by Staff
March 30, 2010
ANN ARBOR, MI, (christiansunite.com) - Late last week, attorneys for the Poway Unified School District in San Diego, California, filed their appeal of Federal District Court Judge Benitez's ruling that held school officials violated teacher Bradley Johnson's constitutional rights when they ordered him to remove two patriotic banners from the walls of his classroom because they referred to "God." The appeal will be heard by a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Johnson, a highly respected math teacher in the Poway school district, had the banners displayed on his classroom walls for over 20 years. In 2007, school officials ordered him to take them down, claiming the banners expressed an impermissible Judeo-Christian viewpoint and may be offensive to a Muslim student.
The patriotic banners included the phrases, "In God We Trust, " "One Nation Under God, " and "God Bless America."
In a clear case of a double standard, school officials, however, saw no problem with non-Christian or anti-religious displays by other teachers. The school district left untouched displays that included a 40-foot string of Tibetan prayer flags with images of Buddha; a poster with the lyrics from John Lennon's anti-religion song "Imagine, " which begins, Imagine there's no Heaven; a poster with Hindu leader Mahatma Gandhi's "7 Social Sins;" a poster of Muslim leader Malcolm X, and a poster of Buddhist leader Dali Lama.
On February 26, 2010, Federal District Judge Roger T. Benitez, in a strongly worded decision, ruled the school district violated Brad Johnson's constitutional rights when it ordered him to take down his classroom banners:
"[The school district officials] apparently fear their students are incapable of dealing with diverse viewpoints that include God's place in American history and culture. . . . That God places prominently in our Nation's history does not create an Establishment Clause violation requiring curettage and disinfectant for Johnson's public high school classroom walls. It is a matter of historical fact that our institutions and government actors have in past and present times given place to a supreme God."
The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been representing Bradley Johnson ever since the school district ordered him to remove his banners in 2007.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, commented, "This is another example of public school boards attempting to eradicate the essential role played by Christianity in our Nation's history. We are in this fight for the long haul, and our lawyers will defend Mr. Johnson's constitutional right to display his patriotic banners and Judge Benitez's ruling before the Ninth Circuit, and to the U.S. Supreme Court, if necessary."
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America's Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life. It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America. The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services.
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09167.shtml
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Christian man burned alive, wife raped in Pakistan
by Staff
March 31, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - A Pakistani Christian man passed away on March 22 after he was set on fire by Muslims in Rawalpindi three days earlier. Arshed Masih (38) and his wife, Martha (33), had been threatened with "dire consequences" by their employer, Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, unless they agreed to convert to Islam. The couple steadfastly refused.
In the days before the attack, Sultan reported a theft of 500,000 rupees and, although Arshed and Martha were not named as suspects, Sultan offered to drop the case if they renounced Christianity.
When they were brought in for questioning, Arshed was assaulted and Martha was raped by police. Arshed was set on fire on March 19 in front of the police station by a group of Muslims, some of whom were reportedly officers and religious leaders.
He sustained burns to 80% of his body. The couple's three children -- Mary (12), Nasir (10) and Neha (7) -- were forced to witness the horrific violence against their parents. (Sources: BosNewsLife, AsiaNews, International Christian Concern)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09174.shtml
March 31, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - A Pakistani Christian man passed away on March 22 after he was set on fire by Muslims in Rawalpindi three days earlier. Arshed Masih (38) and his wife, Martha (33), had been threatened with "dire consequences" by their employer, Sheikh Mohammad Sultan, unless they agreed to convert to Islam. The couple steadfastly refused.
In the days before the attack, Sultan reported a theft of 500,000 rupees and, although Arshed and Martha were not named as suspects, Sultan offered to drop the case if they renounced Christianity.
When they were brought in for questioning, Arshed was assaulted and Martha was raped by police. Arshed was set on fire on March 19 in front of the police station by a group of Muslims, some of whom were reportedly officers and religious leaders.
He sustained burns to 80% of his body. The couple's three children -- Mary (12), Nasir (10) and Neha (7) -- were forced to witness the horrific violence against their parents. (Sources: BosNewsLife, AsiaNews, International Christian Concern)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09174.shtml
Friday, March 26, 2010
Christian sentenced to prison; believers heavily fined in Uzbekistan
by Staff
March 26, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - Members of the Council of Churches Baptists in Uzbekistan have faced prison sentences and fines in recent weeks for refusing state registration, citing fears that it could lead to interference from the state. Unregistered religious activity in the country is banned, as is evangelizing, publishing unapproved religious literature, and attending religious meetings in private homes.
Tohar Haydarov (27), who was arrested on charges of producing or storing drugs, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Local Christians insist the case was fabricated to punish him for his religious affiliation. Tohar was found guilty on March 9 of the "preparation of a crime or attempted crime" and of the "illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities." Other Baptists were not permitted to testify on Tohar's behalf and the lawyer they hired for him was not allowed into the courtroom. Tohar has appealed the ruling and the case has been referred to the Regional Court. At last report, a date had not yet been set for his appeal.
