Major Stories – Page 11 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

California Tea Party Activist Denounces Temecula Mosque Protest

In an emailed press release titled “Menifee, Hemet, and Murrieta Tea Parties not involved in Temecula Mosque Protests,” California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne states that “The organizers of the Menifee, Hemet, and Murrieta Tea Parties wish to emphatically state that not only are they not involved in organizing any planned Mosque protest, but that we would strongly condemn the use of dogs to harass anybody, anywhere.” The press release also stated that “The vast majority of Tea Party people are honest, decent, patriotic Americans who love their country and believe in the values that made America great. We are neither racists or ‘Islamophobes.'” An excerpt of Shellie Milne’s press release was also posted as a comment on the Huffington Post.

California Tea Party Activist Shelli Milne Opposes Temecula Mosque Protest (Photo: Menifee/Sun City Tea Party Meetup Group) — California Tea Party Activist Shellie Milne Opposes Temecula Mosque Protest (Photo: Menifee/Sun City Tea Party Meetup Group)

The national Tea Party Patriots website lists Shellie Milne as a contact of local California Tea Parties in Riverside County, and refers to their web site at MenifeeTeaParty.com, which redirects you to the “Tea Parties of Riverside County.” The “Tea Parties of Riverside County” website includes their complete press release on the Temecula mosque protest. Shellie Milne’s telephone numbers are listed on that website as the point of contact for weekly “Tea Parties of Riverside County” meetings. Shellie Milne has told Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) that her activism included going to help others create and build new Tea Party organizations in California.

A meetup group also lists Shellie Milne as the Assistant Organizer of Menifee/Sun City Tea Party. A meetup group for the Murrieta Tea Party shows Shellie Milne as an Assistant Organizer, where on September 1, 2009, she wrote “Our family is new to the area and very determined to take our Country back. The Constitution must be saved. Sitting on the computer and just talking about it is not going to help anyone – get up and educate those around you.” Shellie Milne is also a member of “Moms for America.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty’s (R.E.A.L.) Jeffrey Imm reached out to California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne for further details from her press release. California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne stated that she was a firm supporter of the United States Constitution and all of its freedoms, including freedom of religion. In her press release, Shellie Milne stated that Tea Party representatives are not “Islamophobes.” As a Mormon, Shellie Milne told R.E.A.L. that she was familiar with religious discrimination, and she supports the U.S. Constitutional freedom of religion.

California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne stated that the local Tea Parties around Temecula had a meeting of leaders who stated their objection to the mosque protest plans by the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group led by Diana Serafin, who Shellie Milne said that she knew. Shellie Milne stated that other local Tea Parties were going to prepare a press announcement rejecting the Temecula mosque protest, which we have not yet received, and we will provide an updated report should we receive any further press release.

California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne stated that local Tea Party groups had had “trouble” with the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group, and have sought to distance themselves from that group. In addition, Shellie Milne stated that the national Tea Party Patriots was a group that “anyone could join,” and that the Tea Party Patriots has had difficulty policing its website due to such openness.

Shellie Milne stated that the Tea Party Patriots had attempted to remove the mosque protest event posted there by the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group, but apparently the Tea Party Patriots has been unable to remove the continued July 30 event listing for the Temecula mosque protest that R.E.A.L. reported on July 28. Shellie Milne suggested that this may be due to some technical problem with the Tea Party Patriots website. On the “New Patriot Journal” listed as the news section for the Tea Party Patriots, we have been unable to see any reference to Temecula or the Temecula mosque, or any public statement on the Tea Party Patriots’ rejection of the Temecula mosque protest.

R.E.A.L. asked Shellie Milne about the other Tea Party groups and leaders that have made derogatory comments against Islam and sought to lead or support protests against American mosques, including high profile political individuals with or linked to the Tea Party.

Shellie Milne stated that she believed that the Tea Party was to support the U.S. Constitution and its freedoms, no matter what your emotional feelings might be about any one group. Shellie Milne stated her supporters reject the Temecula mosque protest planned for July 30 in California. Shellie Milne stated that she believed that those who do not focus on defending the U.S. Constitution are missing the point of what the Tea Party is about.

R.E.A.L. encourages others in the Tea Party movement to follow the leadership of Shellie Milne to reject “Islamophobia” and to recognize our freedom of religion and freedom of worship is defended by U.S. Constitution that the Tea Party activists state that they are seeking to defend.

