Religious Freedom – Page 6 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Indonesia Church Harassed, Appeals to United Nations – Hizb ut-Tahrir Seeks Church Closure

In Indonesia, a Christian church in Bogor, West Java, has been repeatedly harassed, had services disrupted, and has been sealed by local government authorities that seek to disrupt their freedom of worship. The church is now appealing to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief for relief, by filing a religious discrimination appeal.

Compass Direct News has reported on the abuse of worshipers at the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Taman Yasmin Church, stating that “Since April 11 the congregation has held services on the roadside in front of the sealed church in stifling heat. The church pastor, the Rev. Ujang Tanusaputra, told Compass that the congregation has held Sunday services six times in front of the building that the mayor of Bogor sealed.”

Reverend Ujang Tanusaputra told Compass that the church had received an official permit from the Bogor City government. However, a group that objected to the presence of church resulted in getting the church sealed by the Bogor government. Despite this, the church won a court lawsuit against the effort to seal the church, but despite all of this, the congregation is not permitted to worship in the building which is 80 percent complete. According to the Compass report, the “construction was going smoothly until a Muslim group began demonstrating and the government sealed the building to appease them.” Reverend Ujang Tanusaputra told Compass “We are going to continue worshiping by the roadside as part of the struggle to remove the seal.” Compass reports that “Tanusaputra said he hopes the Lord will intervene to show that Indonesia is a country where laws are followed and all faiths may freely worship.”

In March 2010, the anti-democracy political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) organized a protest of hundreds of its members in front of the Bogor City Council protesting the building permit given to the Gereja Kristen Indonesia (GKI) Taman Yasmin Church. Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia and other groups together under the Indonesian Muslims Communication Forum (Forkami) have sought to deny the church members freedom of worship in their church in Bogor.

Since April 2010, the church had responded to the pressure by such groups to close their church, by holding worship services in the street.

(See other R.E.A.L. postings on Indonesia.)

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The Hizb ut-Tahrir organization involved in seeking to deny the freedom of worship of Indonesia Christians has ongoing international efforts to attack democracy, religious freedom, and human rights around the world, including a July 4, 2010 event in Australia, and an event planned for July in Chicago.

Hizb ut-Tahrir rejects democracy, rejects the women’s equality movement, and calls for the “death penalty” for those who leave Islam. On June 22, 2010, the Hizb ut-Tahrir Indonesia group was publicly demonstrating for the stoning of individuals. (See also additional R.E.A.L. postings on Hizb ut-Tahrir.)

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights, including Article 18 freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience — for all people – everywhere. 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 support religious pluralism and tolerance around the world.

R.E.A.L. urges all people to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Pakistan: Sufi Muslim Shrine Attacked – Many Killed

In Lahore, Pakistan, two suicide bombers blew themselves up among crowds of worshipers at the shrine to Sufi saint Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore, capital of Punjab province. 43 have been reported killed in this terrorist attack and atrocity against human rights. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns this attack on those seeking to exercise their freedom of religion and freedom of worship, and we support such religious freedoms as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18.

R.E.A.L. urges all people to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Security officials examine the site of suicide bomb attacks at the Saint Syed Ali bin Osman Al-Hajvery shrine, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore on July 2, 2010. - Photo by AFP.

Media Reports:

AP / GEO TV VIDEO: CCTV shows Lahore Suicide Bomber at Data Darbar Sufi Shrine

CNN: Pakistan: Muslim Shrine Attacked by Twin Bomb Blasts
— Police say twin bomb blasts at a Sufi shrine in the Pakistani city of Lahore

AFP: Protest strike in Pakistan over shrine bombing

Dawn: Terrorists tear into heart of Lahore
— Media Gallery

Dawn: Data Darbar attack

Pakistan Daily Times: World shocked by horrific attack – on Sufi Muslim shrine

Times of India: Bloodbath at sufi shrine in Lahore

Times of India: Mosque attacks becoming a trend in ‘divided’ Pak

Daily Telegraph: Pakistan braced for wave of terror after shrine attack

Pakistan Daily Times: Security beefed up at shrines, worship places

Pakistan Daily Times: Shrines in Sindh easy prey for terrorists?

CBS: Taliban Militants Prime Suspects in Triple Pakistan Suicide Bombings
— Pakistan Daily Times: Taliban denies role in Lahore blasts

White House: Groups Call for Saudi Arabia King Abdullah to Support Women’s Rights, Religious Freedom

On June 29, 2010 in Washington D.C., human rights groups and volunteers picketed the White House sidewalk and Pennsylvania Avenue while Saudi Arabian King Abdullah met with U.S. President Obama.

