Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) – Page 39 – A Volunteer Human Rights Coalition – Choose Love, Not Hate

Pakistan: Calls for Asia Bibi Pardon and Release to France

Around the world, calls continue for the freedom of oppressed Pakistan Christian Asia Bibi, convicted of “blasphemy” in a Pakistan court in November 2010. On October 25, 2014, hundreds of protesters met outside the UK Pakistan High Commission, calling for freedom for Asia Bibi, a mother of five children – after she was refused her appeal for freedom at Lahore High Court.

In November, the Rakyat Post provided the following report on new calls for a pardon for Asia Bibi by Asia Bibi’s husband:

Bibi-Pardon-Calls — Ashiq Masih the husband of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian mother sentenced to death in under blasphemy laws, sitting with daughters Esham (right) and Esha at their residence in Lahore. (Source: AFP)

“The husband of a Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy four years ago has written to the president to ask for her to be pardoned and allowed to move to France.
Asia Bibi has been on death row since November 2010 after she was found guilty of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed during an argument with a Muslim woman.
A high court in the eastern city of Lahore confirmed the death sentence last month, dashing hopes it might be commuted to a jail term.
“We are convinced that Asia will only be saved from being hanged if the venerable President (Mamnoon) Hussain grants her a pardon. No one should be killed for drinking a glass of water,” husband Ashiq Masih wrote in an open letter dated Nov 17 and published by the New York Times.
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has said the couple are welcomed in the city, and Masih quoted his wife as saying she sent her “deepest thanks to you Madame Mayor, and to all the kind people of Paris and across the world”.
Masih added his wife was not guilty of blasphemy.
The plea for being allowed to move to Paris comes days after the Hidalgo requested Hussain to grant her a pardon.
Senior opposition leader Bruno Retailleau on Wednesday asked French President Francois Hollande to intervene in the case.
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in the majority Muslim country, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence.
Masih, 50, lives in hiding with two of his five children and has to keep his identity secret as he scrapes together a living as a daily labourer.
He visits his wife once a month, making a five and a half hour journey to her jail in Multan in southern Punjab.
The allegations against Bibi date back to June 2009, when she was labouring in a field and a row broke out with some Muslim women she was working with.
She was asked to fetch water, but the Muslim women objected, saying that as a non-Muslim she was unfit to touch the water bowl.
A few days later the women went to a local religious leader and put forward the blasphemy allegations.
Amnesty International has raised “serious concerns” about the fairness of her trial and has called for her release.
Pakistan has never executed anyone for blasphemy and has had a de-facto moratorium on civilian executions since 2008.
But anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.”

Nigeria: Further Reports on Killing of Christians, Destruction of Churches

In Nigeria, Fr. Gideon Obasogie, Head of Social Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri, has provided news media with further updates on the destruction of Diocese of Maiduguri, with the fall of Mubi, with an estimated 2,500 Catholic Christians killed, 100,00 Catholics displaced, and over 50 churches destroyed

This was reported on November 19, 2014 by Agenzia Fides as follows: “Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – According to a note sent to Agenzia Fides by Fr. Gideon Obasogie, Head of Social Communications of the Diocese of Maiduguri, with the fall of Mubi the estimated figure of destruction caused by Boko Haram in the diocese of Maiduguri (whose territory includes Borno, Yobe States and some areas of the Adamawa) is as follows:.
Over 2,500 Catholic Faithful have been killed; Over 100,000 Catholic faithful are displaced; Out of the (46) priests currently working in the diocese (26) are displaced (other priests were welcomed by His Exc. Mgr. Dami Manza, Bishop of Yola); Over (200) Catechists are displaced while over (20) Rev. Sisters are displaced; Abducted women and Girls: Over (200).
Over (50) churches and rectories have been razed down, a good number were destroyed more than once and out of the (40) parish centers \ chaplaincies (22) are presently deserted and occupied by the terrorists. Out of the (5) convents, (4) have been deserted.
A good number of our faithful have been converted to Islam against their will. Most schools in the Northeast can’t commence regular activities not only because of the terrorists, but also because such school premises now serve as refugee camps.
Communities captured and occupied by Boko Haram:”
“In Borno State: Gomboru Ngalla and Bama, Gwoza, Maffa and Abadam. Askira Uba, Dikwa, and Marte. Maiduguri is completely surrounded by the terrorists. The one exit out of Maiduguri city is only the Maiduguri-Damaturu raod.”
“In Adamawa state: Madagali, Michika, Mubi. Others include Gulak, Kaya, Shuwa, Bazza, Yaffa, Betso, Mishara, Vimtim, Muchalla, Kala’a, Maiha, and Mataka.
In Yobe State: Buni Yadi, Gujba, Gulani, Kukuwa, Bularafa, Buni Gari, Bara, Bumsa, Taltaba. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 19/11/2014)”

In addition, the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri reported on October 26, 2014, that the over 90,000 displaced persons in the troubled Northeast had been forced to feed on grass and insects to survive in their hideouts, according to a report by the Nigerian Daily Post.

