Pluralism – Page 2 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Green Bay: Anti-Mosque Views Do Not Stop Mosque Approval by City

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Green Bay City Council met on the evening of August 17, 2010 to approve a decision made July 2010 by the Green Bay planning commission to allow a zoning request that would allow a mosque to be built in Green Bay for the Islamic Society of Green Bay. The Islamic Society has been worshiping in temporary facilities since 2005, and says says that it has run out of space at its current location. WLUK-TV also reported that the new mosque would be associated with the Islamic Society of Wisconsin, with the application listed for the “Church of Islam.”

Green Bay's Arasumus Autry Seeks New Mosque to Replace Outgrown Facility (Photo: WFRV Video Screen Shot)

The Green Bay City Council decided to approve the Green Bay planning commission by a vote of 9-3. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette and WFRV-TV, those voting against the zoning request for the Green Bay mosque were Green Bay City Council Aldermen Guy Zima, Steven Deneys, and Andy Nicholson. Guy Zima expressed concerns about Islam as being “intolerant.”

Green Bay City Council Alderman Voting Against Zoning for Mosque: Guy Zima, Steven Deneys, and Andy Nicholson (left to right) (Photo: Green Bay City Council web site)

The zoning request was to allow the Islamic Society of Green Bay to use a commercial building on Velp Avenue, which had once been a bait and tackle shop, but had been closed and shuttered for the past 5 years. Some city council members also sought to consider the financial implications of loss of commercial tax dollars by allowing the mosque to built in the abandoned facility, which is across the street from a cemetery.

Green Bay: Abandoned Building to Be Purchased to Support New Mosque (Photo: WFRV Video Screen Shot)

The decision to approve the Green Bay planning commission zone recommendation to allow the building of the mosque came after public debate by speakers and by members of the City Council on the zoning request, as well as on Islam.

WFRV News provided a video report on the City Council hearing, where some debated issues about Islam when considering the zoning application for the mosque. WFRV News described the meeting as “at times a tense discussion. Most [City Council] alderman felt that religion had no place in the debate.”

WLUK-TV News also has an online video report of the proceedings.

Mosque protester Doug Cayer said about the planned mosque in Green Bay “It disturbs me highly. I don’t understand a lot of the religion, but what I read about and hear about is so against what I stand for – I’m just dead set against this. I have a problem with radical Islam and its connotations in my neighborhood.” The Green Bay Press-Gazette also reported that “Doug Cayer, who said he lives nearby, said he was concerned about Islamic followers turning radical and potentially disrupting the neighborhood.” The Press-Gazette said that Cayer told the City Council: “I don’t want something scary coming to my neighborhood.”

Green Bay Resident Doug Cayer Stated He Didn't Know Much About Islam, But Found It Scary (Photo: WFRV Video Screenshot)

Green Bay City Council Alderman Guy Zima, on the Green Bay Council since 1976, had indicated that he had concerns about sound disturbing others. (The abandoned building is near a cemetery.) WLUK-TV reported that “Guy Zima requested the item be sent back to committee to see if a noise stipulation could be added.”

Green Bay City Council Alderman Guy Zima then stated that concerns involved Islam. WLUK-TV reported that Guy Zima stated: “Everybody’s been hopping on the equality bandwagon, which has been part and parcel of the United States of America since its foundation. But this religion at its depths, I don’t think really has the same interest as the American way of life or its values.”

Green Bay City Council Alderman Guy Zima Opposed Zoning for Mosque Because "Islam has a history of intolerance" (Photo: WFRV Video Screenshot)

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported on Mr. Zima’s comments: “Alderman Guy Zima raised several issues with the mosque proposal, including his belief that some followers of Islam are intolerant toward other religions. ‘It has been very divisive in other communities,’ Zima said.” WLUK-TV News quoted Guy Zima as stating that Islam “has a history of intolerance.”

Mr. Zima is listed as a “libertarian” politician on a a number of libertarian political web sites. In 2005, the American Renaissance web site praised Green Bay officials who associated racial groups with criminal activity, quoting a 2005 WBAY Green Bay news article where a Brown County Supervisor Guy Zima stated “all we’re getting out of the local newspaper is, you know, the bright side of diversity, not showing the negative side.”

At the August 17, 2010 Green Bay City Council hearing, Green Bay City Council Alderman Brian Danzinger condemned comments made by other elected officials on Islam, stating “we are coming dangerously close to comments that are circulating stereotypes, and again propagating the perceptions that really doesn’t exist.”

Green Bay City Council Alderman Brian Danzinger Rejected Comments on Religious Stereotype (Photo: WFRV Video Screenshot)

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that City Council Alderman Ned Dorff said that such decisions cannot be made based on religion or fear: “Alderman Ned Dorff, who represents the area, said the city should view the issue strictly as a land-use matter and should not attempt to legislate any particular religious denomination, ‘It’s not a decision we can make based on religion or based on fear,’ Dorff said.”

Green Bay Council Alderman Ned Dorff Says Postponement of Mosque Zoning Hearing Need "For More Public Debate" (Photo: Facebook) — Green Bay Council Alderman Ned Dorff Says "It's not a decision we can make based on religion or based on fear" (Photo: Facebook)

The Islamic Society of Green Bay told WFRV News “they do not tolerate extremists saying it is against their beliefs.”