Throughout July 2010, R.E.A.L. has contacted the National Tea Party organization FreedomWorks (1-888-564-6273) for comment on stories that continue to arise on Tea Party leaders, Islam, and mosque protests, and has not yet heard back from them on this issue. A search of “mosque” or “Temecula” on the FreedomWorks website shows no comments on the Temecula mosque protest or any mosque protest. (We have received feedback from FreedomWorks on racial issues in the recent past, but not on the mosque protests or statements on Islam.) Other R.E.A.L. supporters have contacted the Los Angeles Tea Party group and other California Tea Party groups on this topic. Shireen Qudosi posted an article on the topic “Tea Party Protest Against Temecula Mosque Points to Rising Tensions Between Islam and Right Wing Groups” at Qudosi.com.

Since there is no central leadership of the “Tea Party,” the challenge is that different groups all claim to represent the “Tea Party” view. On July 4, 2010, the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group, whose leader has promoted the Temecula mosque protest, stated that it had 25 individuals at its July 4 “parade” event. The question remains, on protests against mosques and Islam by Tea Party members around America, who speaks for the Tea Party on this issue, and why do the national Tea Party organizations remain silent on supporting freedom of religion and worship?

SWRC Tea Party Citizens in Action (Left) and Murietta Tea Party (Right) - the SWRC Tea Party Leader Promotes Temecula Mosque Protest, the Murietta Tea Party Leader Denounces It - Who Speaks for the Tea Parties on Freedom of Religion and Worship?

To other Tea Party activists who seek to stand up in support of freedom of religion and worship, we invite them (as we did at the beginning of July) to contact us at responsible.public@gmail.com, or to sign our online petition on this

On the R.E.A.L. website, we created a category for this topic called “Tea Party and Islam,” to allow readers to follow our reports on this subject, as we get additional news, statements, and reports on this subject.

The shortcut for this category is: http://bit.ly/tea-islam

While national Tea Party groups are silent on this issue, there are Tea Party groups and leaders around the country that continue to protest mosques and hold events on Islam. In the coast-to-coast protests against mosques and Islam, too often the Tea Party organizations keep getting mentioned.

The Texas NE Tarrant Tea Party is holding a July 29 event in a Texas school on how to stop the “Islamization of America,” days after an attack on an Arlington, Texas mosque children’s playground and harassment of worshipers. Led by “European Judeo-Christian” “culturist” John Press, the Brooklyn Tea Party’s leader is now calling for eminent domain to stop the construction of a mosque in Brooklyn, weeks after a Brooklyn protester told the press that he would “bomb the mosque.” Tennessee Tea Party groups and candidates for Congressional office continue to seek to protest and block a proposed mosque, while mosque signs have been vandalized. Unwillingness to defend freedom of religion and freedom of worship has consequences.

California Tea Party activist Shellie Milne’s responsibility in denouncing the planned Temecula protest against house of worship is an example that other Tea Party activists should support, if they support American Constitutional and universal human rights.

At the beginning of July 2010, R.E.A.L. created an online petition for Tea Party supporters to sign and show their public support for freedom of religion and freedom of worship. It simply states: “This petition is provided for Tea Party activists who support the United States Constitution, including our freedom of religion and worship, which must not be interfered with according to the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. This petition is for those Tea Party Activists who do NOT accept protests against mosques or any other houses of worship. This petition is for those Tea Party activists that seek to disassociate with those Tea Party activists who reject our universal human rights of freedom of worship and religion — for all. ”

R.E.A.L. is waiting for the first signature.

The online petition is at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/tpfree/petition.html

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Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Texas: Vandalism and Suspected Arson at Arlington Mosque

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception.

In Arlington, Texas, police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) are in the process of investigating whether hate crimes were committed in the vandalism and arson attacks at the Dar El-Eman Islamic Center mosque on Mansfield Road. The mosque was the target of graffiti vandalism, suspected arson in the children’s playground, and harassment of mosque attendees by passers-by in an automobile.

On July 23, 2010, vulgar graffiti with derogatory messages were found spray-painted on the parking lot, and on July 25, 2010, there was a suspected arson attack on a children’s playground in the mosque area. When firefighters arrived to the scene, the fire had burned out, but there was extensive damage to the playground equipment.

Anyone with information is asked to call Arlington, Texas police. They ask anyone with information to call them at (817) 459-6640. The FBI is also working the case.