Myanmar State Security Involved in Human Trafficking of Rohingya Muslims

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has become aware of a new human rights report on the ongoing human rights crisis of Rohingya Muslims, which indicates that the Myanmar state security forces are “complicit in and profiting from” human trafficking of Rohingya Muslims refugees, seeking to flee from violence and persecution.

On November 7, 2014 the Fortify Rights group reported, “Myanmar state security forces are complicit in and profiting from the increasingly lucrative maritime human trafficking and smuggling of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Fortify Rights revealed in a briefing released today. Since 2012, Myanmar state security forces in Rakhine State have collected payments from Rohingya asylum seekers fleeing Myanmar by ships operated by transnational criminal syndicates, according to information obtained by Fortify Rights. In some cases, the Myanmar Navy escorted boats operated by criminal gangs out to international waters.”

“Local Rohingya brokers mostly deliver payments to members of the Lon Thein riot police, Myanmar Police Department, Navy, and Army in amounts ranging from 500,000 kyat ($500 USD) to 600,000 kyat ($600 USD) per shipload of Rohingya asylum seekers in exchange for passage out to sea. In one case documented by Fortify Rights, the Myanmar Navy demanded 7-million kyat ($7,000 USD) from a criminal gang operating a ship filled with Rohingya fleeing to Malaysia. In other cases, members of the Myanmar Police Department took up to 15,000 kyat ($15 USD) per person directly from individual Rohingya passengers.”

“From September 2013 to October 2014, Fortify Rights interviewed more than 90 Rohingya men and women in Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, many of whom fled the country between 2012 and 2014. Thousands more have fled in recent weeks.”

“Tens of thousands of Rohingya in Rakhine State are now preparing to board 50-to-100-person occupancy boats on the western coast of Myanmar. These boats transport Rohingya asylum seekers to larger ships in the Bay of Bengal that hold as many as 1,000 people. The vast majority of Rohingya who depart by sea soon find themselves in the custody of abusive human trafficking and smuggling gangs, who detain them in conditions of enslavement and exploitation.”

“Most Rohingya are fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Before boarding ships, they are generally not fully informed and, in many cases, are deceived about the treatment they will endure, additional costs, and other aspects of the journey to Malaysia. Many are sold multiple times and for a myriad of reasons, including for labor and sexual exploitation. Nearly all endure or witness torture, deprivation of food and water, confinement in extremely close quarters, and other abuses throughout their journey.”

“In 2012, civilians and state security forces razed Muslim villages in 13 of 17 townships in Rakhine State. More than 300,000 people — predominantly Rohingya Muslims — are now in need of humanitarian aid in the state, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid. That includes 70,000 ‘food insecure’ people, 50,000 living in isolated villages, 50,000 in ‘host communities,’ and approximately 140,000 Rohingya and non-Rohingya Muslims living in more than 80 internally displaced person (IDP) camps. More than 100,000 Rohingya reportedly fled the country by sea in the last two years. Rakhine Buddhists also endured casualties and displacement in Rakhine State in 2012 on a lesser scale.”

“Scores of Rohingya who were displaced in Rakhine State told Fortify Rights that inadequate food, health care, and livelihood opportunities in the IDP camps as well as restrictions on movement and fear of future persecution contributed to their decision to flee Myanmar.”

“Moreover, more than 1 million Rohingya continue to be directly affected by persecutory state policies restricting their movement, marriage, childbirth, and other aspects of everyday life in Rakhine State. Rohingya who were not displaced by attacks in 2012 but still face persecution told Fortify Rights that they fled the country due to restrictions imposed by the state, including restrictions on freedom of movement, threats of violence, and ongoing pressure to abandon their ethnic identity.”

Fortify Rights’ report calls for action on Myanmar for the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report by the U.S. Department of State.

“Trafficking in persons is prohibited under international law, and states have a duty to take action to combat trafficking. Human trafficking includes elements of deceit, exploitation, and abuse. Human smuggling, on the other hand, involves a ‘client’ consenting and paying to be transported across an international border.”

“In June 2014, Myanmar maintained its place on the United States Department of State’s tier-two watch list in the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Myanmar has remained on the tier-two watch list through a system of waivers. Unless demonstrable changes take place in the next year, the country could be downgraded to tier-three status — the lowest designation reserved for countries failing to adequately combat human trafficking.”