June 29, 2010: Saudi Arabia King Abdullah and U.S. President Obama Meet

While King Abdullah and President Obama were meeting, Muslims and non-Muslims, men and women, united to demonstrate in front of the White House to call for President Obama to urge Saudi King Abdullah to support women’s rights and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, and urged King Abdullah to follow through with previous calls for reforms.

June 29, 2010 - White House Demonstrators from CDHR, IIC, The Gulf Institute, and R.E.A.L — June 29, 2010 - White House Demonstrators from Various Groups: CDHR, The Gulf Institute, IIC, and R.E.A.L.

Groups of demonstrators included representatives of and volunteers supporting The Institute for Gulf Affairs, Islamic Information Center (IIC), Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR), Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), and Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). CDHR, Gulf Institute, and R.E.A.L. had all separately planned demonstrations for that day at the White House. Some groups decided to consolidate their efforts at the White House.

June 29, 2010: Demonstrators Protesting for Women's Rights, Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia Outside White House

Demonstrators in support of freedom for religious minorities and women in Saudi Arabia represented a broad cross-section of individuals: women, men, Muslims, non-Muslims, Arabs, non-Arabs, white and black Americans. They stood before the White House to urge President Obama to focus on what must be America’s real “common cause” with Saudi Arabia – our shared human rights and human dignity.

June 29, 2010 - Diverse Individuals Unite for Human Rights and Freedom in Saudi Arabia

Demonstrators from the combined supporters of The Institute for Gulf Affairs, IIC, and R.E.A.L. also chanted slogans at the Saudi mission leaders and the White House during the meeting between President Obama and King Abdullah.

One woman demonstrator led a chant for women’s rights, shouting to the Saudi leaders that “women are not property,” and calling for Saudi Arabia to “end gender apartheid in Saudi Arabia.”

Other demonstration chants at the White House including “end religious oppression in Saudi Arabia,” “free Hadi and Nathalie,” and “religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Mission Outside the White House Gates

Protesters picketed the White House sidewalk with signs and distributed fliers on human rights issues, as Saudi mission leaders were entering the White House gates. One individual entering the White House stopped to take photographs of the demonstrators. The IIC’s Mahdi Husain and R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm picketed past Saudi mission individuals as they took photographs of the demonstrators.

Muslim Mahdi Husain (Right) of the IIC and Christian Jeffrey Imm (Left) of R.E.A.L. Picket Together for Religious and Women's Freedom in Saudi Arabia — Muslim Mahdi Husain (Right) of the IIC and Christian Jeffrey Imm (Left) of R.E.A.L. Picket Together for Religious Freedom and Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia -- Standing Publicly and United for Human Rights

The demonstrators also called upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to act on victims of religious oppression in that nation. The Institute for Gulf Affair’s Director Ali Al-Ahmed denounced such religious oppression, remarking on Hadi Al-Mutif, the longest serving religious prisoner in Saudi Arabia. Hadi Al-Mutif has been in prison for 17 years for a joking comment as a teenager that was viewed as blasphemous by a Saudi court, and was originally accused of apostasy and sentenced to death, even though Hadi Al-Mutif is a Muslim. Hadi Al-Mutif remains in prison and has alleged physical abuse, and much of his time in prison has been in solitary confinement. The Gulf Institute has been promoting a petition calling for the freedom of Hadi Al-Mutif.

The Gulf Institute Director Ali Al-Ahmed Tells Media of the Religious Oppression and Imprisonment of Hadi Al-Mutif in Saudi Arabia

R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm also distributed an orange flier summarizing the concerns of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regarding the need for religious freedom, freedom of worship, and religious tolerance in Saudi Arabia. The USCIRF made specific recommendations to President Obama to address such concerns in his meeting with Saudi King Abdullah.

The demonstrators called for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support women’s rights in that nation, and called for changes to the guardianship program that exists in Saudi Arabia.

Demonstrators also called for the religious freedom of Canadian Nathalie Morin who, along with her children, has been held a prisoner by her common-law husband in Saudi Arabia. The DC Chapter of the Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), held a protest demonstration outside of the Saudi Embassy on this subject on Saturday, June 26, 2010. The June 26 protest was led by MPV’s Fatima Thompson. The Canadian branch of MPV also held a protest in Toronto on June 26, outside the G20 Summit.

Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) DC chapter activist Fatima Thompson Protests for Women's Human Rights - Photo from June 26 Protest Outside Saudi Embassy

At the Tuesday, June 29 protest at the White House, MPV’s Fatima Thompson passed out fliers to the White House visitors, engaging them to become aware of the plight of Nathalie Morin and Hadi Al-Mutif in Saudi Arabia. She urged women to become educated on the women’s rights issues challenging Saudi women in terms of the guardianship program and the challenge to women’s rights in daily life and law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Nathalie Morin, shown here with her eldest son, Samir (now nearly seven years old), says she has been trying to return to Canada for 2½ years. (Family photo)

While Fatima Thompson was distributing fliers, R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm also addressed the White House visitors with his portable microphone system from the Pennsylvania Avenue area, while holding up posters with photographs showing the abuse that Nathalie Morin and her children have undergone in Saudi Arabia. R.E.A.L.’s Imm stated, “if a woman was beaten like this, if children were abused like this, in the United States, wouldn’t we call the police? The attack on women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is very much a law enforcement issue – one of enforcing our universal human rights for women’s rights and dignity – consistently around the world.”

In Saudi Arabia: Abuses of Canadian Nathalie Morin and Her Children - Held Against Her Will — In Saudi Arabia: Abuses of Canadian Woman Nathalie Morin and Her Children - Nathalie Morin is Held Against Her Will

After protesting at the White House, the demonstrators then moved to outside the Blair House down the street from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue for visiting dignitaries to continue to send their message in support of religious freedom and women’s rights to the visiting Saudi mission. Demonstrators saw Saudi King Abdullah and his aides during the protest demonstration outside of Blair House.

June 29, 2010 - Human Rights Activist Demonstrating Outside Blair House

While human rights activists demonstrated on June 29, 2010, Saudi King Abdullah and U.S. President Obama met and told the media of some areas of common interests. The news media reported that the two were finding common grounds on the topic of Middle East peace, as well as frustration with the media. King Abdullah, stated, regarding the media: “May God spare us from all of the bad things they can do to us. (Laughter) And may God — and may God bless us with all the positive things they can do for us and for humanity,” to which President Obama replied “Well, that is an excellent prayer.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our unqualified, universal human rights for both women and men, and for the religious freedom, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all. R.E.A.L. stands in support of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. But most importantly, R.E.A.L stands in support of our fellow human beings, and recognizes that all human rights campaigns are missions of mercy, and the most important element to successful human rights is compassion and dignity to all.

R.E.A.L. urges all to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

R.E.A.L. urges the press of the world not to be silent about human rights violations and oppression, whether it is found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the United States, or anywhere else in the world. R.E.A.L. urges the media and press to continue to be a voice of conscience in reporting the news of the world, no matter how inconvenient the truths of our conscience may be to world leaders.

Without such a compass of our conscience in human rights, all of our freedoms, including our freedom of expression, will remain endangered in too many parts of the world.

We must all be responsible for equality and liberty.

Additional Photos are at this web link.

As additional photos are obtained from other volunteers, we will update this blog posting and the web link of photographs.

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Demonstration Group Contacts:

The Institute for Gulf Affairs
Ali Al-Ahmed, Director
Website: http://www.gulfinstitute.org/

Islamic Information Center (IIC)
Mahdi Husain, Public Relations
Website: http://www.IslamicInformationCenter.org

Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR)
Ali H. Alyami, Executive Director
Website: http://www.cdhr.info

Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV)
Washington DC Activist: Fatima Thompson
Website: http://www.mpvusa.org/

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) volunteer group
Founder: Jeffrey Imm
Website: https://www.realcourage.org
Email: info@realcourage.org

R.E.A.L. Supports Our Universal Human Rights for All Human Beings

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Groups’ Upcoming Events

The human rights groups all have additional upcoming events this summer. The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR) has a conference on Muslim scholars’ warnings on radicalism on July 20, 2010 in Washington DC on Capitol Hill, 4:00pm – 6:30pm, Rayburn House Office Building Room B-369. The Islamic Information Center (IIC) has a conference in Washington DC at the Capitol Hilton on July 23 through 25. The Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) group has an annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia on August 6 through 8.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has a public outreach scheduled for Sunday July 11 at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool at 2 PM, where it encourages Muslims and non-Muslims to join together to demonstrate our shared support for democracy and freedom, in response to groups that seek to deny such freedoms, and urges those interested to contact R.E.A.L. at info@realcourage.org

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Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights - Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Tuesday, June 29 – White House Event – Women’s Rights and Religious Freedom in Saudi Arabia

On Tuesday, June 29 at 12 Noon at the blocked off area of Pennsylvania Avenue, between the White House and Lafayette Park, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supporters will urge President Obama and Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to seek women’s equal rights and religious freedom in Saudi Arabia, during their meeting that day at the White House.