Texas: Burned Children's Playground at Arlington Mosque (Photo: Arlington, Texas Police Department)

The Dallas Morning News reported that “Jamal Qaddura, president of the DFW Islamic Educational Center, said the spray-painted obscenities were about 15 feet high. Damage to the playground equipment, he said, was estimated at $20,000.” The Dallas Morning News also reported that Muslims going to Dallas area worship services were harassed, stating ” Qaddura said worshippers at the mosque were subjected to racial slurs yelled by a carload of people after services Sunday evening. ‘I don’t want to repeat them,’ he said. ‘You don’t want to hear them. About our religion, and about us.'” WFAA reported that “Qaddura believes the damage is related to resentment over a planned Islamic community center near ground zero in Manhattan.”

The Dallas Morning News also has a video on the news subject.

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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths, including the freedom of religion supported under Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

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

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

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing” Trial Starts November 29

In Arizona, the trial of Faleh Almaleki for the “honor killing” of his 20 year old daughter in November 2009 has been scheduled to being on November 29, 2010.

Arizona Republic states: “A Glendale man accused of slaying his daughter in an ‘honor killing’ is scheduled to stand trial later this year. Faleh Almaleki, an Iraqi immigrant, is suspected of running down his daughter, 20-year-old Noor Almaleki, for being ‘too Westernized.’ He was reportedly furious with Noor for leaving her Iraqi husband, a cousin in an arranged marriage, and returning to the United States. Police say Almaleki, 49, used his Jeep Cherokee to run over his daughter and another woman in a Peoria parking lot Oct. 20, 2009. Noor died of her injuries. The other victim, Noor’s boyfriend’s mother, survived.”

Faleh Hassan Almaleki (Left) and Murdered Noor Faleh Almaleki (Right)

Also see R.E.A.L. public awareness campaign on extremist basis for “honor killings” against Muslim women and girls.

Update: On April 15, 2011 – CNN reported that Noor Almaleki’s murderer was sentenced to 34 years in prison:

CNN reports: “An Arizona judge sentenced an Iraqi immigrant on Friday to more than 34 years in prison, about two months after his conviction for running over his 20-year-old daughter because he claimed she’d become ‘too Westernized.’ A Maricopa County, Arizona, jury in February convicted Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 50, of one count of second-degree murder in the death of Noor Faleh Almaleki. He was also found guilty of aggravated assault for causing serious injuries to Amal Edan Khalaf, the mother of Noor’s fiance, as well as two counts of leaving the scene. On Friday, Judge Roland Steinle sentenced Almaleki to a total of 34½ years in the Arizona Department of Corrections for his crimes. That includes 16 years — less than the maximum possible sentence of 22 years — on the murder charge, which will be served concurrently with a 15-year aggravated assault sentence. In addition, Almaleki will get consecutive 3½-year terms for leaving the scene.”

R.E.A.L. Outreach to Public at CNN Washington DC on Extremist “Honor Killings”

See also previous R.E.A.L. reports on Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing” in Arizona in November 2009:

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Police: ‘Honor killing’ suspect may have been aided by family

Arizona: Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing” — New Report with Additional Interview, Facts

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing” — Lawyer for Accused Father Says Prosecutors Should Not “wrongly seek the death penalty against his client because he is a Muslim”

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father charged with murder may need mental exam

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Charged With Murder

Arizona Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Pleads “Not Guilty” in Murdering Daughter

Arizona – Noor Almaleki Case: Hearing for Father Accused in Honor Killing Canceled for Third Time

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Arraignment Delayed Again, Friends Start to Speak

Arizona: Terrorism Against Women — Noor Almaleki Just Wanted To Be Normal

Arizona — Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Hassan Almaleki Arraignment Delayed, On Suicide Watch

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Honor Killing: Father To Be Arraigned, Face New Charges

Arizona: Woman in Suspected “Honor Killing” Dies — 20 Year Old Noor Almaleki

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Case: Arizona Jails Father in ‘Honor Killing’ Try

Arizona: Noor Almaleki Case — Father in “Honor Killing” Attempt Captured in UK — Extradited Back to US

Arizona — Noor Almaleki case: Family Says Noor Almaleki “Failed to Live by Traditional Muslim Values” — Woman in Critical Condition in Alleged “Honor Killing” Attempt

Arizona: Noor Almaleki’s Lifestyle may have put woman in hospital

Arizona: Father runs down daughter in Peoria parking lot — Noor Faleh Almaleki attacked for being “too westernized”

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Religious Pluralism Versus Religious Extremism

R.E.A.L. supports the freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all, as guaranteed by the nations of the world in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 18. Article 18 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” We view Article 18 as a fundamental necessity to ensuring religious pluralism. We support such freedoms for all. We also recognize that exclusivity in views on religion will exist, whether such exclusivity is based a personal belief in the validity of only one religion, or it is based on the belief in the equal validity of multiple religions. Our support for religious freedom and pluralism is not a challenge to any religion, but a promotion of religious freedom.