A Rohingya Muslim man who fled Myanmar to Bangladesh to escape religious violence, cries after he and others were intercepted in Taknaf, Bangladesh. (PHOTO AP)

Pakistan: Mob of 1,200 Publicly Murders, Burns Christian Couple – for Blasphemy

A crowd of 1,200 in Pakistan burned a Christian couple alive, based on false claims of “blasphemy.” The Christian couple, Sajjad Maseeh, 27, and his wife Shama Bibi, 24, were murdered by the crowd as it chanted religious slogans from the Qur’an, their legs broken, and their bodies publicly burned in a kiln. Shama Bibi was four months pregnant, and since her body would not burn properly, it was wrapped in cloth, so the murderous mob could more readily burn her body.

NBC News reported that the Christian couple “set upon by at least 1,200 people after rumors circulated that they had burned verses from the Qur’an, family spokesman Javed Maseeh.” The Daily Mail further reported that their four-year old daughter Sonia Rami and her 18 month old baby sister Ponam were forced to witness the public torture and murder of her parents, and watch her mother’s body “twitch” while being publicly burned. The crowd then tried to burn the four-year old child.

The Daily Mail reported: “Chanting ‘God is great’, huge numbers gathered to watch the sickening murder, which took place in Chak 59 – a village situated in Kasur district, 60 kilometers from Pakistan’s second largest city Lahore.”

Their 11-year old cousin Muhammad Faryad reported the public atrocity: “I saw a young man with small beard who was wearing white clothes and a white cap and other man wearing blue clothes. They were both leading the assault. The man in white hit her belly with his axe. There was blood. People were very angry; they were shouting that they would teach lesson to the blasphemer Christians. The majority of them were young people carrying spades, hatchets and clubs in their hand.”

Sharma’s sister Yasmeen told World Watch Monitor that due to a bonded loan, the kiln owner, would not let the couple leave the area. The sister also reported that there was Shama Bibi and Sajjad Maseeh, had not burned the Qur’an, but that was what the crowd believed when they saw the Shama Bibi throw out some amulets that her late husband’s father had. She stated that some believed there were parts of a burned Qur’an in the amulets thrown out and this was what started the accusations against the couple.

Yasmeen told World Watch Monitor that originally there was just a small crowd, but then “she could hear announcements being made from mosque loudspeakers in nearby villages – that a Christian woman had desecrated the Qur’an.” The report stated that “Yasmeen said people from five surrounding villages – Chak 60, Rosey, Pailan, Nawan Pindi and Hatnian – were gathered together by the residents of Chak 59 and their brick kiln coworkers.”

“They beat them with wooden clubs on their heads, and hatchets, before they were both tied to a tractor and pulled out onto a road which was under construction, covered with crushed stones. They took some petrol from a tractor and doused their bodies and threw them in the kiln. Then I lost hope and fled with my children from there.”

Yasmeen said “says that during the entire violent attack, a police van was present, but because they were so few, the police did not take charge.” But the police were armed with weapons and the mob was not.

The rest of the police arrived after the couple was killed.

Shahzad-Masih-and-Shama-Bibi — Shama Bibi and Sajjad Maseeh were killed by a mob in Kot Radha Kishan, Pakistan.

Update: Christianity Today reports that “After a fact-finding trip, the Church of Pakistan claims that “revenge for unpaid bills” was the real reason a Christian couple fell afoul of blasphemy rumors that led to a mob burning them to death.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) points to this atrocity as one in many such crimes against our fellow human beings, which begins with religious intolerance and the view that violence is an acceptable approach for those who view that they are religiously offended. Free nations must reject such views and such oppression of all people, especially religious minorities targeted by such violence and hatred.

ISIS Inspired Attack in NYC by Zale Thompson with Hatchet

October 23, 2014 – A man with a hatchet attacks four police officers in New York. Police said the attacker, a U.S. citizen named Zale Thompson, was self-radicalized. Thompson had searched online for information on beheadings, al Qaeda, ISIS and al Shabaab, according to police. ISIS mentioned Thompson in Dabiq, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The attack is believed to have been inspired by ISIS.

Nigeria: 185 Churches Burned by Boko Haram

In Nigeria, the Nigeria news is reporting that “185 churches have been razed and 190,545 people displaced.” This was after the global terror organization Boko Haram’s attack on Nigerian towns in Borno and Adamawa states.