If you are interested in attending or for more information, contact: Jeffrey Imm, info@realcourage.org, 301-613-8789

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has submitted an assembly plan notification to the Washington DC Metropolitan Police for public awareness activity. In May, we had a similar event regarding negotiations with the Taliban while Afghan President Karzai was at the White House. If weather or security conditions warrant, we will move to Lafayette Park, which we have also discussed with the National Park Service (NPS).

Calling for Women’s Equal Rights

We challenge the lack of women’s equal rights in Saudi Arabia, including the laws that demand segregation of women in public life, the male guardianship program, and the inequality for women in education, employment, health, and equality before the law. We reject the treatment of women, including public lashing, abuse of women at the hands of religious police, and a culture which has allowed women to become viewed as second class citizens – in the law and daily life.

We challenge the gender apartheid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and call for its leaders to accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which calls for such freedoms “in the equal rights of men and women” in every part of the world.

We also call upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to recognize the unqualified, universal human rights for all women in Saudi Arabia, for a life not based on segregation, fear, intimidation, and oppression, but as equal partners in that nation and in the world.

Calling for Human Rights of Religious Freedom

Our consistent support for freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, which 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 call upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the nations of the world to support such unqualified, universal human rights on our fellow human beings right to believe and worship as they see fit. We support all of our fellow human beings RIGHT TO BELIEVE – without exception, without qualification – free from intolerance, intimidation, and fear.

The U.S. State Department continues to denote the lack of freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that Saudi Arabia be listed as a Countries of Particular Concern (CPC). We share the concerns about religious freedom in Saudi Arabia described in both the U.S. State Department and the USCIRF reports, and we urge U.S. President Obama to follow the recommendations of the USCIRF in his June 29 meeting with Saudi King Abdulaziz. (See also Adobe Acrobat PDF of USCIRF letter to U.S. President Obama.)

In terms of religious freedom, we urge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) leaders to support Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in the interests of world peace and harmony, as well as the long term security both for the KSA and the world.

Calling for Consistency in Our Universal Human Rights

We believe that support for such universal human rights is a demonstration of our love for our fellow human beings.

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

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Postscript: I know that some believe that calling for the KSA to support women’s human rights, the UDHR, and UDHR Article 18 for religious freedom may seem impossible. In 1979, I also stood before representatives of the Apartheid Government of South Africa calling for the end to the racial supremacism of Apartheid laws created in 1750. This was just 6 years before the founding of the first Saudi nation-state by Prince Muhammed Ibn Saud and Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab.

The end of apartheid was announced in 1990, and by 1992, apartheid was ended in South Africa. But in 1979, such calls then too were viewed as impossible . But we have seen in the world that the march for human freedom is relentless and consistent, like the waves of the ocean, such universal human rights will ultimately not be denied. It is our obligation to continue to participate in that march for freedom, as human beings Responsible for Equality AND Liberty.

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Logistics and Map:

If you are taking the Washington DC subway (Metro), you should exit at the Farragut West (Orange/Blue Lines), Farragut North (Red Line), or McPherson Square (Orange/Blue Lines) metro stops.

FARRAGUT WEST METRO STATION to WHITE HOUSE Walking Directions: 1. Exit station through 18TH & I (EYE) ST NW entrance. 2. Walk approx. 1 block S on 18th St NW. 3. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave NW. 4. Walk approx. 3 blocks SE on Pennsylvania Ave NW.

FARRAGUT NORTH METRO STATION to WHITE HOUSE Walking Directions: 1. Exit station through CONNETICUT AVE & K ST NW entrance. 2. Walk a short distance S on Connecticut Ave NW. 3. Walk straight on 17th St NW. 4. Walk approx. 1 block S on 17th St NW. 5. Turn left on I St NW. 6. Walk a short distance E on I St NW. 7. Turn right on Connecticut Ave NW. 8. Walk approx. 1 block S on Connecticut Ave NW. 9. Bear right on Jackson Pl NW. 10. Walk approx. 1 block S on Jackson Pl NW. 11. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave NW. 12. Walk approx. 1 block E on Pennsylvania Ave NW.

