racism, must not be given any leadership role.

Our current President states that the measures of racism are not just one slanderous term, and of course he is right, that the challenge is not only “overt discrimination,” but also every aspect of institutional discrimination in this great nation. But where I believe the President is wrong is in the view that we must be patient, where he states “Societies don’t, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior.”

While we cannot erase the past, we can change the present and build for the future.

American patriots must be reminded not only can we change the racist present, but we must change the racist present. It is our RESPONSIBILITY. But we need to do more than condemn, dismiss, or reject white supremacist racism. We are not a passive nation with a passive culture. We are and always be a nation of action. If anything, perhaps the idea that we can get away with “passively” challenging white supremacist racism is one of our greatest national mistake.

Active Defiance of Racism is our patriotic responsibility as Americans.

This defiance of racism is not just when it is convenient, or pleasant, or when it involves someone we don’t know. Our challenge to racist organizations, leaders, and ideologies must use our voices, our freedoms, and our defense of our nation to defy and challenge the hatred of racial minorities, including removing such racism from every area of public life in government, public organizations, religion, and society, with no exceptions.

While the Civil War ended 150 years ago, we have known for decades that the war against white supremacist racism has not yet ended. We must the finish the struggles of those who came before us, and not let this disease of white supremacist hate spread to yet another generation. Let us end it here. It would be the American thing to do.

Let us be – in every way – Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

White Racist Terrorist Attack on African-American Church – 9 Killed

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 Attacked Wednesday Night (Source: AME Website) — 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)

"Need to Identify" Statement from Charleston Police — “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." — 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.

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.

Out-of-Control Pakistan Blasphemy Law Used to Oppress Christians, Others

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 reported 262 cases of alleged blasphemous behavior.

We continue to appeal for the medical welfare and release of Asia Bibi, which has also been addressed by other human rights leaders, including the Pakistan Christian Post, Asian Human Rights Commission, Global Dispatch, British Pakistan Christians, and others. The Asian Human Rights Commission has a very useful posting with additional contacts for emails for action, which R.E.A.L. has included in our ACTION posting to get the Pakistan government to act now on her medical condition and to release her from her unjust imprisonment.

Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi accused of "blasphemy" — 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 Gunned Down in Faisalabad Court in Broad Daylight on July 19, 2010. (Photo by Jabran Inayat and GVM Television) — 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 Rehmat Masih, Qamar David, Imran Masih, Robert Danish aka Falish Masih (who died in prison while being arrested for blasphemy), Munir Masih and his wife Ruqiya Bibi, and others.

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 — 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

We have also reported on other minority (and majority) Muslims caught up in this oppression, such as Masud Ahmad (Ahmadiyya Muslim), four Ahmadiyya Muslim children arrested for blasphemy, and other Muslims such as British Muhammad Asghar, as a well as 60 year old Muslim woman, Akhtari Malkan, attacked for dropping a receipt on the ground which was built up as “throwing the Qur’an” on the ground, a factory owner killed for taking down a calendar and accused of blasphemy.

Karachi University’s Dean Faculty of Islamic Studies, Dr Shakeel Auj - Murdered after Blasphemy Charge to Pakistan Police (Source: BBC) — Karachi University’s Dean Faculty of Islamic Studies, Dr Shakeel Auj – Murdered after Blasphemy Charge to Pakistan Police (Source: BBC)

Blasphemy charges have been brought against well-known majority Muslim figures out of spite and hate, including Pakistan singer Junaid Jamshed, actress Veena Malik (initially sentenced to 26 years in prison before a Supreme Court stay), and even an Islamic studies professor. Muslim Dr. Muhammad Shakil Auj, a professor of Islamic studies in Karachi, had blasphemy charges filed charges against him with the police for blasphemy by a local seminary for being “too liberal”. He never saw a court room as he was shot to death first. His name was removed from the university website hours after his death.

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.

Why We Must Struggle for Democracy – Everyone Matters

Democracy gives us hope for change and a path to defend the human rights for all. In a democracy, everyone matters. Democracy matters.

What would our lives and the next generation’s future be without democracy? Without the democratic ability to make our own decisions as free men and women, how can we defend our universal human rights of equality and liberty?

But the struggle for democracy is not one fight, not a single battle, one war for freedom, where victory is declared, and democracy is secured. It is a continuous struggle and effort to win, keep, and maintain a democracy. We need to continuously work to build a democratic society where the voices of the people can be heard, and where human rights for all are part of the democratic process. A “democracy” which does not respect the inherent human rights of others fails to understand that in a democracy EVERYONE MATTERS.