This was announced by the Director of Communications of the Diocese, Fr. Gideon Obasogie, who stated these crimes against our fellow human beings, against houses of worship, and against our universal human rights were perpetrated by Boko Haram. Fr. Gideon Obasogie indicated that these 185 churches were burned (torched) in the Maiduguri Diocese. The territory of the Maiduguri Diocese includes the states of northern Nigeria: Borno, Yobe, and some areas of Adamawa.

Fr. Gideon Obasogie issued a signed press statement tagged “state of captured towns;” and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri, the state capital.

On October 6, 2014, the Nigerian “The Vanguard” newspaper and other news media reported on this. The Vanguard stated: “185 churches in the diocese were torched and 190, 545 people displaced.” It also reported: “According to the statement, the “ransacking and torching” of churches in the captured towns and villages, have already displaced many priests, and are taking refuge in either Yola or Maiduguri metropolises for the last one or two months.”

“He said the capturing of towns along with the torching of about 185 places of worship is, ‘sad, heart arching and potentially dangerous to the territorial integrity and common good of Nigeria.’

Fr. Gideon Obasogie reportedly stated: “It is over 30 days now that our Church communities in Gulak, Shuwa, Michika, Bazza…. were sacked by the callous attacks of the Boko Haram terrorists. While Gwoza and Magadali had been under the tyrannical and despotic control of the terrorists and this is almost the sixtieth day. Our Priests are displaced, while citizens, who were supposed to celebrate their independence as a free Nation, were rather counting their losses and regrets as they had been reduced to the status of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. Where is the freedom? Life is really terribly difficult. We are waiting eagerly to go back home, even as it is obvious that we are going to reconstruct our looted and burnt houses and ecclesiastical structures. We have been sacked for months, sleeping in uncompleted buildings, camps and school premises.”

“We have been absorbed into houses of relations and friends in sixties and seventies. Meals time is always difficult and shameful. We have counted weeks rolling into months, must we also count years? We are waiting to go back home! Nigerians are waiting to go back to their ancestral homes!!! Our minds are greatly troubled, do we think about our status, Or about our family members yet to be connected with ever since we fled our homes?”

“Do we worry about our aged parents who were not so strong to run, they always fed us with words of encouragement and wisdom. Do we worry about our sick members, women and infants who had been trapped? Most of whom we heard had been rape and killed. Or worry about the health, education and future of our children? We have got a lot of questions yet to be answered.”

“Talking about resumption, our children have not been fed and well clothed so resumption to schools is practically out of our calculation. In our opinion if thousand of Nigerian children can’t go to school then in the long run boko is really haram.”

“While our people perish inaction, or rather slow action is what we get. Political activities in neighboring communities were on-going as though nothing were a stake.”

DOJ Calls for Ferguson Police to Stop Bracelets and Wear Nametags

In a shocking move over the past month, Ferguson Police members have been hiding their name tags so that they will not be held accountable for their actions. On September 26, 2014, U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division asked Jackson to prohibit police officers from wearing “I am Darren Wilson” bracelets when on duty. On September 23, 2014, the DOJ had asked that police officers wear name tags.

September 23, 2014 - U.S. Department of Justice calls for Ferguson Police to Wear Nametags — September 23, 2014 – U.S. Department of Justice calls for Ferguson Police to Wear Nametags

On September 28, the New York Times reported that this call was being ignored: “A gaggle of journalists standing near the protest spotted a police officer who was not wearing a name tag. When a cameraman asked his name, the officer refused to give it and left the area. The Department of Justice last week ordered all officers patrolling Ferguson to display their names.”

Other media have been reporting on Ferguson police refusal to wear name tags.

UPDATE: Another report on September 29, 2014 in the continuing volatile situation in Ferguson, MO: “Protesters gathered in front of the police building, including a dozen clergy members who prayed in the police parking. They were told that they would be arrested if they did not clear the street. A clergyman was then arrested. Protesters were also told that they would be arrested if the chants went on after 11:00 p.m. About that time, police moved slowly forward, but protesters refused to move backwards. As they were almost in contact, gunshots were heard, and both sides backed up. Later, Capt. Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol told the crowd that the “five-second rule” would not be implemented and there would be no arrest as long as the protest remained peaceful.”

Minnesota – American ISIS Recruits Expand

After reporting on Minnesota ISIS recruit Douglas McArthur McCain, R.E.A.L. has also learned of other Minnesota recruits from America to the ISIS terrorist organization. Friends of Douglas McArthur McCain also appear to have become involved with ISIS.

Minneapolis native-turned ISIS combatant, father-of-nine Abdirahmaan Muhumed, 29, had also been killed. KMSP-TV reported that Abdirahmaan Muhumed, previously identified as an ISIS-recruited, homegrown terrorist, apparently died in terrorist-on-terrorist clashes during August 23 – 24, 2014.