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Additional Background on KSA and Women’s Rights Issues:

Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia
Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia
— Adobe Acrobat PDF File

Saudi Cleric Fired for Rejecting Segregation of Sexes — Ahmed Qassim Al-Ghamdi

Saudi Cleric Calls for Gender Segregation or Death: Shaikh Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak

Saudi Woman Criticizes Muslim Clerics in TV Poetry Contest — Gets Death Threats

Saudi Arabia: “Domestic abuse goes unreported due to sensitivity”

Escaping Saudi Arabia’s gilded cage — on oppression of women in Saudi Arabia

“Saudi Arabia — The World’s Largest Women’s Prison”

Saudi Woman Challenges Male-Only Polygamy, Accused of Blasphemy

Saudi judge: It’s OK to slap spendthrift wives

Saudi religious police blamed in ‘honor’ killing of sisters

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

Saudi Arabia: 75 year old woman lashed, press concerned about men

Saudi Arabia: Philippine Woman Imprisoned for Being Rape Victim

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Additional Background on KSA and Religious Freedom Issues:

USCIRF Recommendations to President Obama for June 29 Meeting

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called upon President Obama to urge “the Saudi government to implement effective strategies for preventing people from embracing violent extremism in the first place. They will need to focus on reforms that ensure that intolerance has no place in their culture. Despite the Saudi government pledging to the United States nearly four years ago that it would undertake such reforms, very little progress has been made. In this regard, we appeal to you to raise three important issues: revising the Saudi government-controlled curriculum and textbooks; reining in the government-funded Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice (CPVPV), or religious police; and releasing Hadi Al-Mutif, the longest serving religious prisoner in Saudi Arabia.”

U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Report 2009 on Saudi Arabia – Excerpts

The U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Report 2009 on Saudi Arabia states that:
“Freedom of religion is neither recognized nor protected under the law and is severely restricted in practice.”
“Moreover, the public practice of non-Muslim religions is prohibited, and the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) continued to conduct raids on private non-Muslim religious gatherings. Although the Government also confirmed its stated policy to protect the right to possess and use personal religious materials, it did not provide for this right in law, and the CPVPV sometimes confiscated the personal religious materials of non-Muslims.”

“the Government continued to enforce its official interpretation of Sunni Islam. Some Muslims who do not adhere to this interpretation faced significant political, economic, legal, social, and religious discrimination, including limited employment and educational opportunities, underrepresentation in official institutions, and restrictions on the practice of their faith and on the building of places of worship and community centers. The largest group affected was the Shi’a. Non-Muslims, most of whom are citizens of other countries, also face significant restrictions on the practice of their faith. There were fewer charges of harassment and abuse at the hands of the CPVPV, but incidents of CPVPV excesses continued to cause many non-Muslims to worship in secret, for fear of the police and CPVPV. Textbooks continued to contain some overtly intolerant statements against Jews and Christians and subtly intolerant statements against Shi’a and other religious groups, notwithstanding Government efforts to review educational materials to remove or revise such statements.”

“On January 16, 2009, the Secretary of State re-designated the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).”

USCIRF 2010 Report on Saudi Arabia – Excerpts

“Despite King Abdullah undertaking some limited reform measures and promoting inter-religious dialogue in international fora in recent years, the Saudi government persists in banning all forms of public religious expression other than that of the government’s own interpretation of one school of Sunni Islam and also interferes with private religious practice. Ismaili Muslims continue to suffer severe discrimination and abuse on account of their religious identity and there is an ongoing crackdown on Shi’a Muslim dissidents, which has resulted in numerous arrests and detentions. Members of the Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice (CPVPV or religious police) continue to commit abuses, overstep their authority with impunity, and are not subject to judicial oversight. Moreover, the government continues to be involved in supporting activities globally that promote an extremist ideology, and in some cases, violence toward non-Muslims and disfavored Muslims.”

“USCIRF again recommends in 2010 that Saudi Arabia be designated as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC. Although so designated by the State Department since 2004, an indefinite waiver on taking any action in consequence of the CPC designation has been in place since 2006.”

“Little discernible progress has been made nearly four years after the State Department publicly announced that, as a result of bilateral discussions, the Saudi government had confirmed that it would advance specific policies with the aim of improving religious freedom conditions. The Saudi government continues to engage in an array of severe violations of human rights as part of its repression of freedom of religion or belief. Abuses include: torture and cruel and degrading treatment or punishment imposed by judicial, security, and administrative authorities; prolonged detention without charges and often incommunicado; and blatant denials of the right to liberty and security of the person, including through coercive measures aimed at women and the broad jurisdiction and abusive actions of the CPVPV. The full implementation by the Saudi government of the July 2006 policies would diminish some of its institutionalized abusive practices that have resulted in severe violations of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.”