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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. We reject protests against houses of worship, and we reject violence and attacks on houses of worship.

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 are deeply concerned about the escalation of intolerance and hate that we seeing growing around the world, including in America today. We will be inviting the public to join us in a freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience event on September 11 at 2 PM in Freedom Plaza in Washington DC to give Americans an opportunity to publicly show their support for such freedoms. There is more information at 911Freedom.com, — Facebook Event: Public Rally for Freedom of Religion, Worship, Conscience.

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.

America as a Haven for Religious Freedom

There are some today in America that have forgotten what America has meant as a haven for religious freedom, which is why our equality and liberty for all is one of the “truths we hold self-evident” in the defining declaration of what it means to be an American.

Fortunately, the United States Library of Congress provides an online exhibit called “America as a Religious Refuge: The Seventeenth Century,” to remind us of the historical importance as to why the United States Constitution and American law has sought to defend such freedom of religion.

The Library of Congress points out that “The religious persecution that drove settlers from Europe to the British North American colonies sprang from the conviction, held by Protestants and Catholics alike, that uniformity of religion must exist in any given society. This conviction rested on the belief that there was one true religion and that it was the duty of the civil authorities to impose it, forcibly if necessary, in the interest of saving the souls of all citizens. Nonconformists could expect no mercy and might be executed as heretics. The dominance of the concept, denounced by Roger Williams as ‘inforced uniformity of religion,’ meant majority religious groups who controlled political power punished dissenters in their midst. In some areas Catholics persecuted Protestants, in others Protestants persecuted Catholics, and in still others Catholics and Protestants persecuted wayward coreligionists.”

“Religious persecution, as observers in every century have commented, is often bloody and implacable and is remembered and resented for generations.”

“Many of the British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were settled in the seventeenth century by men and women, who, in the face of European persecution, refused to compromise passionately held religious convictions and fled Europe. The New England colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were conceived and established ‘as plantations of religion.'”

Those who fled Briton and Europe to the United States to avoid religious persecution were from a broad range of religions and religious backgrounds. America served as a haven for such religious freedom for them.

The question Americans must ask is will we abandon the legacy and history of religious freedom guaranteed in our Constitution, as well as the freedom of worship and freedom of conscience that all deserve? We urge all Americans, instead to support our Constitutional freedom and universal human rights. Be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

Join us in Washington DC at Freedom Plaza to stand up for our freedoms for on September 11, 2010.

We must never forget, as Americans where America’s first settlers came from, and why we made a decision to change the world by declaring our inalienable human rights of equality and liberty – for all – including freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience.

Note that all images are credited to the Library of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01.html

Persecution of Jesuits in EnglandIn the image on the left is Brian Cansfield (1581-1643), a Jesuit priest seized while at prayer by English Protestant authorities in Yorkshire. Cansfield was beaten and imprisoned under harsh conditions. He died on August 3, 1643 from the effects of his ordeal. At the right is another Jesuit priest, Ralph Corbington (Corby) (ca. 1599-1644), who was hanged by the English government in London, September 17, 1644, for professing his faith. (LOC)

A Jesuit Executed for His Beliefs - Jesuits like John Ogilvie (Ogilby) (1580-1615) were under constant surveillance and threat from the Protestant governments of England and Scotland. Ogilvie was sentenced to death by a Glasgow court and hanged and mutilated on March 10, 1615. (LOC)

Execution of Mennonites - This engraving depicts the execution of David van der Leyen and Levina Ghyselins, described variously as Dutch Anabaptists or Mennonites, by Catholic authorities in Ghent in 1554. Strangled and burned, van der Leyen was finally dispatched with an iron fork. Bracht's Martyr's Mirror is considered by modern Mennonites as second only in importance to the Bible in perpetuating their faith. (LOC)

Drowning of Protestants - Shown here is a depiction of the murder by Irish Catholics of approximately one hundred Protestants from Loughgall Parish, County Armagh, at the bridge over the River Bann near Portadown, Ulster. This atrocity occurred at the beginning of the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Having held the Protestants as prisoners and tortured them, the Catholics drove them "like hogs" to the bridge, where they were stripped naked and forced into the water below at swordspoint. Survivors of the plunge were shot. (LOC)

Persecution of Catholics by Huguenots - In the areas of France they controlled, Huguenots at least matched the harshness of the persecutions of their Catholic opponents. Atrocities A, B, and C, depictions that are possibly exaggerated for use as propaganda, are located by the author in St. Macaire, Gascony. In scene A, a priest is disemboweled, his entrails wound up on a stick until they are torn out. In illustration B a priest is buried alive, and in C Catholic children are hacked to pieces. Scene D, alleged to have occurred in the village of Mans, was "too loathsome" for one nineteenth-century commentator to translate from the French. It shows a priest whose genitalia were cut off and grilled. Forced to eat his roasted private parts, the priest was then dissected by his torturers so they can observe him digesting his meal. (LOC)