Democracies are not simply about majority votes. That is what majority oppressors with power would like the world to believe. That is what tyrants with an agenda want to people to believe, so they can deceive into accepting a dictatorship. They will attack the flaws of any individual democratic state and tell the world, “see this is what democracy leads to.”

The tyrants and the authoritarians take failures in democracies out of context. They only show the failures. They are silent about all the people trying to correct the failures. They don’t mention how people use their democratic freedoms to vote to promote change, to march for the rights of all, and how they protest together in the cause of democratic freedoms.

Tyrants particularly enjoy pouncing on the failures of democracy in America, which are widely publicized by Americans themselves (because they denounce such failures), and ignoring what people who love democracy seek to do to correct these failures.

In the tyrant’s propaganda against democracy, there is only slavery in America, without a Civil War; there is only Jim Crow laws, without a 15th Amendment to the Constitution; there is only denying women the right to vote, without a 19th Amendment to the Constitution; there is only Civil Rights challenges, without a Martin Luther King, Jr. and the generation that followed; there is only a failure to provide full Constitutional protection, without the campaign for Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.); there is only police abuse against African-Americans, without a campaign to hold law enforcement accountable and ensure that black lives and all lives matter.

Nor is this propaganda exclusive to denying democratic struggles in the United States of America. Tyrants will have similar half-truths in every other democratic country.

But the tyrants’ half-truths will only tell one side of the story. The goal of tyrants are to entice the discouraged, the disaffected, and those in despair from giving up on democracy altogether, but telling them only about democracy’s failures, and silencing discussion about democracy’s promise. The tyrants want people to give up hope on democracy and submit to their rule.

If there no other reason that compels you to struggle for democracy, take that vision to your heart. Can we be so selfish and heartless that we will not offer outstretched hands to bring back our brothers and sisters in despair on democracy from the clutches of tyranny? No, no. Those who love democracy know that our democratic freedoms and hopes are intended for everyone.

It is our responsibility to continue the struggle for democracy – for the generation today, and the the generations tomorrow.

Many don’t like the word “struggle.” It implies so much effort and work, and less of going with the natural flows in life. That’s right. It does and it is. While equality may be the natural law of humanity, we know that there have always been and will always be tyrants and bullies who seek to defy such natural law. We have seen the Dark Ages of the past, and it is our responsibility to help lead our society to the sunrise of a compassionate tomorrow.

Democracy must be compassionate. If in a democracy – everyone matters, then in a democracy – we must be compassionate to the suffering of our fellow human beings. How we can we believe they matter, if we don’t care about the suffering of others? Those who talk about democratic rights, but do not have democratic hearts, have lost sight of the meaning of democracy itself. They may know the tune, but they don’t understand the words or what they mean.

In our world today, our pace is so fast that we have often lost sight of compassion, of patience, and of kindness. We have forgotten that those too are part of our democratic ideals, if everyone matters. In a democracy, we must lead with our heart first.

We are rightfully an impatient people when it comes to abuses against our democracy and failures of our leaders. We may be frustrated and angry at those who would defy our democratic ideals. But even then, we must work for the democratic values of fairness and human rights for everyone – even those who do wrong. This doesn’t make us weak. It makes us stronger than any tyrant’s iron fist.

In today’s world, certainly there are many discouraged with our practices of democracy. But the greatest sign of the success of democracy are all the books and articles written by those who complain that it hasn’t yet met its goals, and complaining about its failures. Now THAT is democracy at work, that is the democratic freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of expression that free men and women accept as part of their natural lives.

When we are discouraged, that is the most important time to channel our frustration into action. The greatest cure to democracy’s ills is the action by those who know that everyone matters and that democracy matters.

We may think democracy doesn’t need defenders, and that “someone else” will defend democracy. We may think that our individual passions, causes, and campaigns are more productive channels for our time and energy, because after all, everyone understands the need for democracy.

But that is not true. Our struggle for democracy itself is as essential as the air which we breathe. We cannot chose to wait for “someone else.” My brothers and sisters in humanity, when it comes to defending democracy, we are the “someone else” who must struggle to defend it. There is no cause more essential than democracy to freedom and our shared universal human rights.

In a democracy, we love our rights, but we must love our responsibilities even more. We cannot have human rights, without human responsibilities. When you stand for democracy, you are responsible for equality and liberty for your fellow human beings.

Sometimes you will need to take a stand on your own against those who seek the destruction of democracy. Remember you are never alone when you stand for democracy, equality, and liberty. Free man and women of the world stand behind you.

