Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
A Volunteer Human Rights Group – Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins
Pakistan: Hindu (Dalits) demand their rights in Sindh , Pakistan
— Pakistan Hindu Post reports: “Pakistan has nearly 4m Hindus, 75% of whom are Dalits. About 70 Dalit families have moved from Aakli to the plains near Mithi, where they are protesting the abduction of their women and demanding security”
Multiple reports from the media and NGOs are being released this week on multiple efforts to attack Nigeria Christians and farmers, some of which have been prevented by the military and some which have resulted in deaths. On April 21, 2010, THISDAY reported the exhumation of seven new bodies of people murdered by Fulani herdsmen in Riyom, where two Christian farmers were murdered on April 19, 2010.
Nigeria – This Day: Jos Killing: Seven Bodies Exhumed in Riyom
— “Seven fresh dead bodies believed to be those of travelers were yesterday evening exhumed from three shallow graves by Military Special Task Force (STF) in Rahoss in Riyom local government area of Plateau State.”
— “They were believed to have been killed secretly in the early hours of yesterday by hoodlums.
— “This followed a renewed attack in the area on Monday evening in which suspected Fulani herdsmen allegedly killed five in the area.
— “The youth in the area were said to have gone wild after the attack, a development that allegedly led to the attack of the travelers.
— “THISDAY gathered that the Fulani made an unexpected attack on Rim village on Monday evening and raided some farmers who were returning from their farms, killing five and injuring many others, before the men of the Military STF got to the scene.
Compass Direct News: “Nigeria: Pastor, Wife Killed in Northern Nigeria ”
— “Suspected extremists last week abducted and killed a Church of Christ in Nigeria pastor and his wife in Boto village, Bauchi state in northern Nigeria. The Rev. Ishaku Kadah, 48, and his 45-year-old wife Selina were buried on Saturday (April 17) after unidentified assailants reportedly whisked them from their church headquarters home on Tuesday (April 13) and killed them. Their burnt bodies were found hours later.”
Nigeria: loss of confidence in army grows as attacks continue
— Inspire magazine: “A man and woman were killed and three people are missing after Fulani tribesmen attacked a group of miners near Rim village, Plateau State, Nigeria, yesterday at midday.”
Nigerian troops foil sectarian attack
— AFP: “The Nigerian army said Monday it had averted an attack by suspected Muslim extremists on a mainly Christian village in the flashpoint central Plateau State, killing two gunmen.”
Nigeria: Two Christian farmers killed in Nigeria
— AFP: “Kano – Two Christian farmers were killed on Monday and two others went missing in fresh attacks by suspected Muslim-Fulani nomads in Nigeria’s central Plateau State, police and residents said.”
— “The Fulani nomads allegedly attacked the farmers who were working on their farms ahead of the rainy season in Christian-dominated Riyom village, 30km south of Jos, capital of the volatile state.”
— “‘We received reports that four people were declared missing in Riyom after they went to the farm in the early morning but never returned,” Plateau State police spokesperson Mohammed Lerama told reporters on the phone from Jos.”
— “‘A search team discovered two bodies out of the four missing farmers. The two others are still unaccounted for,’ Lerama said.”
— “Riyom resident, Daniel Pam, blamed Fulani nomads for the attack.”
— “‘It is obvious the killings were carried out by the Fulani nomads who have been on the prowl in the last two months,” Pam also said on phone from Riyom village.”
April 19, 2010 – NEXT: Two killed in another attack in Jos
— “At least two persons were killed in the early hours of Sunday morning in an attack on Bisichi Community, in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.”
— “The Chairman of Jos South Local Government Council, Moses Dalyop, confirmed the attack to the News Agency of Nigeria, saying that the attackers invaded the village at about 3 a.m.”
— “Mr. Dalyop said, ‘I am a very sad person today following an attack on Bisichi again in the early hours of today. I am surprised that innocent people have continued to be killed in their sleep, despite the curfew.'”