NYC: Brooklyn Mosque Protests and Bomb Threat

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. (See also report: “Why Freedom of Religion Matters for MAS Mosques”).

In the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, New York, it was reported that on June 27, 2010, between 200 and 300 people sought to protest a planned mosque 2812 Voorhies Avenue in Brooklyn. A group called Bay People, Inc. is leading the mosque protests.

Voorhies Avenue area in dispute for planned mosque

The sponsor of the project, the Muslim American Society (MAS), is also the same sponsor of a mosque project in Midland Beach on Greeley Avenue that is also being protested. The MAS group’s leader, Mahdi Bray, has been investigated for support for Hamas by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) for comments made at a rally in 2000. IPT states that MAS was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood; the IPT states “MAS denies it is a part of the organization, [although] it acknowledges that its foundations are with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Reports have indicated that the protesters are divided between those who view that the Voorhies Avenue cannot accommodate the traffic for a new mosque, and those that reject the planned mosque due to Islamophobic views. The local blog/newspaper Sheepshead Bites addresses this split between the protesters in its article “Rally Reveals Conflict Within Anti-Mosque Movement.”

Voorhies Avenue Signs Protesting Planned Mosque (Photo: Sheepshead Bites)

A protest notice by Bay People, Inc. alleged called for protesters “Please be polite and tolerant.”

But The Brooklyn Paper has reported that one local counter-protester Guseyn Ibragimov who called for freedom of religion, was booed down and “ordered him to get off their street.” The Brooklyn Paper reporter Thomas Tracy also indicated that the divisiveness has spilled over into calls for violence and bombing against the proposed mosque, not unlike those seen in recent reader comments on the New York Post web site and those made on AM radio stations.

The Brooklyn Paper also quoted an anonymous local man, who reportedly lives across the street from the planned mosque, and who threatened to bomb the planned Voorhies Avenue mosque, telling the reporter: “If they build a mosque there, I’m going to bomb the mosque.. I will give them a lot of trouble… They’re not going to stay here alive.”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports our universal human rights for all. We reject and oppose all calls for intolerance, hate, violence, and terrorism. We urge all those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden their hearts.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

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Media Reports:

The Brooklyn Paper: ‘What kind of America’? Hate-filled rally to stop mosque

Sheepshead Bites: Rally Reveals Conflict Within Anti-Mosque Movement

Photographs of June 27, 2010 protest against New York City mosque in Brooklyn

NYC – Continuing Reports on Staten Island Mosque Protests

Below are news stories regarding ongoing protests about a planned Staten Island mosque on Greeley Avenue in the Midland Beach area.

— Staten Island Advance: “Prayers Tuesday for peaceful resolution to mosque debate”

— Staten Island Advance: Another Sunday, another protest against proposed Staten Island mosque

— Staten Island Advance: Backers of Staten Island mosque go on offensive

— Staten Island Advance: In open letter, Muslim advocate sees ‘religious bigotry’ in opposition to Midland Beach mosque plan

— Earlier Staten Island Mosque Protest news media reports

Staten Island Mosque Protest (Photo: NYT)

The sponsor of the project, the Muslim American Society (MAS), is also the same sponsor of a mosque project in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn that is also being protested. The MAS group’s leader, Mahdi Bray, has been investigated for support for Hamas by the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) for comments made at a rally in 2000. IPT states that MAS was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood; the IPT states “MAS denies it is a part of the organization, [although] it acknowledges that its foundations are with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports our universal human rights for all.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Rhode Island: Suspect in Swastika Vandalism on Synagogue Arraigned

WPRI reports that Ryan N. Johnson was arraigned on June 24 in the vandalism of the Temple Am David mosque in Warwick, Rhode Island, with a swastika and a racial slur. He did not enter a plea on a charge of desecrating a public space (a felony), but pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor vandalism charge.

Rhode Island Synagogue Vandalized with Swastika, Racial Slurs

Religious Freedom and Protests Against Houses of Worship

Posting in progress – check back later today..

NYC: Groups to Protest Near Mosque

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights, including freedom of worship for all people, and we object to protests against houses of worship. However, some groups seek to protest against houses of worship.

