reportergary.com » Religion

CHRISTIANS UNDER INCREASING LEGAL FIRE IN EGYPT

Gary — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:45:46 +0000

Under Egypt’s new Islamist-led government, blasphemy (insulting Islam) cases against Egypt’s Coptic Christian community have been on the rise.

The trial of Dimyana Abdel-Nour, a Coptic Christian teacher in Luxor, has gained media attention. Three of her students, aged 10, said that Abdel-Nour said former Coptic Christian Pope Shenouda was better than the Prophet Mohammed. Abdel-Nour was imprisoned for a week and released on nearly $3,000 bail, a large sum for a case like hers. Read more here.

GLOBAL RISE IN ANTISEMITISM, PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIAN MINORITIES

Gary — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:56:14 +0000

The newly released International Religious Freedom Report for 2012 by the U.S. State Department study found an increase in antisemitism as well as persecution of Christians and other minorities.

“Holocaust denial and glorification remained troubling themes, and opposition to Israeli policy at times was used to promote or justify blatant antisemitism,” the report says. It singles out Venezuela, Egypt and Iran as areas of “great concern” for expressions of antisemitism “by government officials, by religious leaders, and by the media.” Read more here.

PRAYER BEFORE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE DECIDED BY SCOTUS

Gary — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:32:54 +0000

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that challenges offering a prayer at governmental meetings.

Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens brought this lawsuit against the Town of Greece, which is located in upstate New York, just outside of Rochester. Since 1999, Greece has begun its town meetings with a short prayer. Galloway and Stephens challenged these prayers as a violation of the Establishment Clause to the First Amendment. Read more at http://www.talkradionews.com/supreme-court/2013/05/20/supreme-court-to-hear-legislative-prayer-case.html#.UZp5uKJ9CSo.

CONGRESSMAN RAISES ALARM OVER ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS IN SYRIA

Gary — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:25:26 +0000

Rep. Christopher Van Hollen of Maryland, ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, is warning of what he calls the “unintended consequences” of US military intervention in Syria, including providing arms to rebel forces.

In an nterview with Al-Monitor, Van Hollen praisesthe current initiative by US Secretary of State John Kerry to organize an international conference on Syria hosted by the United States and Russia. ”The only way to get some kind of resolution to the conflict in Syria is through a political negotiating process,” Van Hollen says.

CAR BOMBINGS TARGET IRAQ NEIGHBORHOODS

Gary — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:07:57 +0000

The victims are Shiite Muslims. The neighborhoods are in two cities. The results are deadly. Car bombs killing at least 40 people in Iraq, the Associated Press reports.

POPE SLAMS NATIONS FOR NOT DOING MORE FOR THE POOR

Gary — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:57:32 +0000

In his first address about the global financial crisis since becoming pope, Pope Francis decries what he calls the “cult of money” and admonishes governments around the world to do more for the poor. Read more here.

MORE THAN 40 KILLED IN BOMB BLASTS AT IRAQ MOSQUE

Gary — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:39:43 +0000

More Muslim on Muslim violence in Iraq. Twin bombs hit a mosque as people left Friday prayers. And more than 40 people are dead. Read more here.

IRAN, EGYPT, OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES TOP LIST OF VIOLATORS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Gary — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:14:52 +0000

Egypt and several other Muslim nations are among the world’s top violators of religious freedom, particularly for their anti-Christian and anti-Semitic persecution, according to the 2013 annual report released by the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The report singled out Iran’s theocratic leaders, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for their suppression on non-Islamic religions.

Read more at JNS.org.

MUSLIM COOPERATION HELPED FOIL CANADIAN TERROR PLOT

Gary — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:48:59 +0000

Relations based on trust between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canada’s Muslim community are believed to have foiled the alleged Via Rail bomb plot in Southern Ontario. Anna Gray-Henschel, a member of RCMP’s National Security Program, told The Globe and Mail that “You build up trust…they will call us.”

COPTIC CHRISTIANS REMAIN UNDER SIEGE IN EGYPT

Gary — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:45:01 +0000

Clashes in Egypt between Muslims and Copts earlier are sparking fears of further sectarian violence for the Egyptian Copt minority which makes up approximately 10 per cent of Egypt’s population of 90 million.