Thirteen Christians in Almalyk have been fined 100 times the minimum monthly salary for conducting "illegal teaching of religious doctrines without a special authorisation from a central religious organisation". The Christians were each fined 3,768,000 soms (approximately $2,500 CAD) on February 23. The believers have issued a protest letter to the judge and the prosecutor's office, claiming that police committed over 60 violations of Uzbek law, including using excessive force, falsifying case files, denying them a lawyer and refusing to inform their relatives about their detention. (Source: Forum18)
source: http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09159.shtml
March 26, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - Members of the Council of Churches Baptists in Uzbekistan have faced prison sentences and fines in recent weeks for refusing state registration, citing fears that it could lead to interference from the state. Unregistered religious activity in the country is banned, as is evangelizing, publishing unapproved religious literature, and attending religious meetings in private homes.
Tohar Haydarov (27), who was arrested on charges of producing or storing drugs, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Local Christians insist the case was fabricated to punish him for his religious affiliation. Tohar was found guilty on March 9 of the "preparation of a crime or attempted crime" and of the "illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances in large quantities." Other Baptists were not permitted to testify on Tohar's behalf and the lawyer they hired for him was not allowed into the courtroom. Tohar has appealed the ruling and the case has been referred to the Regional Court. At last report, a date had not yet been set for his appeal.
Thirteen Christians in Almalyk have been fined 100 times the minimum monthly salary for conducting "illegal teaching of religious doctrines without a special authorisation from a central religious organisation". The Christians were each fined 3,768,000 soms (approximately $2,500 CAD) on February 23. The believers have issued a protest letter to the judge and the prosecutor's office, claiming that police committed over 60 violations of Uzbek law, including using excessive force, falsifying case files, denying them a lawyer and refusing to inform their relatives about their detention. (Source: Forum18)
source: http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09159.shtml
Egyptian security agents destroy church
by Ethan Cole, Christian PostPosted: Friday, March 26, 2010, 9:21 (GMT)
State security agents in the upper Egyptian city of Luxor destroyed an Anglican church and assaulted the church’s pastor when he tried to save the building last week.
Pastor Mahrous Karam of the Anglican Church in Luxor reported that he was still negotiating with city authorities about replacing the community center building on the church’s compound the day before the demolition occurred. Authorities said they were still considering the options, according to Karam.
But the next morning, March 18, without warning, hundreds of security personnel blocked the road leading to the church and dragged the pastor’s family out of their residence. The pastor’s wife, Sabah, said two men used force to remove her from the home, including slapping her face, pulling her by her clothes, and dragging her by her hair.
"They threatened that if I do not leave the place they would take my 3-year-old boy and throw him under the bulldozers which came for the demolition work," she told Freecopts. "Twenty traumatized children were dragged out of the attached nursery and thrown into the church hall."
All the family’s possessions were thrown in the street and they are now homeless.
"I believe they wanted to give us an Easter present, the way they gave the Copts of Nag Hammadi the Christmas Eve Massacre," she said bitterly.
Gunmen in several cars opened fired on Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christians in Nag Hammadi who were celebrating their Christmas Eve on January 6. Six Christians were killed, mostly young men in their twenties, from the attack.
The Christmas Eve attack was the worst assault on Copts in Egypt since January 2000, when 21 Christians were killed in sectarian violence.
During last week’s persecution incident, Pastor Mahrous tried to save the buildings from being demolished by sitting on the church’s fence to block the demolition work, but he was beaten and dragged away.
The pastor said Christians simply want the same treatment as Muslims who build mosques and additions to their Islamic centers.
After the demolition, only a 400 sq metre prayer hall was left standing out of the nearly 3,000 sq metres of buildings attached to the church.
The governor of Luxor, Dr Samir Farag, claims the security forces seized only one room of the Anglican church and denied his personnel assaulted the pastor’s family.
"The Governor is lying, that is why the forces blocked the road leading to the Church before their attack, so that nobody would witness their doings,” said one Anglican witness, who was not identified. “But he forgot there is the Internet and cell phone videos to show the whole world the uncivilised way Egypt deals with Christians and their places of worship."
The Anglican Church in Egypt issued a statement on March 19 condemning the actions of Luxor authorities.
Egypt’s Christian population makes up eight to 12 per cent of the overall population.
Despite their sizeable number in the country, the Christian community in Egypt, which consists of mostly Coptic Christians, are marginalised in society and reportedly suffer from violent forms of abuse. They also lack fair representation in the government, leading to further abuse of the minority group.
Among the most common complaints by Copts are government obstacles when it comes to building, repairing or additions to churches. While Muslims are free to build mosques in Egypt, Christians need to obtain special government permission for any construction work done on a church. The permission is almost always not granted.
Islam is the “religion of state” and the country’s “principle source of legislation”, according to Egypt’s constitution.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/egyptian.security.agents.destroy.church/25568.htm
State security agents in the upper Egyptian city of Luxor destroyed an Anglican church and assaulted the church’s pastor when he tried to save the building last week.
Pastor Mahrous Karam of the Anglican Church in Luxor reported that he was still negotiating with city authorities about replacing the community center building on the church’s compound the day before the demolition occurred. Authorities said they were still considering the options, according to Karam.