Today will be such a day for me. I need to stand alone against a determined foe of democracy. The extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) will be in the Washington DC suburb of Springfield, Virginia to recruit minds to persuade them to reject democracy. HuT is openly against democracy with a “No Democracy” campaign, and denial of human rights, rejection of women’s equality, and a goal to subjagate people under a religious dictatorship. But there are plenty of enemies of democracy. If it was not HuT, it would some other extremists against democracy. We must provide a challenge to those who seek the end to democracy.

In our busy, overwhelmed lives, it would be convenient to be silent in the face of the enemies of democracy. But if democracy matters for everyone, then does not democracy matter for those who seek to be recruited by tyrants?

The defense of democracy will not simply be made in air-conditioned conference rooms by people in business suits, and nicely organized meetings, who have their lunch catered.

No the defense of democracy must also be done on our feet, in the streets, when it is hard, when you can’t find a way or the time, and when it seems impossible. Free men and women don’t know the meaning of the word “impossible” in the defense of democracy.

We must continually struggle for democracy – because democracy matters for all of us. It is the foundation to defend our shared universal human rights. Democracy matters.

We must continue our struggle for democracy, because it is not just our rights that matter, it is also our shared responsibilities.

We are all responsible for equality and liberty.

And it is always another GOOD DAY to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

ACTION: Pakistan Christian Asia Bibi Bleeding in Multan Jail – Falsely Charged with “Blasphemy”

We have received reports the Pakistan Christian woman Asia Bibi has been suffering from intestinal bleeding and is vomiting blood, while she remains imprisoned in Women’s Multan Jail in Punjab. Asia Bibi was falsely accused of “blasphemy” in 2009 from women who were upset that a Christian woman drank from the same water supply as she did. She is mother of five, and was sentenced to death in 2010, and her appeal is pending in Supreme Court of Pakistan against decision to uphold her death sentence from Lahore High Court. The Pakistan Government must act immediately to deal with her urgent medical condition and her human rights violations. The Supreme Court must also intervene to ensure she is getting medical treatment to respect her legal court appeal.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L), along with other human rights groups, urge our fellow human beings to contact the following today to advocate for Asia Bibi’s immediate medical treatment and her release. It is cruel and unusual punishment to allow a prisoner in jail to be suffering from intestinal bleeding without treatment.

Pakistan Christian Woman Asia Bibi Needs Medical Help in Women's Multan Jail; Unjustly Imprisoned on False Blasphemy Charges — Pakistan Christian Woman Asia Bibi Needs Medical Help in Women’s Multan Jail; Unjustly Imprisoned on False Blasphemy Charges

Pakistan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) ratified as of June 23, 2010, as well as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Pakistan has commitment to the international agreement of ICCPR Article 5, which states “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Furthermore, Pakistan’s commitment to the ICCPR Article 18, which includes “1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

The deplorable conditions under which Pakistan Christian Asia Bibi is being held, and her lack of medical treatment must be cause for action by the government of Pakistan today. Such conditions would even be in contempt of Geneva Conventions during war time, let alone for a civilian mother of a 5 year old child. The Pakistan government must be responsible for such human decency and international law. We also call again for the Pakistan to release Asia Bibi on her false imprisonment on “blasphemy” charges.

R.E.A.L. urges human rights activists to contact the following individuals on Asia Bibi’s desperate situation. UPDATE: the email addresses for the Pakistan President, PM, and Supreme Court are now using blocking methods. R.E.A.L. will update this when we have the fax numbers for them.

Pakistani President (see this link for contacts in the office)
Name: Mamnoon Hussain
Secretary’s Office Name: Mr. Saeed Ali
Email: dir_secretaryoffice@president.gov.pk

Pakistan Prime Minister
Name: Mian Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister House, Islamabad, PAKISTAN
Email: info@pmo.gov.pk (email currently being blocked)
Phone: +92 51 920 6111
Fax: +92 51 922 1596
Reported Alternate Email: secretary@cabinet.gov.pk
Additional Alternate Email: pspm@pmsectt.gov.pk
Facebook Site:
https://www.facebook.com/PrimeMinisterOffice

Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister:
Name: Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif
Telephone: 042-99204906-14, 042-99203222-3
Fax: 042-99204915, 042-99203224

Pakistan: Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights
Federal Minister of Law and Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, Old US Aid building, Ata Turk Avenue; G-5, Islamabad, PAKISTAN
Name: Mr. Pervaiz Rashid
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk
Fax: +92 51 9204108