Persecution of Huguenots by Catholics The slaughter of Huguenots (French Protestants) by Catholics at Sens, Burgundy in 1562 occurred at the beginning of more than thirty years of religious strife between French Protestants and Catholics. These wars produced numerous atrocities. The worst was the notorious St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in Paris, August 24, 1572. Thousands of Huguenots were butchered by Roman Catholic mobs. Although an accommodation between the two sides was sealed in 1598 by the Edict of Nantes, religious privileges of Huguenots eroded during the seventeenth century and were extinguished in 1685 by the revocation of the Edict. Perhaps as many as 400,000 French Protestants emigrated to various parts of the world, including the British North American colonies. (LOC) — Persecution of Huguenots by Catholics - The slaughter of Huguenots (French Protestants) by Catholics at Sens, Burgundy in 1562 occurred at the beginning of more than thirty years of religious strife between French Protestants and Catholics. These wars produced numerous atrocities. The worst was the notorious St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in Paris, August 24, 1572. Thousands of Huguenots were butchered by Roman Catholic mobs. Although an accommodation between the two sides was sealed in 1598 by the Edict of Nantes, religious privileges of Huguenots eroded during the seventeenth century and were extinguished in 1685 by the revocation of the Edict. Perhaps as many as 400,000 French Protestants emigrated to various parts of the world, including the British North American colonies. (LOC)

Lutherans Expelled Who Flee to America - The Expulsion of the Salzburgers - On October 31, 1731, the Catholic ruler of Salzburg, Austria, Archbishop Leopold von Firmian, issued an edict expelling as many as 20,000 Lutherans from his principality. Many propertyless Lutherans, given only eight days to leave their homes, froze to death as they drifted through the winter seeking sanctuary. The wealthier ones who were allowed three months to dispose of their property fared better. Some of these Salzburgers reached London, from whence they sailed to Georgia. Others found new homes in the Netherlands and East Prussia.

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Global Christian Activists Reject U.S. Church’s Burn a Qur’an Day

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship for all people. R.E.A.L. rejects hatred and rejects the activities of those who seek to promote hatred towards identity groups and specific religions. We have reported on a Florida-based Christian church’s plans to burn Qu’rans on September 11, but global Christian activists are denouncing such plans of hate and intolerance.

R.E.A.L. has previously reported on the Anti-Islam Christian Church, Dove World Outreach Center, based in Florida and its plans to hold an “International Burn a Qur’an Day” on September 11, 2010. We have reported on Dove World Outreach’s defense of such plans to burn the Islamic holy book on national broadcasts on CNN. We have reported on those supporters of the Stop Islamization of America (SIOA) group that agree with such Qur’an burning plans and have promoted Dove World Outreach Center on the SIOA Facebook site, as well as the SIOA Executive Director posting of photos of Dove members at one of her rallies in November 2009.

We have reported on the Dove World Outreach Center’s “Islam is of the Devil” campaign, and Dove World Outreach Center’s protest of a Florida mosque on July 4. We have reported the Dove World Outreach Center’s marching and unabashed alliance with the Westboro Baptist Church hate group that protests synagogues and promotes Holocaust Denial. (See Dove article “In Support of Westboro Baptist.”)

Global Christian activists, however, continue to grow in numbers in rejecting the Dove World Outreach Center’s “Burn a Qur’an Day.” Christian activists from various parts of the world have spoken out to reject the plans by U.S. Christian Church Dove World Outreach Center to hold an “International Burn a Koran Day” on September 11.

In the United States, the National Association of Evangelicals denounces the church’s Quran burning event. In the NAE press release, the group stated “The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) encourages increased understanding and reconciliation between those of different faiths and backgrounds, and it laments efforts that work against a just and peaceful society. The plans recently announced by a Florida group to burn copies of the Qu’ran on September 11 show disrespect for our Muslim neighbors and would exacerbate tensions between Christians and Muslims throughout the world. The NAE urges the cancellation of the burning.” NAE’s press release also stated “The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbors of other faiths. God created human beings in his image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect. The proposed burning of Qu’rans would be profoundly offensive to Muslims worldwide, just as Christians would be insulted by the burning of Bibles. Such an act would escalate tensions between members of the two faiths in the United States and around the world. ‘We have to recognize that fighting fire with fire only builds a bigger fire,’ said Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Orlando, Fla., and member of the NAE Board of Directors. ‘Love is the water that will eventually quench the destruction.’ Anderson said, ‘The most powerful statement by the organizers of the planned September 11th bonfire would be to call it off in the name and love of Jesus Christ.'”

Indian Christians have also made statements rejecting Dove’s Qur’an burning plans. The Pakistan Christian Post reports on Indian Christian human rights activists sending a letter to the United States Ambassador on this subject, reporting that two Christian human rights activists J. G. Anthony and RL Francis said in a statement released in New Delhi, India that: “We strongly condemn the provocation of Pastors Terry and Sylvia Jones and urge the president of the United States of America Barrack Obama to take legal measures against such hate speech.” According to the Pakistan Christian Post, “the two Christian human rights activists also appealed to the US government to immediately intervene to halt the plan, which they said, could trigger religious conflict around the world. Such insult to any religious holy book in the name of Jesus is insult to the Christianity, such people cannot be called ‘true Christians’, and Muslim brothers must ignore such fanatic statement in the larger interest as this does not represent popular Christian feeling, Stated Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) president RL Francis.”