But the next morning, March 18, without warning, hundreds of security personnel blocked the road leading to the church and dragged the pastor’s family out of their residence. The pastor’s wife, Sabah, said two men used force to remove her from the home, including slapping her face, pulling her by her clothes, and dragging her by her hair.
"They threatened that if I do not leave the place they would take my 3-year-old boy and throw him under the bulldozers which came for the demolition work," she told Freecopts. "Twenty traumatized children were dragged out of the attached nursery and thrown into the church hall."
All the family’s possessions were thrown in the street and they are now homeless.
"I believe they wanted to give us an Easter present, the way they gave the Copts of Nag Hammadi the Christmas Eve Massacre," she said bitterly.
Gunmen in several cars opened fired on Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christians in Nag Hammadi who were celebrating their Christmas Eve on January 6. Six Christians were killed, mostly young men in their twenties, from the attack.
The Christmas Eve attack was the worst assault on Copts in Egypt since January 2000, when 21 Christians were killed in sectarian violence.
During last week’s persecution incident, Pastor Mahrous tried to save the buildings from being demolished by sitting on the church’s fence to block the demolition work, but he was beaten and dragged away.
The pastor said Christians simply want the same treatment as Muslims who build mosques and additions to their Islamic centers.
After the demolition, only a 400 sq metre prayer hall was left standing out of the nearly 3,000 sq metres of buildings attached to the church.
The governor of Luxor, Dr Samir Farag, claims the security forces seized only one room of the Anglican church and denied his personnel assaulted the pastor’s family.
"The Governor is lying, that is why the forces blocked the road leading to the Church before their attack, so that nobody would witness their doings,” said one Anglican witness, who was not identified. “But he forgot there is the Internet and cell phone videos to show the whole world the uncivilised way Egypt deals with Christians and their places of worship."
The Anglican Church in Egypt issued a statement on March 19 condemning the actions of Luxor authorities.
Egypt’s Christian population makes up eight to 12 per cent of the overall population.
Despite their sizeable number in the country, the Christian community in Egypt, which consists of mostly Coptic Christians, are marginalised in society and reportedly suffer from violent forms of abuse. They also lack fair representation in the government, leading to further abuse of the minority group.
Among the most common complaints by Copts are government obstacles when it comes to building, repairing or additions to churches. While Muslims are free to build mosques in Egypt, Christians need to obtain special government permission for any construction work done on a church. The permission is almost always not granted.
Islam is the “religion of state” and the country’s “principle source of legislation”, according to Egypt’s constitution.
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/egyptian.security.agents.destroy.church/25568.htm
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
IAF struck weapon storage facility in northern Gaza Strip
24 March 2010 , 12:24
IAF strikes in response to recent firing of rockets at Israeli territory. Last night, a Qassam rocket landed in a populated area along the coast of Ashkelon.
During the night (Tuesday), the Israel Air Force successfully struck a weapons-storage facility in the northern Gaza Strip.
In a separate incident during the night, a Qassam rocket exploded in a populated area along the coast of Ashkelon Regional Council. There were no casualties or damages caused.
The attack is in response to the recent firing of rockets at Israel's southern communities over the past few days. Eleven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip have landed in Israel since this past Thursday, one of which resulted in the death of a foreign national.
Approximately 35 rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of the year, and over 330 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
Chief of Staff: “Hamas is unconcerned that the area is heating up"
Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, participated on Tuesday in a Knesset meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and explained that besides rocket attacks, there are attempts to harm soldiers on the border, lay mines and attack by sea.
Speaking about Hamas Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi said that, “Hamas is not interested in losing control of the situation, but it could do more to stop rocket fire." He explained that “the IDF retaliates against Hamas targets because we regard them as the sovereign group in Gaza.”
“Hamas is unconcerned that the area is heating up, because they have control over the firing of rockets including control over other organizations,” he added.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/03/2401.htm
IAF strikes in response to recent firing of rockets at Israeli territory. Last night, a Qassam rocket landed in a populated area along the coast of Ashkelon.
During the night (Tuesday), the Israel Air Force successfully struck a weapons-storage facility in the northern Gaza Strip.
In a separate incident during the night, a Qassam rocket exploded in a populated area along the coast of Ashkelon Regional Council. There were no casualties or damages caused.
The attack is in response to the recent firing of rockets at Israel's southern communities over the past few days. Eleven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip have landed in Israel since this past Thursday, one of which resulted in the death of a foreign national.
Approximately 35 rockets have been fired at Israel since the beginning of the year, and over 330 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel since the end of Operation Cast Lead.
Chief of Staff: “Hamas is unconcerned that the area is heating up"
Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, participated on Tuesday in a Knesset meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and explained that besides rocket attacks, there are attempts to harm soldiers on the border, lay mines and attack by sea.
Speaking about Hamas Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi said that, “Hamas is not interested in losing control of the situation, but it could do more to stop rocket fire." He explained that “the IDF retaliates against Hamas targets because we regard them as the sovereign group in Gaza.”
“Hamas is unconcerned that the area is heating up, because they have control over the firing of rockets including control over other organizations,” he added.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/03/2401.htm
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