Governor of Punjab
Governor House, Mall Road, Lahore, Punjab, PAKISTAN
Name: Mr. Rafiq Rajwana
Fax: +92 42 99203044
Email: governor.sectt@punjab.gov.pk

Mr. Chief Justice of Punjab Province
Lahore High Court, Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore, PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 42 99212951-66
Fax: +92 42 99212279
Email: webmasterlhc@lhc.gov.pk

Federal Minister for Interior
R Block, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad (Pakistan)
Name: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Tel : 0092-51-9212026
Fax: 0092-51-9202624
Email: interior.complaintcell@gmail.com
Alternate Email: ministry.interior@gmail.com

Inspectorate General of Prisons
Punjab Prisons, Link Jail Road, Shadman, Lahore
Name: Inspector General Mian Farooq Nazeer
Telephone: (042) 99200498, (042) 99200570, (042) 99200582
Fax: (042) 37595016
Email: punjabprisons@gmail.com

Women’s Jail Multan
Name: Superintendent of Jail Ms. Fakhra Azra
Phone: 061-4234784
Fax: 061-4234784

Mr. Chief Justice of Punjab Province
Lahore High Court
Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Lahore, PAKISTAN
Tel: +92 42 99212951-66
Fax: +92 42 99212279
Email: webmasterlhc@lhc.gov.pk

Pakistan Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights
Name: Mr. Ashtar Ausaf Ali
Phone: + (92-51-9210062)
(92-51-9212710)
Fax: + (92-51-9202628)
Email. stateminister@molaw.gov.pk

Supreme Court of Pakistan
Honorable Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk
Telephone: +92 5192 20 581-600
Fax: +92 5192 13 452
Email : mail@supremecourt.gov.pk (email currently being blocked)
Mr. Justice Tahir Shahbaz
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitution Avenue, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 51 9213452
Email: mail@supremecourt.gov.pk (can get “over quota” response)

Pakistan Special Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights
Name: Mr. Justice (R) Muhammad Raza Khan
Phone: + (92-51-9202712)
Fax: + (92-51-9202628)
Email: secretary@molaw.gov.pk

Name: Mr. Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister, Government of Punjab
Province Chief Minister
Secretariat 5-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore, Punjab, PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99205065
Email: cmcomplaintcell@cmpunjab.gov.pk

Name: Mr. Rana Sana Ullah Khan
Minister of Law, Government of Punjab, Punjab Secretariat, Ravi Road, Lahore, Punjab, PAKISTAN
Fax: +92 42 99212004
E-mail: law@punjab.gov.pk

Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
Name: Chief Justice, Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan
Email: Registrar@federalshariatcourt.gov.pk

Paksitan Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony
Name: Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf
Phone: 9214856
Email: sardarysf1952@gmail.com
Name: Mr. Muhammad Iqbal Siddiqui
Email: saifkhan57@gmail.com

National Commission on the Status of Women
Name: Ms. Khawar Mumtaz, Chairperson
Phone: 92-51-9224875
Fax: 92-51-9224877
E-mail: info@ncsw.gov.pk

Embassy of Pakistan, 3517 International Ct NW, Washington, DC 20008
Name: Ambassador, Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani
Phone: 202-243-6500, Ext. 2000 & 2001
FAX: 202-686-1534
Email: ambassador@embassyofpakistanusa.org
info@embassyofpakistanusa.org
Name: Dr. Asad M. Khan, Deputy Chief of Mission
Phone: 202-243-3251 & 202-243-6500 Ext. 2002
Email: dcm@embassyofpakistanusa.org

Central Police Office (CPO), Punjab
Name: Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, PSP, Inspector-General of Police, Punjab
Phone: 042-99210062-3
Fax: 042-99210064

We also urge you to reach the:
Women’s Rights Association (WRA)
Central Office
ADDRESS House #13 Hans Road New Shalimar Colony
Bosan Road, Multan, Pakistan
Name: Shaista Bukhari
FAX NO+92-61-6513386
EMAIL ID wra.org.pk@gmail.com
wrapakistan@hotmail.com
http://www.wra.org.pk

Please note – this is R.E.A.L.’s best effort to obtain these contacts for action. We don’t have control over their email or fax accounts. The Pakistan government will let some email accounts get full (over quota), block some, and will turn off some of their fax machines. Keep trying. A lot of them will work, and we urge you to directly contact them on this immediate issue. When they make themselves inaccessible, we understand first-hand how frustrating this is in our efforts to communicate with these Pakistan government officials.