In Washington DC at a Pakistan Christian and interfaith conference on August 2, 2010, remembering the continuing attacks on Christian minorities in Pakistan, Christian leaders also objected to Dove’s Qur’an burning plan. Dr. Nazir Bhatti of the Pakistan Christian Congress stated his rejection of the Dove World Outreach Center’s call for burning of the Qur’an, stating, “I would like to express my views on a very recent news item that has appeared in U.S. papers that was from a church that in Florida who plans a ‘Burn a Qur’an Day’. I must express my clear concern on this issue of burning a Qu’ran Day – they have affixed 9/11 as the date when they will collect a lot of Qur’ans over there before they burn them.” Dr. Bhatti told a story of how hatred against Americans in the 1990s led to reprisals against Christian homes, and expressed similiar concerns that such hateful acts against Qur’ans in the United States could lead to reprisals against Christian churches in Pakistan by extremists. (See video, MP3).

Indonesian Christians and Indonesians of other faiths also have objected to the Dove World Outreach Qur’an Burning plans in public statements. The Union of Catholic Asian News has reported that “‘The campaign and provocation of Pastors Terry and Sylvia Jones deserves to be condemned,’ Indonesian religious leaders said in a statement read out by Reverend Henry Lokra of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and Damien Dematra of the Pluralism Care Movement. The Catholic, Confucian, Hindu, Muslim and Protestant leaders, at their Aug. 4 press conference, described the American church’s proposal as an abuse of Islam, and a violation of religious freedom and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ‘We condemn the Dove World Outreach Center’s plan and ask the church to immediately withdraw its statement and call off its ignoble plan, which puts other religions in contempt,’ they said. The leaders also called on the US government to immediately intervene to halt the plan which they said could trigger religious conflict around the world.”

In addition to these statements by Christian organizations condemned the Dove World Outreach Center’s plans, groups opposed to the Qur’an burning event have also appeared on Facebook as well.

One such Facebook group, “In Protest of “International Burn a Koran Day,” was apparently organized by a Christian for people of all faiths, who states that “This page does not stand for a certain religion or set of beliefs; we are against the disrespect and intolerance that these people have for the Muslim people. As a Christian myself, I am totally embarrassed to have this event affiliated with my beliefs.”

Another such Facebook group, “Christians AGAINST International Burn a Koran Day,” was created specifically for Christians to take a stand on rejecting the Dove World Outreach “International Burn a Qur’an Day.” The group states “By this group, Christians from the whole world want to express that the vast majority of Christians do NOT approve the initiative of the “International Burn a Qu’ran day” …. WE WON’T BURN THE QU’RAN, BECAUSE JESUS WOULDN’T HAVE DONE IT!!!”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) joins with global Christian activists and people of diverse faiths in denouncing the planned campaign to burn Qur’ans by the Dove World Outreach Center. We urge the Dove World Outreach Center and those who would support their Qur’an burning plans to note that Jesus tells those who believe in him: John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

R.E.A.L. urges Christians and people of all faiths and beliefs to join us on September 11, 2010 at Washington DC’s Freedom Plaza in support of freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all.

Find out more at 911Freedom.com

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R.E.A.L. condemns calls for hatred against any identity group, any religion, and R.E.A.L. rejects calls by those who seek to deny anyone’s freedom of religion and freedom of worship.

We urge all those who hate to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and respect their fellow human beings and our universal human rights.

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

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Other Media Reports:

Press Release: NAE Urges Cancellation of Planned Qu’ran Burning

CNN: National Association of Evangelicals denounces church’s Quran burning event

Pakistan Christian Post: “Indian Christians Denounce Plan against Holy Quran”

AKI: Indonesia: Religious leaders condemn US Koran burning plan

CNN: Church plans Quran-burning event

CNN Video Link

Irish Sun: Florida-based christian group isolated by Quran burning event

Previous R.E.A.L. Postings:

Anti-Islam Hate Pastor Promotes Qur’an Burning on CNN

Anti-Islamic Group Promotes “Burn A Koran Day” Hate

SIOA Supporters Promote “Burn A Koran Day”

Extremist Dove World Group Has Anti-Mosque Protest in Florida

Extremism: Florida Christian “Dove World Outreach” Group Attacks Islam in Columbus, Ohio

Pakistan Christians Protest “Black Day” Treatment of Minorities at UN

The Pakistan Christian Congress and other Pakistan human rights activists protested in front of the United Nations Offices in New York City on August 12, 2010 to address the plight of Pakistani Christians as an oppressed minority. Their protest was in recognition of “Minority Day” which was renamed “Black Day” in remembrance of the oppression and atrocities against Pakistani Christians. The protesters also provided copies of petitions to the United Nations delegates calling for UN Secretary General Ban Moon to repeal award refugee status to Pakistani Christians and to urge the Pakistani government to repeal the blasphemy law.

