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Russian Church defends Brits who lost jobs for wearing crucifix
The Russian Orthodox Church has stepped in to support two British women who are taking their case for wearing religious symbols at work to the European Court of Human Rights. Continue reading
Islamophobia, new form of political colonialism: Analyst
Vatican slams new book of leaked documents as ‘criminal’
The Vatican is threatening to take legal action against those responsible for publishing a new book of leaked internal documents. The book sheds light on power struggles and corruption inside the Holy See and the thinking of its embattled top banker.
Vatican slams new book of leaked documents as ‘criminal’
Slavery among the Ottomans
Islam forbids Muslims from enslaving people, but there are exceptions. One such condition was if a non-Muslim was captured in wartime. One could buy a slave who was not a Muslim
The most attractive women would first be offered to the sultan or to a high official, who wanted to buy one to present to the imperial harem as a gift. Today’s society frowns on slavery as an institution, and one has only to look at the section on CNN.com International devoted to the elimination of slavery to see that it is now a mostly underground activity. But slavery has been acceptable and legal in many countries for millennia, and certainly it was legal in the Ottoman Empire just as it was in European countries at the same time.
Islam forbids Muslims from enslaving people, but there are exceptions. One such condition was if a non-Muslim was captured in wartime. This, however, turned into a situation in which one could buy a slave who was not a Muslim, such as men and women from Circassia or Africa. The Ottomans turned the capture of non-Muslims into a lucrative business by arranging for their captives to be ransomed. Continue reading
Breeding Breiviks? Europe, US ‘at risk’ of anti-Islam massacre
Counter-Jihad movements that inspired Anders Breivik’s Norway massacre are growing in influence in the US and Europe: a recent report by UK activist group Hope not Hate has mapped their spread, and the links between them.
The document identifies 300 organizations and individuals who use anti-Islam rhetoric to draw in supporters and voters. It highlights the UK as a hotspot for such groups, citing a total of 22 anti-Islamic groups currently operating in the country, naming the Luton-based English Defense League (EDL) as one of the most influential.
The report also looks at the US, highlighting a network of 47 anti-Islamic organizations that spread “negative perceptions of Islam, Muslim minorities and Islamic culture”. Continue reading
Europe discriminates against Muslims: Amnesty International
Human rights groups say European countries are discriminating against Muslims, calling on institutions and governments to implement anti-discrimination laws.
In a new report released on Tuesday, the London-based human rights group Amnesty International said several European countries are discriminating against Muslims for practicing their faith.
The report highlighted national laws or local rules which target Islamic customs especially in the fields of employment, education and daily life including wearing headscarves or face-covering Islamic veils in countries such as France and Belgium.
“EU legislation prohibiting discrimination on the ground of religion or belief in the area of employment seems to be toothless across Europe, as we observe a higher rate of unemployment among Muslims,” says Marco Perolini, Amnesty International’s expert on discrimination.
The report also focused on the rise of political movements that target Muslims or Muslim practices — particularly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Continue reading
65,000 gather in Moscow ‘to pray for Church & defend faith’
Tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians have joined a service outside Moscow’s main church, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, in defense of their faith, sacred objects and the Church itself, following recent numerous attacks on Christian relics.
The Sunday service has gathered around 65 thousand worshippers, according to official police data. It comes in response to what the church says is a series disrespectful acts against Orthodoxy and religious faith over the past few months.
Sacred Orthodox objects attacked this spring were specially brought to the Cathedral for one day.
Among the relics is a 3.5-metre-tall crucifix cut by an attacker in the cathedral of the city of Nevinnomyssk in Russia’s south. There are also five of the 30 icons cut with an ax in the town of Veliky Ustyug in March. And the Virgin Mary icon, shot with bullets in the early 1920s, was also brought from the same city.
Worshippers also denounce other cases of vandalism – in March, the Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Mozyr was desecrated with blasphemous inscriptions and sacrilege against the representationof the cross. In April, offenders poured gasoline and set fire to the entrance door to the Cathedral of Demetrius of Thessalonica in Krasnodar. In the Rostov Region, on the eve of Easter, vandals smeared black paint on the walls of a chapel built in memory of those who died in the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya, as well as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.
In February, the activists of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot broke into Moscow’s main cathedral and sang blasphemous songs at the altar.
Earlier on Sunday, Patriarch Kirill led a liturgy service and then the worshippers went around the Cathedral in a religious procession. Similar services are being held in other Russian regional centers.
On Saturday, Moscow drivers and bikers had their say in support of the Church. They held a rally denouncing the recent attacks on cathedrals, as well as media criticism of the Patriarch.
Photo tweeted by Oleg Kashin@KSHN on April 22, 2012
Photo from www.ridus.ruTens of thousands of Orthodox Christians have joined a service outside Moscow’s main church, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, in defense of their faith, sacred objects and the Church itself, following recent numerous attacks on Christian relics.
Eggstraordinary day: Easter celebrations in Russia
Easter, Orthodox Christianity’s main holiday, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is being celebrated by believers worldwide. Services are being held at more than 30,000 Russian Orthodox churches across the globe.
Death to blasphemers: Kuwait could execute offenders of Prophet
Cursing God, the prophet Mohammed or his wives may soon become a capital offense in Kuwait. The country’s parliament has voted for amendments to the penal code, issuing harsher punishments for religious crimes.