Pakistan Dawn: “An intolerant nation”
— Dawn: “We are reaping the harvest of the seeds of hatred sown in the seventies and eighties. Pakistan is becoming an increasingly intolerant nation where religious and sectarian minorities live in fear and are awarded little or no protection by the state.”
— “Difference is unacceptable to the obscurantists who want everyone to toe their line. And if that takes intimidation, torture or even murder, then so be it, for no option is unavailable to the self-righteous who believe that they alone have seen the light.”
— “This mindset is not limited to the Taliban who kill in the name of religion. There is no shortage in Pakistan of sectarian and other militant outfits that feel justified in murdering Shias, Christians and Ahmadis — or indeed anyone who doesn’t share their views.”
Indonesia: Official Orders Halt to Beleaguered Church in Indonesia
CDN reports: “ A local government official in Bekasi, West Java last week forbid all worship of the Filadelfia Huria Kristen Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) in Jejalan village. Regent Sa’duddin on April 12 ordered a halt to all activities of the church, including worship services that have been held on a strip of roadside land since the government on Jan. 12 summarily sealed the church’s building, which was under construction.”
On April 11, 2010, per our previous report, volunteers in Washington DC held a “March for Remembrance” to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah). The event was led by event representative Ted Pearce, who sought to have such a march with Christians, Jews, and others in solidarity together to show united remembrance of the Holocaust.
Ted Pearce has led similar marches in Germany and in Texas. He stated that “if only Jewish people remember the Holocaust, then I fear that in some ways the Holocaust has already been forgotten by some,” which is why he organized this latest “March for Remembrance” in Washington DC.
TOS Ministries, based in Germany, has led such events in the past. TOS Ministries-Germany Pastor Jobst Bittner is the founder of “The March for Life,” and spoke at the Washington DC event in German with an English translator about confronting and challenging anti-Semitism in Germany. TOS Ministries’ Pastor Bittner spoke about forming a church with a mission to confront and change attitudes on anti-Semitism in Tubingen, Germany, which had a past in the Nazi regime. Pastor Bittner spoke about the efforts to combat anti-Semitism and to speak out about the Holocaust in Germany, including holding public Hanukkah services and holding marches in Germany to remember the Holocaust, like the march that was now being held in Washington DC on April 11, 2010.
Other speakers at the March for Remembrance included Avi Mizrachi (Foundation for Holocaust Education Projects), Paul Argiewicz (Holocaust survivor, liberated from Buchenwald, April 11, 1945), Peter Loth (born in Stuttot concentration camp), and David Goldkorn (survived death march from Dachau).
Holocaust survivor Paul Argiewicz spoke of his time in Nazi concentration camps and urged the world never to forget the Holocaust. Paul Argiewicz was a Polish Jewish teenager who was forced to leave his home, schooling, and family due to Nazi anti-Semitism and spent five years in Nazi forced labor camps from Auschwitz to Buchenwald as Number 176520.
The message was reinforced by all attendees that the Holocaust would be remembered, and that it would be each of the attendee’s responsibility, whatever their religion, to ensure that the world will Never Forget, so that we can all be responsible for ensuring “Never Again.” Organizer Ted Pearce stated that that the event would be continued as an annual tradition on Yom HaShoah in Washington DC. After the speakers, there was a lighting of 6 candles in memory of the 6 million who were killed in the Holocaust. At a separate event that night, Immanuel’s church in Silver Spring, Maryland held a “Concert of Remembrance.”
Other Photographs of Event:
Iran: Two Christian converts from Islam to face trial April 13
— Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad
— Elam Ministries report
— Elam states that: “They spent 259 days in prison for their Christian faith. After their conditional release on 18th November 2009 from Iran’s Evin Prison, they have been convalescing and receiving medical treatment for the past five months.”
— “Both of them still remain unwell, weak and suffering from various illnesses. However, despite their frailties they are determined to be faithful to the Lord and speak the truth in court whatever the consequence or personal cost.”