"Black Day to Freedom" - Recognizing the Oppression of Pakistani Christians

On August 2, 2010 in Washington DC, the Pakistan Christian Congress’ Dr. Nazir Bhatti and speakers from Christian, Muslim, and human rights organizations spoke on the plight of the Christians and religious minorities in Pakistan. The August 2 press conference was a remembrance of the August 1, 2009 Gojra mob attacks against Christian men, women, and children, burning people alive, and burning Christian houses and churches to the ground.

On the August 12 NYC United Nations protest, the Pakistan Christian Post reported that:

August 12, 2010 - NYC - Pakistan Christians Protesting Oppression (Photo: Dr. Nazir Bhatti)

“Pakistani Christian invite intervention of United Nations to end their constitutional genocide

New York: August 12, 2010. (PCP) The Pakistani Christian Diaspora in USA staged protest in front of United Nation Offices to observe “Black Day” on killing of Christians and to mark 1st anniversary of Gojra massacre
The protest of “Black Day” was organized by Pakistani Christian Association in North America PCA, Pakistan Christian Congress PCC and The Peace Worldwide which was attended by congregates of different denominations of Pakistani Churches.

The protestors hoisted cards with slogans to end persecution and killing of Christians in Pakistan. The copies of petition were also distributed among different UN delegates to highlight plight of Christians in Pakistan.

The petition to Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of United Nation sought intervention of United Nations to end killing of Christians and to press upon government of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law.

The petition also appealed to Secretary General of United Nations to award Refugee Status to Pakistani Christians on continuous constitutional genocide.

At the end of protest, Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC and Mr. James Cyprian went in UNO building and presented petition to officer of Secretary General office.

Here is copy of petition submitted to UNO:

Mr. Ban Ki Moon,

Secretary General, United Nations

New York.

20 million Pakistani Christians observed “Black Day” instead of Minority Day by government of Pakistan on August 11, to demand repeal of blasphemy law and to end killing of Christians.

His Excellency,

We wish to draw your kind attention on rising violence against Christians on pretext to blasphemy law, enforced conversion, kidnap and gang rape of Christian women, vandalism of Churches, desecration of Holy Bibles, attacks on homes of Christians, killing of innocent Christians and destruction of Christian properties in Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan have failed to ensure justice and to protect life and property of Christian citizens where fundamental Muslims attack and destroy homes of Christians under supervision of administration and walk free after killing them.

On July 31, 2009, thousands of Muslims attacked Gojra Town Christians colony setting on fire more than fifty homes and burning alive 7 Christian children and women in presence of local police but culprit are free mocking justice system of Pakistan. The Muslim mobs attack and destruction of hundreds of homes in village Korian and Bahminwala in Punjab province of Pakistan where culprits have been also protected and saved by administration to walk unpunished.

The arrests of Christians under blasphemy law have been doubled in present regime and incident of killing of Two Christian Brothers on July 19, 2010, in broad day light in District Courts of Faisalabad during hearing in blasphemy case is total failure of administration to protect life of Christians in Pakistan.

20 million Pakistani Christian have no voice in democratic institutions of Pakistan when Islamic parties are selecting their representation on reserved seats for minorities in parliament and using them as tool to mislead international community on situation of Christians in Pakistan. We have been deprived of our right to elect our representatives and turned to be second class citizens in Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistani Christians demand right of election of their representative proportional to population in parliament instead of selection by Muslim groups.

We appeal your honor to press upon government of Pakistan to repeal blasphemy law and to adopt necessary measures to protect life and property of Christians in Pakistan.

The thousands of Christians from Punjab province are fleeing to other cities on incidents of violence and arrests under blasphemy have forced them to take refuge in safe places. We also appeal your honor to award Refugee Status to Pakistani Christians that they may take refuge in other countries when they do not have equal basic democratic rights in Pakistan and treated as second class citizen.

Thanking you.

1. Nazir S Bhatti,

President, Pakistan Christian Congress PCC

www.pakistanchristiancongress.org

Editor, Pakistan Christian Post PCP

www.pakistanchristianpost.com

2. William Shahzad

Chairman, Pakistani Christian Association in North America PCA

3. James Cyprian

The Peace Worldwide

Dated: August 12, 2010.

New York.”

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On August 11, 2010, in other parts of the world, Pakistanis also recognized “Black Day.”

Pakistan - August 11, 2010: Black Day in Pakistan: Lahore: Christian marched in Lahore, Pakistan to demand repeal of blasphemy law. AssitNews Photo

UK - London: August 11, 2010: Pakistani Christian Diaspora observed "Black Day" instead of Minority Day to demand repeal of blasphemy law and end to atrocities against Christians in Pakistan: Photo Aap Ki Awaz Show by Taskeen Khan

UK - London, August 11, 2010: Black Day-2: App Ki Awaz with Taskeen Khan Show: Pakistani Christian in UK protest against atrocities on Christian in Pakistan: Photo Christian Social link UK

UK - Black Day-2 observed by Pakistani Christian Diaspora in UK, with protest in front of Pakistan High Commission in London on August 11: Photo by Christian Social Link UK

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

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

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The Law, Human Rights, and the Right to Believe

Over thirty years ago, I came to Washington DC, and joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

My first job responsibility was to swear a promise to the United States of America, and I said:

“I, Jeffrey Imm, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

I swore this oath, because America cannot afford individuals in law enforcement that cannot defend the law of the land. If you can’t defend the Constitution of the United States, you have no business working for the American people. Amendment 1 of the Constitution supports the freedom of religion for all Americans.