American ISIS Recruit Abdirahmaan Muhumed from Minnesota - killed (Source: Facebook) — American ISIS Recruit Abdirahmaan Muhumed from Minnesota – killed (Source: Facebook)

On a side note, on September 9, 2014, FOX 9 News reported that Minnesota ISIS recruits have had airport access: “the man who came to be known as Abdirahmaan Muhumed and died fighting alongside ISIS in Syria spent 10 years working at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport — and had a lot of access. Fox 9 News has obtained more information on the Minneapolis airport work history of a Minnesota man killed while fighting for ISIS in Syria. Abdirahmaan Muhumed – known to airport officials as Abdifatah Ahmed – worked as both a fueler and a cleaner between November 2001 and May 2011. Law enforcement sources confirm to Fox 9 that Abdifatah Ahmed and Abdirahmaan Muhumed are the same person. According to the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Ahmed held a Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) security badge intermittently between November 2001 and October 2010 to perform work as a fueler for ASIG, later known as Servisair. Ahmed was again issued a SIDA badge in November 2010 to work as a cleaner for Delta Global Services. Delta Air Lines switched its aircraft cleaner services at MSP Airport from Delta Global Services to Airserve earlier this year. These jobs gave Ahmed security clearance at the airport, access to the tarmac and access to planes. He has not held a security badge to work at MSP Airport since May 2011. It remains unclear when exactly Abdirahmaan Muhumed, a.k.a. Abdifatah Ahmed, left the Twin Cities to fight with ISIS. He died in the same battle as Douglas McCain, who was also from Minnesota. Authorities estimate that as many as 15 men and one woman have left the Twin Cities to fight with ISIS.”

American ISIS Recruit from Minnesota Reportedly Killed

Minnesotan Douglas MacArthur McCain, a native of San Diego, California, was reportedly killed in fighting in Syria, after becoming an American recruit to the ISIS terrorist organization. McCain had left to join the ISIS terrorist organization from Minnesota, where he was living. Douglas MacArthur McCain was a graduate from Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota, converted to Islam in 2004, and traveled to Syria by way of Turkey in early 2014. On August 26, 2014, NBC News reported “Photos of McCain’s passport and of his body — which feature a distinctive neck tattoo — have been seen by NBC News. According to an activist linked to the Free Syrian Army who also saw the body and travel document, McCain was among three foreign jihadis fighting with ISIS who died during the battle.” “Public records searches show several run-ins with the law. One mugshot of a Douglas McAuthur McCain details an arrest in 2000 at the age of 19 in New Hope on charges of disorderly conduct. Another arrest record – also from New Hope – shows the same man was arrested again in 2006 and booked on charges of obstruction. ” “McCain, 33, called himself “Duale ThaslaveofAllah” on Facebook and his Twitter bio reads: “It’s Islam over everything.” ” His likes on Facebook ranged from “Quaran and Hadith” to “The Khilafah in Universe,” “A Way to Paradise” to “Craziest Street Fights,” “The American Comedy Co.” to “The Black Flag.”

NBC also stated “U.S. officials have said ‘a small handful’ of Americans are believed to be fighting with ISIS. Earlier this month, a new ISIS propaganda video claimed to feature an American citizen. And in July, chilling video emerged purporting to show the first American to carry out a suicide attack in Syria burning his U.S. passport and issuing threats against the West.”

Douglas MacArthur McCain, American ISIS recruit, died fighting for the ISIS terrorist organization (Source: CNN)

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all

Continuing Protests in Ferguson for Equality

On August 17, 2014, Ferguson protesters were met with tear gas and tactical units, including one of the protesters shot and critically wounded. The Governor of Missouri called in the National Guard to restore order.

On August 19, 2014, NBC reported of a dangerous situation when protesters “surged forward and back as the officers held their ground. An armored vehicle began moving toward the crowd, and as clergymen and other community leaders locked arms to hold the protesters back, the crowd appeared to retreat about 10 p.m. (11 p.m. ET).”

August 19, 2014: "Police advancing on crowd. Guns drawn. Media ordered to stay in taped off area" (Source: Twitter/Eli Rosenberg) — August 19, 2014: “Police advancing on crowd. Guns drawn. Media ordered to stay in taped off area” (Source: Twitter/Eli Rosenberg)

Responsible for Equality And Liberty stands with the public seeking equality for the treatment of African-Americans in Ferguson, MO, and throughout the nation. We urge the public to reject tactics of violence, we urge our police to respect the Constitution of the United States, and we applaud the efforts by peaceful protesters in trying to keep the situation under control. They are the TRUE human rights activists in this nation – responsible for equality and liberty.