— November 2009: Iran – Elam Ministries Report: Maryam and Marzieh Released – Face New Court Date
– See previous R.E.A.L reports on Maryam and Marzieh
Press release from group “Set My People Free to Worship Me”
SET MY PEOPLE FREE TO WORSHIP ME
Presents human rights request to the Arab League
Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, April 3, 2010 – Set My People Free to Worship Me, a new network of individuals, churches and organizations working for the freedom of religious converts to live and practice their faith, to experience equality and justice in their home countries presented a letter addressed to Dr. Amer Musa the General Secretary of the Arab League office on Saturday (Easter Eve) April 3, 2010 at 12 noon in Cairo.
Founder and Leader, Kamal Fahmi said, “Set My People Free to Worship Me would like to request that the Arab League consider giving absolute freedom for all Muslims in the Arab World to choose their belief or religion, to stop all forms of discrimination against all minorities and to protect the freedom of individuals and groups to worship and proclaim their beliefs.”
“We appeal to the Arab League to consider the requests outlined in the petition letter. We are dismayed that religious liberty is curtailed in most countries in the Arab World and would like to appeal for justice, equality and mercy,” said Kamal Fahmi.
“Our plan to hold simultaneous marches in a number of cities has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope to have a simple protest in England and Australia on May 22, 2010. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said Kamal Fahmi regretfully. “We want to invite individuals, churches, religious bodies and NGOs to participate in these justice and peace protest in England and Australia.”
Kamal draws inspiration from the involvement of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement. He believes strongly in religious liberty with the onslaught of religious persecution worldwide, “We call on the Arab League to respond to setting things right as Edmund Burke says, ‘For evil men to triumph, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.’ ”
Kamal Fahmi brings a strong background in non-governmental organization development. Fahmi has spent over 20 years working in the Middle East and Africa in Christian based organizations. He has also been involved in advocating on human rights issues throughout the years.
For more information, pictures or an interview contact:
Kamal Fahmi , Founder & Leader,
Email: SMPFTWM.media@gmail.com
Christian Post reports: “Human rights group seeks freedom for religious converts”
— “Set My People Free to Worship Me is planning to stage simultaneous marches on April 3 in London, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Cairo, Stockholm and Sydney.”
— “The group’s founder Kamal Fahmi said he was organising the protests to seek freedom, justice and equality for religious converts. The movement wants especially freedom for converts to worship, marry and raising their children according to their new faith.”
— Set My People Free To Worship Me Press Release and Contact Information
“Cairo, Egypt, March 1, 2010 Set My People Free to Worship Me, a new network of individuals, churches and organisations working for the freedom of religious converts to live and practice their faith, to experience equality and justice in their home countries, announced today plans for a worldwide protest march on Saturday (Easter Eve) April 3, 2010 at 12 noon in Australia, Africa, Middle East and Europe.”
“Founder and Leader, Kamal Fahmi said, Set My People Free to Worship Me is organizing a worldwide protest march seeking freedom, justice, equality and reconciliation for religious converts on April 3, 2010. We want to advocate that all people especially Muslims have the freedom to change faith, to live out and practice their new beliefs.”
“We are a non-violent movement that seeks freedom for religious conversion, religious worship, marriage and bringing up children. We believe that it is time to support our suffering Christian brothers and sisters from Muslim background and raise awareness of the injustices that they face, added Fahmi. In view of this, we have also started a petition campaign which all people regardless of faith, beliefs and practices are welcome to participate in. We hope to deliver it to various global leaders across the world. The online petition address is http://www.petitiononline.com/2010smpf/petition.html. We are very excited to see what God will do as we obey the biblical teaching – to release the oppressed.”
“Set My People Free To Worship Me plans to hold simultaneous protest marches in a number of cities around the world at 12.00pm (local time). The movement invites individuals, churches, religious bodies and NGOs to participate in these justice and peace marches in key cities in Cairo, Frankfurt, London, Melbourne, South Africa, Stockholm and Sydney. This will be a yearly event on Easter Eve until the situation changes.”
“Kamal Fahmi brings a strong background in non-governmental organization development. Fahmi has spent over 20 years working in the Middle East and Africa in Christian based organizations. He has also been involved in advocating on human rights issues throughout the years. Kamal draws inspiration from the involvement of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement who said In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