New York City groups, under the collective banner “Oppose Ground Zero Mosque,” are planning another mosque protest and leaflet distribution on Friday, June 25, one and a half blocks away from the 45 Park Place mosque. On the web site, one commentator states “There should not be ANY mosque in USA!”

NYC Mosque Being Protested (Photo: NY Times)

The June 25 protest against the 45 Park Place mosque, which has been in operation since December 2009, is scheduled for 12:45 PM, at 51 Park Place between Church Avenue and West Broadway. The groups stated that “this activity is sponsored by Act for Manhattan, Hindu Human Rights Watch, HRCARI and other Organizations.”

June 6 Mosque Protest - Image 2 (Photo: YouTube) — June 6 Mosque Protest – Image (Photo: YouTube)

The June 25 protest groups state that they seek to provide fliers to “Muslims going into the Mosque about their Imam. This can make for interesting exchanges – a kind of ‘street theater’ – especially considering that the whole thing will be filmed as part of a documentary by the Christian Action Network.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has reported on the Christian Action Network’s anti-homosexual activism. In March 2010, the leaders of the SIOA organization that held the June 6, 2010 protest against the 45 Park Place mosque protest, withdrew from plans to hold a May 1 film event in Los Angeles due to what they stated were “the abusive, ugly rhetoric found in various pieces of CAN literature.”

The June 25 protest group states “[t]here will be a documentary being produced by Christian Action Network with interviews from those who will be doing leaf letting”… to show the strength of those who oppose this Mosque..”

June 6 Mosque Protest Image (Photo: YouTube)

On June 3, 2010, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stated its opposition to such protests against houses of worship, in our posting “New York City Mosque Protest, Islam, and Religious Freedom.” R.E.A.L. also remains concerned about the unwillingness of the New York Post to take action on the continuing reader comments on its web site calling for terrorist bombings against the 45 Park Place mosque. We believe it is wrong to seek to intimidate others who seek to practice their freedom of religion, and we reject intolerance, hate, and violence.

R.E.A.L. supports our universal human rights for all people of all faiths, including Muslims attending the 45 Park Place mosque.

R.E.A.L.’s support of our universal human rights includes Article 18: “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.”

Our universal human rights come with no caveats. They do not just apply to one race, one religion, one ethnicity, one gender. They do not just apply to those we agree with, those we like, or those whose faith or religious views we share.

With such human rights and freedom of religion threatened in many parts of the world today, it is essential that we are consistent in our support for such human rights. It is essential that we are consistently responsible for equality and liberty — for all.

Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

Dearborn, Michigan: Christian Activists Arrested During Pamphlet Distribution

The Associated Press is reporting that four Christian activists were arrested during distribution of pamphlets outside of an Arab festival in Dearborn. The police stated that the individuals were charged with disorderly conduct. The four are free on bond.

The AP states that “Haddad tells the Detroit Free Press he isn’t taking sides in any dispute and says police have to keep peace at a festival that draws 300,000 over three days. On Thursday, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals court ruled in favor of Anaheim, Calif., evangelist George Saieg (SAYGH). It overturned a lower court and said Saieg could distribute information on the festival’s perimeter.” CBN News also reported that “The ruling comes after a June 7 decision by Federal District Court Judge Paul D. Borman that upheld the Dearborn’s policy of barring the distribution of religious material near the event.”

The Detroit Free Press reported: “‘We did make four arrests for disorderly conduct,’ Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said Saturday. ‘They did cause a stir.’ ‘Everyone’s space should be respected,’ Haddad said. ‘It’s Father’s Day weekend. … People are here to have a good time, and it’s our job to ensure security.'” On May 3, 2010, the Dearborn Press and Guide reported that “Police Chief Ronald Haddad was recently appointed to serve on the Homeland Security Advisory Council, which provides advice and recommendations to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on matters related to homeland security.”

The individual arrested with Acts17Apologetics posted a YouTube video on this topic, with excepts of their confrontation with police.

Dearborn has a history of being restrictive in pampleteering around the festival, for security reasons that claims to attract 150,000 attendees, and in 2009, Christian groups seeking to pamphlet were asked to buy a booth inside the event to distribution their materials.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports freedom of speech and freedom of press as part of our universal human rights. We urge the Dearborn police authorities to work with groups that seek to express freedom of speech in a way to ensure that both their freedoms and event security can be effectively ensured. We discourage heavy-handed attempts to stifle freedom of speech among our citizens in America. If this is what happened in Dearborn, then we strongly urge the Dearborn law enforcement authorities to reconsider their approach and ensure American freedoms.