To those who seek to promote human rights, I urge you to consider, can you unquestioningly support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? How credible are human rights activists that cannot defend the most fundamental international document of our universal human rights?

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.”

Notice Article 18 states “everyone,” not just those we like, those we agree with, or those who are popular. In our international Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are no caveats creating exceptions to such human rights for Christian churches in Pakistan, for Ahmadiyya Muslim mosques in Indonesia, or even for Muslim mosques in America. Everyone has the right to believe.

This may not always be popular. In America today, there are endless news reports about the unpopularity of mosques in various parts of the country – from California to Florida – that are being protested by those who do not like Islam and by those who seek to challenge some Muslims’ right to worship.

But both law enforcement and human rights activism are really not a popularity contest. Certainly in every case, supporters of both seek popularity. But both are a commitment to a consistent application of the law and our universal human rights for all people – all the time.

Some people won’t like that. They won’t like laws that keep our society safe and civil when it inconveniences them. They won’t like human rights that apply to those that they may not like. They won’t care for those who flout their populist arguments with the law and with our universal human rights.

As a child, I remember the struggle in America for black Americans’ human rights in the 1960s and 1970s. There were plenty who did not like either the laws or the struggle for such human rights. Certainly if you had taken a poll in a nation which once had 4 million members of the Ku Klux Klan, you would have found there were plenty of people who would’ve opposed both the campaigns and the laws granting black Americans their human rights – and this in a nation whose national declaration is founded on equality and liberty. During those tumultuous days, there were protesting mobs that sought to stop racial integration of schools. I remember one populist campaigner Alabama Governor George Wallace whose racial segregationist policies were part of his campaign to seek to become president of the United States, and he had many, many supporters around the country.

I have seen first hand how such bitter disagreements on human rights can divide our nation, our cities, even our families. But we have an obligation to be a UNITED States of America, not just when it is easy, but also when it is difficult, when we have to make unpopular stands to be TRUE to the truths that we hold self-evident – as Americans.

Some people don’t like the law. Some people don’t like human rights. But the law is the law – and our universal human rights are our universal human rights, not just for those we like or people like us, but for everyone.

Today, CNN has now added to the ongoing furor in America on protests against Muslim mosques by doing a poll that shows that a majority of Americans object to a planned Islamic center on Park Place in New York City, about two football fields away from Ground Zero. It is clearly not popular to many people.

Many may not like the exercise of Constitutional rights or human rights by many people. If we took a national poll every time someone did something controversial, we can be certain of the results. But whether we like it or not, Americans and human beings have Constitutional rights and universal human rights. Don’t forget those are your rights too.

We cannot trade away our Constitution and our universal human rights to whatever CNN/Opinion Research Center finds through some telephone calls, what some people post on Facebook, or what some say with protest signs. Imagine if that was you that the nation was judging any time you did something unpopular or controversial. Imagine if that was you whose very freedoms were being assessed by cable television news hosts or the latest talk radio programs. We have the right to do and say things that may be unpopular, that many may disagree with, and that many may believe to be wrong. It is called FREEDOM.

Our Constitution, our law, and our universal human rights are not just toys for angry politicians, angry groups, and sensationalist journalism. Our Constitution, our Declaration, and our law are the foundation of America’s identity. Our Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the commitment of a pact by United Nations’ countries of the world, including the United States of America, after the horror of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany – as their way of saying “Never Again” and creating an international declaration for universal human rights and justice for all – all the time.

I may no longer be a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but my commitment to their goals of Fidelity – Bravery – Integrity to our Constitution and the truths that we hold self-evident that it is based on will not waver.

To those who seek to defy Americans’ Constitutional rights, remember there are those who vowed an oath to continue to defend such Constitutional rights – whether it is popular or not.

We urge all Americans to be consistently responsible for equality and liberty. It is the American way, and it is who and what America is all about.

United for Pluralism in Pakistan

On the first anniversary of the mob attack on Gojra, Pakistan, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s Jeffrey Imm issued the following online petition for the people of the world to promote pluralism to the Pakistan people and Pakistan government, stating:

“We support tolerance, freedom, and respect for all religions in Pakistan, including freedom of worship for all Pakistanis without oppression, harassment, attacks, or violence. We stand united for pluralism and united for the universal human rights allowing such freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people in Pakistan.”

“We call upon the Pakistan government and the people of Pakistan to respect such diversity of religious views and protect such freedoms that are the inherent universal human rights of all people. We stand united in pluralism, with respect and love for our fellow human beings.”

We urge all those who support such pluralism and human rights, dignity in Pakistan to sign our online petition at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/pakhope/

http://bit.ly/pakhope

We Remember Gojra

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) remembers the tragic attack on Gojra, Pakistan, on August 1, 2009, where a reported mob of 20,000 murdered Christian men, women, and children, burned Christian homes, and burned Christian churches – all in the name of religious intolerance and a spurious charge of “blasphemy.”