R.E.A.L.’s support for our universal human rights and pluralism, with an emphasis on Article 18 of the UDHR, calls for such promotion of religious pluralism, but recognizes the reality of those who seek to defy our universal human rights with religious arguments. We reject religious extremist views that promote hate and intolerance. We reject religious extremist ideological arguments that seek to prevent the universal human rights of all people, based on such arguments. We reject religious extremist views that seek to even prevent religious freedom, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for other human beings, a painful reality that we see too often in the United States and around the world.

Our definition of such views as religious extremism is not about denying the personal exclusivity of any religious path to our fellow human beings, or the exercise or promotion of their religion as part of their freedoms.

R.E.A.L. promotes religious pluralism, but in doing so, also challenges those ideologies, groups, and activists who seek to promote a religious extremist view that seeks to consciously deny others basic human rights, including the freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience necessary for religious pluralism.

In defense of such religious pluralism, we challenge extreme groups that seek to use arguments that they call “Christian,” “Islamic,” or another religious identification to deny others freedom of religion, worship, and conscience, to call for hate, to call for violence, to oppress women and minorities, to seek the destruction of our universal human rights of equality and liberty. We reject anti-human rights views as “Christian extremism” or “extremism,” but we do not attack or reject Christianity or Islam as a religion. Many of our supporters are devout members of religious faiths and we respect those faiths. Our human rights goals are the consistent defense of our universal human rights. We recognize that religious extremist views are difficult and complex discussions. But we also know from history that “white supremacist” views were once something Americans were unwilling to define, discuss, or challenge. We believe that to be honest in our commitment to pluralism, it is necessary to recognize the existence of religious extremist views that not only seek to undermine pluralism, but also seek to undermine religious freedom and freedom of conscience itself.

Our goal is to protect such religious freedoms for all faiths, based on pluralist tolerance for our differences, and based on an uncompromising defense of our Universal Human Rights.

Olney, Maryland Synagogue Vandalized with Swastikas, anti-Semitic slogans, Death Threats

On July 26, 2010, the B’nai Shalom Synagogue of Olney, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC was vandalized by persons unknown spray painting swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans on the outside walls, parking lot and light posts. NBC Washington reported that the attack on the Olney, Maryland synagogue happened the night before parents were to drop off their children for a summer camp.

Attack on DC Area Olney, Maryland Synagogue with Nazi, White Supremacist Vandalism (Photo: NBC Washington)

See the NBC Washington video and NBC Washington report.

The Olney, Maryland synagogue was covered with swastikas on the outside and on the sidewalk, as well as spray painting of slurs against Jews. The anti-Semitic phrases, scrawled using black spray paint, included “work will set u free,” a reference to a sign that hung over the Auschwitz concentration camp, and “Death 2 Zionists.” The vandals also used German, writing phrases including “Juden raus,” which means “Jews out” and was used by Nazis.

The spray-painted comments also included the phrase “Death 2 Zionists” and “14/88.” 14/88 is a reference used by white supremacists. The “14” refers to the “14 words” promoted by white supremacists “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” which was promoted by David Lane, a criminal leader of the white nationalist group The Order. The “88” refers to eighth letter of the alphabet, “H,” and stands for “HH” or “Heil Hitler.”

Olney, MD Synagogue: Death Threats, Promotion of Nazi and White Supremacists 1488 Message (Photo: NBC Washington) — Olney, MD Synagogue: Death Threats, Promotion of Nazi and White Supremacists 14/88 Message (Photo: NBC Washington)

Debbie Kovalsky, synagogue president, said the damage is “heart wrenching to see.”

The Jerusalem Post stated that “In addition to the synagogue vandalism, two homes in the area were also spray-painted with swastikas and other symbols.” WJZ reports that “Police say two homes on Rolling Acres Way in Olney were vandalized, with swastikas and the symbols ‘SS’ spray-painted on the yards and trees.”

The Maryland Gazette reported that “B’nai Shalom First Vice President Jeff Orenstein said he was expecting to find a couple of swastikas when officials received the call from police Monday morning about the graffiti. But the vandalism went well beyond that, he said. ‘We were very shocked at how much more there was,’ he said. ‘It appears to us that this was more than a couple of kids that came by with a can of spray paint to play a prank. I think there is a lot more to this.’ ”

On July 28, 2010, the Maryland Gazette reported that “Faint outlines of hateful words and symbols still lingered outside of B’nai Shalom of Olney on Tuesday, despite the efforts of more than 200 people to clean up the graffiti that was found spray painted in black on the walls, parking lot and light poles Monday morning. The rest, synagogue President Debbie Kovalsky said, will have to be removed with a sand blaster. More than 500 people, including County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), attended a prayer service later that evening in a show of support for the synagogue. Clergy and parishioners from local churches and rabbis from synagogues in Rockville, Columbia and Baltimore also joined B’nai Shalom members.”

Montgomery County police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Montgomery County Police ask anyone with information on the case to call 240-773-5500 and ask for the Investigative Services Division.

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

We condemn such death threats, such vandalism and attacks against houses of worship as seeking to intimidate and spread fear among those seeking their universal human rights of freedom of worship. We reject the hate of Nazis and white supremacists, and we call up all those who hate to unburden the hate from their hearts.

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

California: Temecula Mosque Protest for July 30 Promoted on National Tea Party Web Site

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception. We reject protests against houses of worship, and the coast-to-coast protests and attacks on mosques around America.

The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group planned July 30 “rally” at the existing house of worship of the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley continues to be posted on the national Tea Party Patriots website, calling for attendees to bring “dogs” to protest the current Islamic center worship center on Friday, July 30, during afternoon prayers. See the Tea Party Patriots website at: http://www.teapartypatriots.org/EventDetail/6243/July%2030,%202010

http://bit.ly/tp-mosque-protest

The event is reportedly led by Diana Serafin or someone using her name and telephone number, who has led other Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group events promoted by the Tea Party Patriots group. The contact person Diana 951-677-7884 listed for the Tea Party Patriots Mosque Protest on July 30, is the same telephone number as “Diana Serafin 951-677-7884” for a May Tea Party event also listed on the Tea Party Patriots web site.

The Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action group has been repeatedly promoted on the national Tea Party Patriots website. On July 2, 2010, the Tea Party Patriot website showed Diana Serafin as leading the SWRC Tea Party Citizens in Action group, with a link to their website at http://www.wethepeople-swrc.com/

A Diana Serafin has been promoting the “Southwest Riverside County Tea Party (CA)” on ResistNet.com.

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National Tea Party Patriots Web Site Promotes Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party Citizens in Action Group Mosque "Rally" (July 28, 2010 Screen Shot of Tea Party Patriots Web Site)

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Tea Party Patriot Web Site List Diana Serafin's Telephone Number - the Same One on the Tea Party Patriot Web Site for the Temecula Mosque Protest (Screen Shot: Tea Party Patriots)

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See also our previous postings

— Temecula: Tea Party Anti-Islam Mosque Protest Planned for July 30

— California: Anti-Islam Tea Party Group Protests Temecula Mosque Plans

— Coast-to-Coast Anti-Islam Movement Results in Protests, Attacks Against Mosques

— Texas Tea Party Group Plans July 29 Event on “Islamization of America”

— Tea Party and Mosques in America

— Tea Party and Islam Reports – Category

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

We support freedom of expression and freedom of speech as one of our universal human rights, including freedom of even objectionable speech and expression as a human right. But we recognize that protests against houses of worship and tactics of intimidation and threats are often used to defy and deny freedom of religion. We defend the right of all people to BELIEVE, and we urge you to sign our petition showing your support for the freedom of conscience for all.

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

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

Malaysia: Protest against Hindu Temple Leads to Jail, Fine for Protesters

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception. We reject protests against houses of worship and those who seek to use tactics of intimidation and threats to defy and deny freedom of religion.

On July 27, 2010, a Malaysian Sessions court fined 12 men and sentenced one to a week in jail, after they all pleaded guilty to charges of illegal assembly, for an August 28, 2009 protest against the construction of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam. The Malaysia Insider states that four others were found not guilty of sedition. The Malaysia Insider states “They were protesting the relocation of a 150-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple from Section 19 to their neighborhood in Section 23.”

The protesters paraded a cow’s head, which Hindus view as a sacred animal, and the protesters reportedly spit and stomped a cow’s head, and made offensive comments. The Malaysia Insider reported on August 29, 2009, that the protester said that the Hindu temple’s “noise” would “would disturb their own praying, and that they would not be able to function properly as Muslims.”

Malaysia news provided a video broadcast of the protesters against the Hindu temple house of worship.

The Malaysia Insider also reported that the “group of 50 over protestors marched shortly after Friday prayers from the Shah Alam State mosque to the State Secretariat. ‘I challenge YB Khalid, YB Rodziah and Xavier Jeyakumar to go on with the temple construction. I guarantee bloodshed and racial tension will happen if this goes on, and the state will be held responsible,’ shouted Ibrahim Haji Sabri amid strong chants of ‘Allahu Akbar!’ Ibrahim identified himself as the Deputy Chairman of the Resident’s Committee against the building of the temple in S23 here, which is perceived by some as being a Muslim majority area. He told the press that the state should move the temple to Section 22 as ‘originally planned’, and also labeled Khalid a ‘traitor to the Malay race and Islam’.”

Free Malaysia Today stated that the protesters “had marched with the bloodied head from a mosque to the Selangor menteri besar’s office.”

Malaysia: Protest Against Construction of Hindu Temple (Photo: YouTube)

According to Voice of America, “The group marched the cow head to a government building where they stomped and spat on it – an offensive act to Hindus who consider the cow a scared animal. Each of the 12 men was charged with illegal assembly and ordered to pay $320 for taking part in the protest against plans to build the temple in a Muslim-majority neighborhood. Two others were given additional fines for sedition, or creating tension among races, and one was sentenced to a week in prison without explanation.”

Free Malaysia Today reported that Malaysian Hindu Sangam adviser A Vaithilingam felt that the punishment could be seen as inadequate. It quoted him as stating “the sentences seem to be very light after the huge commotion and insult,” and that the Hindu temple protesters “stirred up the emotions throughout the country. This could have caused a riot”.

Reuters reported that: “Critics said the light sentences may further strain race relations between Muslims, who make up the majority of the country’s 28 million population, and minority Hindus and Christians who complain of discrimination.”

In September 2009, the Malaysia Star reported that “The Selangor Government has identified a new, more suitable site for the relocation of the 150-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple in Section 19 here. A press statement from the state government said that the new site is still in Section 23 but was more strategic and located 100m from the original relocation site and 400m from the residential area.”

Sri Mahamariamman Hindu Temple, when it was located in Kuala Lumpur

AP reports that “The conflict highlighted frustrations among minorities about strict government guidelines that restrict the number of non-Muslim places of worship, partly based on whether enough non-Muslims live where a church or temple is to be built. Authorities in Selangor eventually found a new site to build the controversial temple.”

There has been a long history of persecution against Hindus and Hindu houses of worship in Malaysia.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for ALL people — without exception.

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

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

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

Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s Lawyer Missing, Family Arrested

In Iran, attorney Mohammad Mostafaei, representing Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani – a woman sentenced to stoning, has gone missing after an attempt to arrest him by the Iranian authorities. According to human rights activists, his wife and brother-in-law are in custody of the Iranian police, and are being held at Tehran’s Evin prison. CNN is reporting that Iranian officials have told Mohammad Mostafaei’s father in law that the family members arrested would be freed in exchange for attorney Mohammad Mostafaei submitting to arrest.

Attorney Mohammad Mostafaei Missing (L) and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani (R) Sentenced to Stoning (Photo: Sky News)

On July 24, 2010, Mohammad Mostafaei’s office was reportedly ransacked and he was interrogated for four hours at the Evin prison over his representation of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. He was released and then called back for furthering questioning, and then an arrest warrant was issued for Mohammad Mostafaei.

Mina Ahadi, with International Committee against Execution and Stoning (ICAS), has stated: “Mohammadi Ashtiani’s sentence is not Mostafaei’s first stoning case, he has defended many others against execution by stoning but it was Sakineh’s story which took world attention and made the Iranian authorities angry… It is ridiculous that they [officials] have taken Mostafaei’s family as ransom, they have somehow taken them hostage. This confirms what Sakineh’s son wrote in his public letter, that there’s no justice in Iran.”

The International Committee against Execution and Stoning (ICAS) has publicized world news reports on this, and issued the following press release:

“The Wife and brother-in-law of Mohamad Mostafaei, sakine’s lawyer, arrested – No word about Mostafaei himself”

“As we reported earlier, Mr. Mostafaei, Sakine’s lawyer, was summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence at Evin Prison. He presented himself there yesterday. A post on his weblog later informed the public that the authorities at Evin prison had questioned him about some financial issues. Some time after he left the prison the authorities called him and asked him to present himself once again. However, a short while after they went to his office to arrest him. Mr. Mostafaai was not there but his wife and his brother-in-law were arrested, instead, somewhere near the office.”

“The whereabouts of Mr. Mostafaie is currently unknown. According to our sources, his office has been sealed off by the authorities.”

“We have not yet been able to identify the prison where Mr. Mostafaei’s wife and brother-in-law are currently held.”

“The Islamic Republic, under the intense pressure of the world public opinion against the stoning sentence of Sakine, has now targeted her lawyer and put him under pressure. The interrogation over financial issues, specifically, is one of the regime’s customary ways to begin a charge-fabricating process. The Islamic Republic is trying, with everything in its power, to cut off the relations between Sakine and her family, on the one side, and her lawyer and the public opinion, on the other.”

“The International Committee Against Execution strongly condemns such persecutions as those executed by the Islamic Republic against Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani’s lawyer, Mr. Mostafaei, and his family. We urge all human rights organisations to take action as soon as possible and demand the immediate release of Mr. Mostafaei’s wife and brother-in-law. The Islamic Republic must be forced to stop harassing and intimidating Mr. Mostafaei and others like him in their legal efforts to pursue justice.”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects the barbaric practice of stoning and its targeted use in murdering and terrorizing women in Iran and around the world. We believe that that the path to ending such terrorism against women begins with support for our Universal Human Rights, including dignity, life, liberty, and equality.

We urge the public’s support in challenging such injustices and the barbaric practice of stoning.

Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

India: Brother Strangles 16 Year Old Sister in Punjab – “Honor Killing” Suspected

PTI reports: Brother strangulates sister in Punjab; honour killing suspected

Hoshiarpur (Punjab): A 20-year-old youth allegedly strangulated her teenaged sister and threw her body in a canal in a suspected case of honour killing in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab.

During sustained interrogation, Mani Pratap Kaushal confessed he had strangulated his sister Kanchan with an electric wire as he doubted her character, SSP Rakesh Aggarwal told mediapersons in Hoshiarpur today.

Mani, a resident of village Kitna, told police he had killed his sister, aged 16, for having an affair which had incensed the family, Aggarwal said.

After strangulating her, the youth said he wrapped her body in a bedsheet and threw it in a canal, the SSP said.

Earlier, Surinder Singh, the father of the girl, had filed a report with Mahilpur police station that his daughter was missing since June 29.

After serving dinner to the family, she had left the house without informing anyone, the father said in the complaint, according to the SSP.

A few days later, a body was fished out from a canal in Kapurthala district and police called Surinder Singh’s family to identify the body.

Mani went to the Rawalpindi police station but failed to identify the body.

However, during investigations Mani emerged as the main suspect and was arrested, the SSP said.

During interrogation, Mani revealed he had laced the dinner with intoxicants and went outside the house.

After consuming the dinner, the family members became unconscious and at around 1am, he strangulated Kanchan with an electric wire, he told his interrogators.

Later, he wrapped her body in a bedsheet and threw it in a canal near the village, the SSP said.

After Mani’s confession, police registered a case under various sections of the IPC including 302 (murder) against him, the police officer said.

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

Jordan: 16-Year Old Girl Murdered in Machine Gun “Honor Killing” by Uncle After Sexual Assault

SAPA reports on a 16 year old Jordanian girl murdered by uncle after sexual assault in “honor killing,” with 30 machine gun rounds:

— SAPA: “Jordanian shoots dead sex victim niece as ’honour killing'”
— “A Jordanian man confessed to killing his 16-year-old niece to save his family’s ‘honour’ after she was sexually assaulted, a judicial official said today.”
— “The 43-year-old fired 30 machine-gun rounds in the direction of the girl yesterday, killing her instantly, at Deir Alla, west of the capital Amman, said the official who requested anonymity.”
— “The man confessed to the murder, saying he did it to ‘cleanse the family honour’ over suspicions of ‘bad behaviour’ after the girl ‘lost her virginity a month ago in a sexual assault by a young man aged 17,’ said the same source.”
— “The girl’s family later married her off to a cousin ‘to conceal the facts,’ the official added, stressing that the suspect in the sexual assault was being tried.”
— “Prosecutors have charged the uncle with ‘premeditated murder.’ Murder is punishable by death in Jordan but in so-called ‘honour killings’ courts can commute or reduce sentences, particularly if the victim’s family asks for leniency.
— “Between 15 and 20 women are murdered in honour killings each year in the kingdom, despite government efforts to curb such crimes.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects those who promote hate and violence, and urges them to release the burden of hate from their hearts. R.E.A.L. believes there is no “honor” in honor killings, and rejects the cultural or religious rationale that murderers use to justify their crimes, and their ideological hate crime war against women.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Michigan: Nazis, Ku Klux Klan (KKK), Christian Identity Plan July 31 Midland Rally

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects Nazism, racism, and other hate, and we urge all those whose hearts are burdened with hate to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

The Midland Messenger reports that a coalition of Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and the racist “Christian Identity” movement plans to hold an event at the steps of the Midland County Courthouse on July 31, and that the event is being promoted on the “white nationalist hate group” Stormfront. They report that members will include the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)’s Randy Gray, Nazi National Socialist Movement group’s Jeff Schoep, Christian Identity movement’s James Wickstrom. The united efforts by the racists and Nazis in joint rallies reflects a growing trend of racial hate groups in shared coalitions.

United in Hate: Ku Klux Klan's Randy Gray (image 1), National Socialist Movement's Jeff Schoep (image 2), and Christian Identity's James Wickstrom (image 3) (Photo 1 Midland Daily News, Photos 2 and 3 SPLC)

The Ku Klux Klan’s Randy Gray was reportedly a member of the Ron Paul presidential campaign in Michigan in 2008. KKK activist Randy Gray has been involved in promoting white supremacism in Midland, Michigan as previously reported by the Midland Daily News, where Randy Gray told the Midland Daily News that he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and had a protest in KKK robes the day after the election of Barack Obama. He has also reportedly spoken at a white supremacist event in Kalamazoo.

Randy Gray has also promoted white supremacism in other parts of the country including leading an event in Tennessee. At the Tennessee event, Randy Gray reportedly promoted the “Color of Crime” book promoted by New Century Foundation / American Renaissance. The American Renaissance has unsuccessfully tried to hold a national convention in the Washington DC area to promote its views on race.

Video of Ku Klux Klan’s Randy Gray Speaking in Tennessee, where he condemns the “race traitors of Washington DC”.

Jeff Schoep has led the Nazi, Hitlerite National Socialist Movement (NSM) for years. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) quotes Jeff Schoep as stating: “”The Constitution was written by white men alone. Therefore, it was intended for whites alone… When you put on your NSM uniform, you are not just representing the NSM but all National Socialists that fought and died for our Race and our Cause! You are showing the Jews and the rest of the world that our Fuhrer is not forgotten and that his life’s struggle was not in vain… All non-White immigration must be prevented. We demand that all non-Whites currently residing in America be required to leave the nation forthwith and return to their land of origin: peacefully or by force. ”

The SPLC states that “James Wickstrom may be America’s hardest-line preacher of the racist and anti-Semitic theology of Christian Identity. Known for violent, raging sermons that call for extermination of “the Jews,” Wickstrom, who has an extensive criminal history, has been preaching his hatred since his involvement in the 1970s with the anti-Semitic and antigovernment Posse Comitatus.”

The SPLC quotes James Wickstrom as stating: “I’d like to see these Jews all be brought to the VA [Veterans Administration hospital] and wooden chairs be put down on the lawn. Tie the Jews in. Bring these veterans down who have been mutilated … and give them baseball bats and let them beat these Jews to death! Every one of them! Take these chairs and Jews after they’re beaten to death, throw ’em in the wood chipper! And from the wood chipper let the remains go into a big incinerary [sic] truck, which is right behind the wood chipper, and give them the holocaust they rightly deserve!”

The SPLC quotes James Wickstrom as stating: “I have a dream! If that goddamn n**ger can have a dream, I can have a dream, too. I have a dream that in the days to come there won’t be anyone who isn’t white that’s gonna be in America!”

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The Midland Messenger report on the planned July 31 white supremacist / Nazi event that “A post on Stormfront, a website for neo-Nazis and white supremacists, announces a July 31 rally on the steps of the Midland County Courthouse. Scheduled to speak is Randy Gray, who was elected as a GOP precinct delegate in 2008. He was stripped of that position after he showed up the day after the election on the streets of Midland in his KKK robes protesting the election of Barack Obama. Also scheduled to speak is James Wickstrom, a longtime member of the Christian Identity movement. Wickstrom claims that only white people were created in the image of God and only white people have souls. He also claims that Jews are the ‘children of Satan’ and that white, Western Europeans are the true Israelites favored by God. Wickstrom lives in Rhodes, Michigan. A third speaker is Jeff Schoep, ‘commander’ of the National Socialist Movement which has its headquarters in Detroit. His organization wants a United States made up only of those with ‘pure White blood’ — and no Jews or homosexuals allowed. And although Schoep claims that his group is non-violent, their party platform demands that ‘all non-Whites currently residing in America be required to leave the nation forthwith and return to their land of origin: peacefully or by force.'”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects Nazism, racism, and other hate, and we urge all those whose hearts are burdened with hate to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.