Acts17 Christian Activists Arrested During Pamphlet Distribution

However, it is also our experience that effective pamphleteering and public outreach includes proactive communication with the police authorities in advance. This communication with law enforcement authorities includes documenting who, what, where, and when such advance discussions occurred, so that proper security procedures, proper permits are in place, and that you are working within the security rules for public events. Law enforcement should not discover your events as a “surprise,” and the key to effective outreach efforts includes advance communications with law enforcement authorities. Our approach ensures that law enforcement agencies defend our freedoms, because we are on their side by our communication and cooperation with law enforcement authorities at every step.

When we promote religious or racial pluralism or we challenge religious or racial supremacism of any kind, our starting point is full and complete coordination with law enforcement authorities. We know that this works.

Mission Network News (MNN) also provides another report on the Acts 17 group arrests and pamphleteering efforts outside the Dearborn festival, stating that leader David Wood had viewed the group as troublemakers. MNN quotes Wood as stating: “A pastor said that he was standing talking to one of the police officers earlier in the day, and when we arrived, he heard over the policeman’s walkie-talkie, ‘Hey, those guys are here again. Get them out.'”

MNN’s report says that “Acts 17 is no stranger to conflict at the Festival. Last year, Wood contends that festival security framed them by sending a young Muslim to snatch a pamphlet out of Qureshi’s hands and reported that Qureshi had given it to him. The distribution of pamphlets is banned. Even as the story of the arrests went public, reaction has been mixed. While many are astounded at what happened, many others said the arrests occurred because Acts 17 was being confrontational. Wood disagrees. He says he and his group were simply engaging in conversation.”

MNN quotes David Woods as stating “Nabeel and I aren’t just talking to Muslims to preach the Gospel. Whether a Muslim converts to Christianity or not, we also believe it’s important to address Muslim beliefs. So whether a Muslim converts to Christianity or not, it’s still important that that Muslim believe in teachings of the Qur’an such as Surah 9:29 which commands him to subjugate unbelievers. So many Christians will just go there and preach the Gospel.”

MNN also quotes David Wood as stating: “If we’re in a discussion with a Muslim, we might say, ‘What do you believe about Surah 9:29 which commands you to fight and subjugate and oppress up? Do you believe that, or have you reinterpreted that verse?'” and “As of right now, this poses massive problems, because if we were to show up in an area and try to talk to Muslims, they’re going to see us as people who are trouble-makers.” But Wood also states “If anything, we’re even more determined not to submit to threats and intimidation…The main problem, as far as other Christians who have complained about us is concerned, is that they don’t know what happened.”

But MNN also provides the views of a Dearborn pastor with a different perspective, Pastor Haytham Abi-Haydar. Christian Pastor Haytham Abi-Haydar leads the Arabic Fellowship Alliance Church that meets on Sundays at 1:30 PM at Farlane Alliance Church in Dearborn, MI.

MNN states that “Pastor Haytham Abi-Haydar has been attending the Arab International Festival since 1999, even having been allowed to have a booth at the event. ‘The community has been very good to us. They never denied us a request. From my perspective, we’ve never had any incidents.’ According to Abi-Haydar, Act 17 challenged Muslims in the crowd. Those challenges seemed to invite a crowd. Abi-Haydar says, ‘If he thinks that’s how to reach out to people and that’s how to dialogue with people, I think they are endangering their own lives for no reason.'”

MNN also indicates that Pastor Abi-Haydar states that the Acts 17 group was asked to change its tactics. MNN reports that “Wood and his organization were asked by many evangelical groups to change their tactics. Abi-Haydar says, ‘Why can’t he go around with no cameras, no intimidating people and ask questions and build relationships with the community and sharing Christ? Why is that difficult?'”

MNN reports that Abi-Haydar says when Wood was arrested, he was challenging a young Muslim man. The young man was screaming at him. Police asked Woods and his group to disburse. But Abi-Haydar says they didn’t. ‘I know for one fact: if I was the police, I am responsible for the security of the community there and for the security [of Acts 17 Apologetics]. For their own security, I would have forced them to leave the area. And if they would have rejected it, I would have arrested them myself.'”

MNN reports that “It’s not about large groups forming, says Abi-Haydar. ‘It’s about too many people yelling at each other. Is that [a good] witness?’ Some believe this kind of confrontation is just making the nominal Muslims more radical. Abi-Haydar says a loving approach to outreach and evangelism is needed in order to reach them with the Gospel.”