UCAN reports on Pakistan mob attack: "A Christian house set ablaze by Muslims" — August 1, 2009 Pakistan mob attack in Gojra: "A Christian house set ablaze" (Photo: UCAN)

We will join the Pakistan Christian Congress and members of other faiths in Washington DC on August 2, 2010 to remember this horrific attack, and the ongoing pattern of religious intolerance, hate, and violence that continues against religious minorities throughout Pakistan.

Religious intolerance is not the problem for any one faith or identity group.

On July 21, 2010, two Pakistan Christian brothers were gunned down in the street in broad daylight on courthouse steps after being falsely charged with “blasphemy.” Christians not killed are being imprisoned for “blasphemy,” including a Christian in March 2010, who received a life sentence for such a charge. Mobs continue to attack Christian families, such as the May 2010 attack in Essa Nagri Karach, and have Christian church services disrupted. Some Christians have been put to death for refusing to convert to “Islam.” In Karachi, a Christian nurse was raped in July then thrown from a fourth floor of a medical building where she worked; the Pakistan Christian Post reports that there are hundreds of unreported rapes of Christian nurses. Anti-Christian banners are seen in Lahore. In March 2010, a Christian housemaid was burned alive.

On July 31, 2010, seven of a Hindu family were killed in Jaffarabad, Balochistan in an attack there, and Pakistan Hindus are routinely oppressed for their faith, not just by the Pakistan Taliban, but also by government officials, including government plans to destroy an 87 year old Hindu temple in Rawalpindi. On July 9, 2010, the Pakistan Hindu Post reported that 60 members of a Hindu family had to take shelter in a Karachi cattle pen, after a Hindu boy drank from a drinking fountain in a mosque. In June 2010, a Hindu trader was shot dead in Quetta, Pakistan Hindus have had forced kidnappings and conversion to “Islam.”

Sikhs have been beheaded and targeted by the Pakistan Taliban, and have also been harassed and victimized for their faith.

Minority Muslims are also not safe from such religious intolerance. On May 28, 2010, attacks on Ahmadiyya Community Muslim mosques during prayers left 98 dead. The terrorist attacks were against Ahmadiyya Community Muslim during worship services in Garhi Shahu and Model Town mosques. On July 1, 2010, a terrorist attack against a Sufi Muslim shrine in Lahore, left 43 dead. Shiite Muslims have been targeted by bombings and attack, including a bombing in Karachi, and truck drivers murdered for every providing supplies to Shiite Muslims.

Religious extremist hate does not only reach to minority religious members, but also to majority religious individuals as well. In Punjab alone from January to June 2010, there have been 102 “honor killings” reported.

Whatever your faith or none at all, religious extremist hate and intolerance is a threat to us all. That threat seeks to deny freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience, and our other universal human rights to all people, and rationalized such intolerance, hate, and violence based on religious views.

Peace in Pakistan and around the world begins respect for one another as human beings and respect for our universal human rights. This is why we call upon support for our universal human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 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.”

R.E.A.L. does not seek to suggest that such problems are limited to Pakistan alone. Such intolerance, hate, and, violence is unfortunately a universal problem. This is why we need a consistent, universal answer. We urge Pakistan’s government and the people of Pakistan, as well as people around the world to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Pakistan: 102 Honor Killings in Punjab in 6 Months, Nearly 3,000 Women Victimized

The Pakistan Daily Times reports on 2,909 women victimized over 6 month (January through June 2010) in Punjab, including 102 “honor killings.”

— Pakistan Daily Times reports – on report from January to June 2010 “8 Out of 2,690 cases reported, 913 were abductions, 381 murders, 102 honour killings, 377 rapes and gang rapes, 166 suicides”
— “The aforementioned facts have been taken from the first bi-annual report on incidents of violence against women, titled ‘Situation of Violence Against Women in Punjab’, compiled by Aurat Foundation in collaboration with the Violence Against Women (VAW) Watch Group.”
— “Out of the 2,690 cases reported, there were 913 cases of abductions, 381 murders, 102 honour killings, 377 rape and gang rape and 166 cases of suicide.”
— “Geographically, 1,141 cases had been reported in the urban areas and 1,546 in the rural areas, while the area could not be identified in three cases. According to the status of first information reports, 2,353 cases had been registered in the police stations concerned, 96 were not registered anywhere, while there was no information regarding the registration of FIRs in 241 cases. Out of the total 3,066 victims of violence, 1,535 female victims were unmarried, 1,217 were married, 48 were widows, 39 divorcees, while no information was available for the remaining 227 victims. Almost 467 of the victims were under 18 years of age, 185 women were aged between 19 and 36, 58 female victims were above the age of 36, while in 2,356 cases, no information was available about the victims’ ages.”
— “Maximum incidents: According to the report, the 12 districts where a maximum number of cases of violence against women were reported were Lahore with 458 cases, followed by Faisalabad with 393, Sargodha 161, Sheikhupura 157, Rawalpindi 139, Okara 134, Kasur 116, Sialkot 114, Sahiwal 88, Gujranwala 87, Jhang 76 and Multan with 71 reported cases of violence.”
— “The six-month picture of the current year reveals that out of 2,690 various types of offences committed against women, abduction tops with 33 percent women and girls abducted in Punjab, followed by murder and rape and gang rape at 14 percent, suicide six percent and domestic violence four percent. Interestingly, the report also reflects the relationship of the accused with the victims, as the accused in all 2,690 cases had been found to be close relatives such as husbands, fathers, brothers, cousins, in-laws, besides local influentials, police or neighbours.”
— “The cases of violence against women were collected from local sources of information, mainly local and regional newspapers, individuals and shelter homes, the report says.”

George Washington Quoted on Religious Liberty and Tolerance

During a visit to Newport, R.I., in 1790, a year before the Bill of Rights was ratified, President George Washington received a letter from Moses Seixas, warden of the Touro Synagogue. President Washington replied, in part, to the the Touro Synagogue to state that:

— August 1790 – George Washington: “The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent national gifts. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”

…

— “May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.”

United States President George Washington - 1789 - 1797 — United States President George Washington - President: 1789 - 1797

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Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

British Female Muslim Director of BMSD Explains the Need for Secular Democracy

Unitas Communications has provided Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) the following interview with Tehmina Kazi, director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy. R.E.A.L. supports the leadership, courage, and consistency on human rights issues of Tehmina Kazi and the British Muslims for Secular Democracy, and R.E.A.L. has previously posted on the BMSD’s leadership and activities.

British Female Muslim Director of BMSD Explains the Need for Secular Democracy

Question to Tehmina Kazi: What are the reasons behind the title ‘British Muslims for Secular Democracy’ (BMSD)?

Response: We distinguish between procedural secularism and ideological secularism. Ideological secularism is the type of model that is practiced in France and Turkey, where we see for example headscarf bans in university and we want to distance ourselves from that kind of secularism. We support instead, procedural secularism where the state remains neutral but different faith groups and of no faith have the chance to express their voices in the public sphere and everyone gets an equal share of the public sphere. We also want to highlight the benefits of living in a democracy and how British Muslims can become more successful democratic actors.

Question: What is BMSD doing to engage with British Muslims on a grass-roots level?

Response: On a grass roots level, I am the facilitator for the Young Muslim Leadership Network which is being run by the Citizenship Foundation, so I facilitate monthly workshops for young people, mainly women actually and they talk about issues that are important to them and find individual ways to present these to policy makers. My group for example is filming a myth-busting documentary about Muslim women, busting myths about the hijab, talking about their career choices and educational aspirations. Also we do democracy workshops for refugees in East London and we talk to them about their civil rights.

Question: What does being a British Muslim mean to you?

Response: It means that you don’t see the two terms as mutually exclusive. You can be just as comfortable with your British identity and totally integrated at the same time by totally Muslim.

Question: Eight Muslim MPs were elected this year, three of them women. How will they affect change for Britain?

Response: They set a very important change as role models, especially for Muslim women because now Muslim women can look at MPs such as Rushanara Ali and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who is the first female Muslim in the cabinet and say that if they can do it, I can do it too.

The government’s Prevent agenda has isolated young Muslim males. What are the possible platforms on which they can counter these stereotypes?

There was a very good platform just this Sunday. There was a big public meeting in Birmingham, attended by Salma Yaqoob, Shami Chakrabarti from Liberty and Gareth Pierce, the human rights lawyer and there were a lot of Muslims present there and they aired their concerns. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the increased surveillance in residential areas in Birmingham and I’m a civil libertarian and me personally, I was very affected by this. The more we voice these issues by signing petitions, attending public meetings, going on TV programmes, radio programmes to explain why this is wrong and why this is wrong approach is important. We need to do more of these things.

Question: Why is it important that Muslim youth vote?

Response: Because if you don’t vote then you shouldn’t complain when you see MPs ignoring your interest and hot shod of your wishes and implementing things such as the surveillance in Birmingham and the 42-day detention period. It is the individual that can make these changes within themselves, such as writing a letter to an MP. It’s the apathy that is the biggest enemy to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

Question: There have been news reports of Muslim parents removing their children from music lessons in a south London school. Many Muslim parents want to instil specific Islamic principles in their child’s education. Do you think it is possible to negotiate this in a school setting?

Response: I don’t think they should have the right to withdraw their child from music lessons. Children benefit most from a well-rounded education. What we need to do is to educate the parents because there’s a big difference from Mozart and a rap song. There are already comprises being made for other lessons such as swimming, where you have girls only lessons and that’s fine. But with something as universal as music, I mean why would you want to withdraw your child from that? Next you’ll have children being withdrawn for all arbitrary reasons. This has been going on for a long time, and is worse in areas such as Bradford and Ealing.

Tehmina Kazi took up the position of Director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy in May 2009. Prior to joining BMSD, she was a Project Officer at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, where she worked on a ground-breaking inquiry into the Human Rights Act and its impact on public service delivery, undertaking research, writing policy briefings, facilitating focus groups and interviewing victims of human rights violations.

To find out more about the BMSD, visit their website at: http://www.bmsd.org.uk/index.asp

Tehmina Kazi, BMSD Director — United Kingdom: Tehmina Kazi, director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD)