text:
August 13, 2022 Lorihanna Shushkova
AS Roma: Their smart market moves and Mourinho's plans for the new season explained – scout report
AS Roma underwent a huge improvement under José Mourinho in the 2021/22 season, with the team building an identity and ending on a high note with their UEFA Europa Conference League triumph. After finishing sixth in the Serie A last term, their ambition to improve was underlined by their summer transfer window moves.
The team have been quite active so far, and whilst they haven't spent big money on new players, they have been smart enough to secure some very experienced free agents who increase the value of the team and can fit Mourinho's vision well.
At the time of writing, the only fee they have paid is €7.00m for the right-back Zeki Çelik, who was one of Lille's key players last season. The manager made sure to reunite with Nemanja Matić, as well as to secure the signature of Georginio Wijnaldum, both brought with an aim to achieve dominance in midfield.
The highlight of their summer, though, was the arrival of Paulo Dybala on a free transfer from Juventus. The Argentine received a warm welcome from the fans and is expected to increase Roma's efficiency in front of the goal along with their goalscorer from last season Tammy Abraham.
In our tactical analysis, we examine how the new additions could fit Giallorossi's tactics and what can be expected from them in the new campaign.
Their smart transfer market moves
Before diving into what can the new signings bring to the team, it is worth mentioning that the team not only secured players in much-needed positions without spending millions, but actually, the outgoing transfers have brought in €41.35m back to the club, which they still have the time to spend on someone new, although the only rumoured player to be targeted by Mourinho is the Manchester United defender Eric Bailly.
One of the most anticipated transfers of the summer was Dybala's move to the capital. The 28-year-old Argentine will bring a much-needed edge to Roma's attack. While Abraham became the leading figure in front of the goal, scoring 27 goals in all competitions last season, the team needed a player to support his actions after the departure of Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Internazionale and the rumoured departure of Nicolò Zaniolo.
Dybala certainly could increase the team's efficiency in the final third, not only by providing a direct threat to the goal but also by combining with his teammates and helping with ball retention. That's mainly thanks to his dribbling skills that he uses to take on defenders and exploit spaces. Last season, he averaged 5.58 dribbling attempts per 90, which helped him in threatening the goal but also in finding quality positions to set his teammates up. His high pass completion rate sets the expectations high, as he could use his abilities to provide quality balls to Abraham.
Dybala's constant movement off the ball could help Roma in increasing their efficiency from outside the box. The team attempted a high number of shots from distance last season, but very few of them have been accurate enough to threaten the goal.
Dybala's runs to the box often provide threat to the goal
Matić is another player Mourinho insisted on signing and it might turn out that he is a good match for Roma's playing style. As we explained in our scout report on him, the Serbian can influence the team's actions both in and out of possession. His composure can support the team in their build-up as he can spread the ball, while his teammates exploit the more advanced areas.
With his long-range passes, he can supply the ball directly to the attackers and help with breaking the lines, increasing the team's chances in attack.
Matić can support the attacking movement with his long balls behind the defence.
He can use his spatial awareness to support the smart movement of players like Dybala and Abraham and set them up in quality positions.
The 33-year-old's anticipation skills can be crucial out of possession as they allow him to block the opposition's movement and move the ball out of the danger zones. Not only does his positioning help in blocking the lanes but his direct interventions often pressurise the ball carrier and trouble the build-up.
Speaking of midfielders that can influence Roma's performance, we move to Wijnaldum. The 31-year-old gained valuable experience with Liverpool and PSG, which will be beneficial for Roma's young midfield. He can help the team in many aspects of the game.
His passing abilities, though, are what might help the team the most, especially in the opposition half. With an average pass completion rate of 91.3% Wijnaldum often helps in bypassing the press and progressing the ball to the final third. He can play both as a left and right central midfielder and his presence on both sides will give the team more options in their build-up and help them expose the wide areas better. He can serve as a passing outlet and help in breaking through the defence.
Wijnaldum demonstrating his awareness. Right after the team recovered possession and he picked up the ball with his back to the call, he turned and sent a well-measured through ball.
He also likes to occasionally exploit the spaces in and around the box, which often results in shooting more than once per game and threatening the opposition from close range.
Zeki Çelik, whom the team secured for the right-back position, is very reliable defensively, despite his tendency to support the attacking actions as well. The 25-year-old has an experience in the right wing-back position too, which could be quite fitting if Mourinho sticks to the back three formations. The player successfully blocks the ball and recovers possession, something Roma were often lacking on the right last season.
Çelik's anticipation skills allow him to be present defensively. In this case he anticipated the pass to Neymar and immediately moved to intercept it. Not only he gained back possession but managed to get the ball out of danger by taking on the opposing players.
He comes as the only replacement for the regular starter Rick Karsdorp after the team decided to sell Alessandro Florenzi to Milan.
Their pre-season highlights
While the team won 4/6 of their pre-season friendlies, their performance didn't show the expected confidence and versatility. They experienced difficulties against pressing teams which is a worrying sign, considering their ambitions for the new season.
They were lacking creativity against Sporting CP and Tottenham and struggled to break the lines and advance the ball. Their limitations in possession and the lack of smart movement resulted in them creating very few positional attacks, respectively threatening the goal rarely. The opposition press resulted in Roma breaking their structure and being inaccurate in their passing. This made it harder for them to get the ball out of the midfield and it also led to them losing the ball mostly in their own half, which makes the situation even more problematic.
Roma in possession against Spurs. They struggled to penetrate the well-structured defence. Despite the three players between the lines they failed in being creative and opening the passing lanes.
Against the rest of the teams, the Giallorossi managed to maintain their structure and employed a slightly higher defensive line than usual. While most of their actions were focused in the midfield, they were more adventurous up front and managed to create more opportunities.
What can be expected in the 2022/23 season?
Roma's UEFA Europa Conference League triumph increased the expectations for the upcoming season and the new signings have increased the hopes that the team can improve and become more competitive. The team start the season with games against Salernitana and the newcomers Cremonese, which are considered must-wins, but the real test will come soon after as they meet Juventus in the third round.
Mourinho is expected to rely on the back three formations even more in the new season. While he will try to stick to the team's strengths and improve them even more, he might be able to introduce an enhanced playing style thanks to the new arrivals.
Roma often involve the goalkeeper when they build up with their back-three formation.
The new additions in midfield could help Roma minimise the chances their opponents create from distance. Last season, the team conceded nine goals from outside the penalty area, but with the support of players like Matić and Wijnaldum, who successfully contribute defensively, this number can be narrowed down.
It is expected that Abraham's aerial abilities will continue to be used in the attack as he would threaten the goal frequently through his aerial presence, while their efforts from distance might increase due to Dybala's movement.
The team would most probably continue to struggle in their crossing attempts. The only player that tries to support the attacking actions by frequently crossing the ball is the right-back Karsdorp. Not only are the team lacking a player that can commit to that, but they had the third worst success rate in their crossing attempts last season. Improving on that could be a major boost to their chances in attack.
While they need to improve in attack, Mourinho will still set the focus on stable defensive performances. It is expected that the team will keep their lower positioning, despite sometimes struggling to get the ball out from the back.
Roma's defensive positioning. To keep their structure, while they still closed out the ball carrier, they re-organised and the midfielders covered depth for the wide defenders.
As our analysis shows, Roma's smart transfer market moves are in line with their increased ambitions for the new season. Mourinho has insisted on bringing a few players that he knows can be beneficial to the team and their experience would help them improve.
Senior football performance analyst with years of experience in sports journalism and the betting industry. Interested in all aspects of the beautiful game and has a huge appreciation of intelligent deep-lying playmakers.
Serie A preview: How can Atalanta stop Napoli's dominance – tactical analysis
There are a few European teams that have been utterly dominant in the 2022/23 season and while some of them […]
by Lorihanna Shushkova | November 4, 2022
Pedro Goncalves: How the 24-year-old established himself as a leading figure at Sporting CP – scout report
Sporting CP lost one of their best performers in the face of Bruno Fernandes in 2020 and there was doubt […]
by Lorihanna Shushkova | November 11, 2022


text:
Kele Fleming is a deeply gifted singer-songwriter who resides in British Columbia. Kele (pronounced Kelly) gracefully weaves the vulnerability of traditional folk with the raw power of rock and roll. Her voice is a thunderstorm of emotion and grit that generously pours into the souls of her listeners. Her music is packed to the brim with complex musicality, tender lyricism and contagious passion. Kele's work explores deeply personal themes that she executes flawlessly. Her music is similar to the likes of female powerhouses such as Neko Case, Lucinda Williams and Kate Bush yet her sound is entirely fresh. Kele's is armed with ferocious lyrics, a mesmerizing voice and a profound aptitude for instrumentation- the combination is rare and refreshing.
Kele grew up in small-town Ontario before moving to Nova Scotia and Vancouver Island. She moved to the bustling Vancouver, BC to pursue her academic career and the diverse avenues of music. Kele fronted the 90's indie band "Hazel Motes" astutely named after a haunted fictional character from the cult classic "Wise Blood", their music emulated a ferocious haunting quality. The band helped shape Vancouver's indie scene alongside Grapes of Wrath and Lava Hay. Kele's solo work is inspired by navigating life as a queer woman, the shackles of our modern world and advocating for a healthier planet. She is a bonafide environmentalist who listens to the aching voice of mother nature. Kele's material is notably sincere, heartfelt and bold. You feel as if you know the inner-workings of her mind, heart and soul upon listening to her music.
Kele has performed at some of the most renowned venues in Vancouver such as The Cultch, The Railway Club and the Wise Hall. She has also carried her affinity for performing into at-home performance amidst the pandemic.
She recently released the track and music video for "Sea in Me" about the oppression of wild animals living in captivity and how that relates to the world at large. The beautiful music video was shot by local legend R.d. Cane at Spanish Banks Beach in Vancouver. It is a lush and compelling video that is intentionally minimal, with only a quick cameo of Kele herself due to the restrictions of our time and the nature of the song. The track is featured on the new fully fleshed record entitled "The Song I Will Write For My Whole Life." The album showcases Kele's dynamic talent that instantly lingers to her audience. Kele Fleming is everything the world needs right now- compassionate, devoted and above all- undeniably gifted and committed to sharing her gift with the world.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
<?php
# Call by method post
# device_id
# version_major
# version_minner
# revision
# (OPTION)
# functions
# encrypt_limit
# pt_id ukey=1(default), noukey=2
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "qu-cg123");
if (!$db) {
	die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}

mysql_select_db("sams", $db);

# change charactor set for select
$sql = "SET CHARACTER_SET_RESULTS=utf8";
$result2 = mysql_query($sql, $db);

$sql = "select device_id,status,functions,random,version_major,revision,encrypt_limit from product where device_id='"
       	. $_POST["device_id"] . "'";
$result = mysql_query($sql, $db);
if ($myrow = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
	if ($myrow["status"] == 0 || $myrow["status"] == 12 || $myrow["status"] == 13) {
		# update status to cumtomer
		#$sql = "update product set status=0 where device_id='" . $_POST["device_id"] . "'";
		#$result = mysql_query($sql, $db);
		#if(!$result) {
		#	echo "{'code':6}"; # update status error
		#	mysql_close($db);
		#	die();
		#}

		# check args
		$revision = $_POST["revision"] == 0 ? $myrow["revision"] : $_POST["revision"];
		$version_major = $myrow["version_major"] > $_POST["version_major"] ? $myrow["version_major"] : $_POST["version_major"];
		$functions = isset($_POST["functions"]) ? $_POST["functions"] : "";
		$encrypt_limit = isset($_POST["encrypt_limit"]) ? $_POST["encrypt_limit"] : "";
		$pt_id = isset($_POST["pt_id"]) ? $_POST["pt_id"] : 1;

		# generate limit and encrypt_limit
		echo "{'encrypt_limit':'" . $myrow["encrypt_limit"] . "'";

		# generate revision list as revisions[], sql list as sqls[]
		$sql = "select revision,version_major,version_minner,alter_sql from version where revision > "
			. $revision
			. " and pt_id=" . $pt_id
			. " and version_major=" . $version_major
		       	. " order by revision asc";
		$result3 = mysql_query($sql, $db);
		$sqls = array();
		$revisions = array();
		$version_major=1;
		$version_minner=0;
		while($r3 = mysql_fetch_assoc($result3)) {
			$revisions[] = $r3["revision"];
			$sqls[] = $r3["alter_sql"];
			$version_major=$r3["version_major"];
			$version_minner=$r3["version_minner"];
		}
		echo ",'revisions':";
		echo json_encode($revisions);
		echo ",'sqls':";
		echo json_encode($sqls);

		# get max_revisions
		if (empty($revisions)) {
			$max_revision = 0;
		} else {
			$max_revision = max($revisions);
		}

		# generate url_installer
		if ($pt_id == 1 || $pt_id == 2) {
			if (($version_major == $_POST["version_major"]) &&
			       	($version_minner == $_POST["version_minner"]) ) {
				$installer = $max_revision . ".sams.exe";
			} else {
				$installer = $max_revision . ".sams.full.exe";
			}
		} else {
			$installer = "unknown";
		}
		$url_installer = "download/" . $installer;
		echo ",'url_installer':'" . $url_installer . "'";

		# generate function list
		if ($myrow["functions"] != "") {
			if (substr($myrow["functions"], -1) == ",") {
				$functions_t = substr($myrow["functions"], 0, -1);
			} else {
				$functions_t = $myrow["functions"];
			}
			$sql = "select id,a1,a2,bh,parent,a5,a6,a7,level,isLeaf,showindex,a8 from functions where id in ("
				. $functions_t .")";
			$result2 = mysql_query($sql, $db);
			$rows = array();
			while($result2 && ($r = mysql_fetch_assoc($result2))) {
				$rows[] = $r;
			}
			echo ",'sql':'" . $sql . "','functions':";
			echo json_encode($rows);
		}
		else {
			echo ",'functions':''";
		}

		# if current version is already newest
		if(!$revisions) {
			echo ",'code':0}";
			mysql_close($db);
			die();
		}

		# log update infomation
		$sql = "insert into product_detail (device_id,pt_id,revison_from,revision_to,function_from,function_to,limit_from,limit_to) values('" .
			$_POST["device_id"] . "'," .
			$pt_id . "," .
			$revision . "," .
			$max_revision . ",'" .
			$functions . "','" .
			$myrow["functions"] . "','" .
			$encrypt_limit . "','" .
			$myrow["encrypt_limit"] . "')";
		$result3 = mysql_query($sql, $db);

		# generate code
		if($result3) {
			echo ",'code':0}";
		} else {
			echo ",'code':3,'sql'='" . $sql . "'}";
		}

	} else {
		echo "{'code':2}"; # status error
	}
} else {
	echo "{'code':1}"; # no such product
}
mysql_close($db);
?>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Season opener draws golfers from across the globe
Golfers from more than 20 countries already registered to take part
by GT Editor
The season-opening, fourth annual Messinia Pro-Am, at Costa Navarino, in February, is attracting interest worldwide, with golfers from more than 20 countries already registered to take part.
Amateur golfers have until January 10 to register for the final remaining places for a tournament that promises world-class golf across Costa Navarino's Dunes and Bay courses, and an itinerary full of activities, social functions, and great weather.
Hollywood actor Bill Murray was the star turn at this year's event, won by Italian pro Alessandro Tadini, and professionals will be competing for a €50,000 prize pot next year at the prime sustainable golf destination in Greece's Peloponnese.
In this idyllic and relaxing setting, participants can join a good cause, too, with funds raised throughout the event for SOS Children's Villages, which creates families for children in need, helping them shape their own futures and sharing in the development of their communities.
There is just three months to go until the fourth #MessiniaProAm begins. Join top professional players, celebrities and amateurs from all over the world, 19-22 February at the championship golf courses of @costanavarino. https://t.co/DS1k4wS0xV pic.twitter.com/7Av2HBgF2b
— Navarino Golf (@Messiniaproam) November 19, 2019
Golfers will enjoy exemplary facilities, a breathtaking seaside landscape and a mild February climate with five-night, five-round competitor packages starting from €1,567 per person based on two sharing at the five-star Westin Resort Costa Navarino.
In addition to accommodation and golf, the packages also include three dinners – welcome reception, charity social event, and prizegiving ceremony – plus shared buggies; transfers to and from the Dunes Course; on-course refreshments and a light lunch for the three tournament rounds.
Sony Open in Hawaii R2
A new spectacle for participants in February will be the earth-sheltered clubhouse at the Bay Course, which opened this summer. Affording stunning vistas across the historic Bay of Navarino, the new clubhouse enhances Costa Navarino's commitment to delivering for its guests the most memorable of golfing experiences.
Costa Navarino is world renowned for its pristine coastal location, but also has a reputation for its luxury hospitality, real estate, and commitment to the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility, while also promoting the region of Messinia's natural beauty and heritage.
n The four-day Messinia Pro-Am takes place at Costa Navarino from February 19-22, 2020. Register for one of the few remaining places in the tournament here, before January 10, 2020.
www.facebook.com/costanavarino
www.youtube.com/costanavarino
Instagram: @costanavarino
Twitter: @costanavarino
Now Read Interview with Hazel ClarkGrade "A" ArchitectureEl Prat's José Gómez voted as Greenkeeper of the Year 2021 of Spain
Golf Ranking
Official World Golf Ranking
FedEx Cup Standings


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A glass reinforced traditional bitumen membrane for use as an underlay.
It is recommended that an underlay such as 3B underlay, is applied on roofs with a pitch between 15 degrees and 45 degrees. Above 45 degrees the underlay is not required unless the building is in an exposed location.


text:
Tag Archives: Gov
Detained Pakistani Christian Released – But Two Others Held
Christian falsely accused of 'blasphemy' taken into custody, released – and detained again.
LAHORE, Pakistan, April 18 (CDN) — A Christian illegally detained in Faisalabad on false blasphemy charges was freed last night, while two other Christians in Gujranwala arrested on similar charges on Friday (April 15) were also released – until pressure from irate mullahs led police to detain them anew, sources said.
Masih and his family have relocated to a safe area, but just 10 days after he was falsely accused of desecrating the Quran in Faisalabad district of Punjab Province on April 5, in Gujranwala Mushtaq Gill and his son Farrukh Mushtaq were taken into "protective custody" on charges that the younger man had desecrated Islam's holy book and blasphemed the religion's prophet, Muhammad. A police official told Compass the charges were false.
Gill, an administrative employee of the Christian Technical Training Centre (CTTC) in Gujranwala in his late 60s, was resting when a Muslim mob gathered outside his home in Aziz Colony, Jinnah Road, Gujranwala, and began shouting slogans against the family. They accused his son, a business graduate working in the National Bank of Pakistan as a welfare officer and father of a little girl, of desecrating the Quran and blaspheming Muhammad.
The purported evidence against Farrukh were some burnt pages of the Quran and a handwritten note, allegedly in Farrukh's handwriting, claiming that he had desecrated Islam's holy book and used derogatory language against Muhammad. A Muslim youth allegedly found the pages and note outside the Gills' residence.
Inspector Muhammad Nadeem Maalik, station house officer of the Jinnah Road police station, admitted that the charges against the accused were baseless.
"The initial investigation of the incident shows Mr. Gill and his son Farrukh are innocent," he told Compass.
The two were kept at a safe-house, instead of the police station, out of fear that Islamist extremists might attack them; their subsequent release led to Islamic protests that compelled police to detain them anew today, sources said.
Despite police admitting that the two Christians were not guilty, a First Information Report (No. 171/2011) was registered against them under Sections 295-B and C in Jinnah Road Police Station early on Saturday (April 16).
"Yes, we have registered an FIR of the incident, yet we have sealed it until the completion of the investigation," Inspector Maalik said, adding that the police had yet to formally arrest Gill and his son. "We registered the FIR for their own safety, otherwise the mob would have become extremely violent and things could have gone out of control."
The police official said that after the Muslim youth made the accusation, he gathered area Muslims together.
"It seems to be a well thought-out scheme, because the perpetrators chose the time of the Friday prayers for carrying out their plan," Maalik said. "They were sure that this news would spread quickly, and within no time people would come out of the mosques and react to the situation."
He added that police were now inquiring of the Gills why they might suspect anyone of wanting to harm them.
"We are also looking for any signs of jealousy or old enmity," Maalik said.
Soon after the Muslim youth found the alleged pages, announcements blared from the area's mosques informing Muslims about the incident and asking them to gather at the "crime scene," sources said.
There are about 300 Christian families residing in Aziz Colony, and news of the alleged desecration spread like jungle fire. Announcements from mosques sparked fear in the already shaken Christian families, and they started packing their things to leave the area, fearing the kind of carnage that ravaged Gojra on Aug. 1, 2009, killing at least seven Christians.
"It's true…the news of the accusations against Gill and his son and the announcements being made from the mosque calling on Muslims to avenge the desecration sent shivers down our spines," said Pastor Philip Dutt, who has known the Gill family for several years and lives in the same neighborhood. "The charges are completely baseless. I'm sure no person in his right frame of mind would even think of committing such a vile act. Someone has clearly conspired against the Gill family."
He added that most of the area's Christians had left their homes overnight, fearing an attack by Muslims.
Dutt said that a large police contingent arrived in time and took Gill and his son into custody after assuring the enraged mob that a case under the blasphemy laws would be registered against the two men. Police remained stationed in the area to provide protection to area Christians, but the atmosphere was tense.
According to some reports, a group of angry Muslims wanted to torch Gill's house, but timely police intervention thwarted their plan.
At the same time, a group of Muslim extremists stormed into the house of Anwar Masih, a Christian factory owner in Aziz Colony, and started beating him and his son, sources said. The family managed to save themselves by calling the police and now they too are in "protective custody."
The Rev. Arif Siraj, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, which also oversees the functioning of the Christian Technical Training Centre in Gujranwala, said the accusations against Farrukh were yet another example of how the country's blasphemy laws are misused against innocent people.
"We have been engaged with the police and local Muslim leaders throughout the day to resolve this issue amicably," Siraj said. "An eight-member committee comprising six Muslims and two Christian pastors has been formed to probe the incident, and they will make a report on Friday."
The names of the Christians of the eight-member committee are Pastor Sharif Alam of Presbyterian Church Ghakarmandi and the Rev. Joseph Julius.
A large number of Muslims, including members of religious parties and banned outfits, came out to the roads of Gujranwala on Saturday (April 16) to protest the alleged desecration of the Quran and pressure police to take action against Gill and his son. The protestors reportedly gelled into one large demonstration on Church Road and headed towards the CTTC. Siraj said that some participants threw stones at a church on the road, but that Muslim elders immediately halted the stone-throwing.
"The district administration and Muslim leaders have now assured us that no one will target Christian churches and institutions," he said, adding that both communities were now waiting for the committee's report.
Sohail Johnson of Sharing Life Ministry expressed concern over the accusations.
"This case is a classic example of how Christians and Muslims continue to be charged with blasphemy on false accusations," he said. "Isn't it ridiculous that the accuser is claiming that Farrukh has confessed to burning the Quran in his note and thrown the burnt pages in front of his house – what sane person would even think of saying anything against prophet Muhammad in a country where passions run so deep?"
Arif Masih, the falsely accused Christian released last night, has reportedly been relocated along with this family to a safe location.
The original blasphemy law, introduced in British India in 1860, imposed a prison term of up to two years for any damage to a place of worship or sacred object carried out "with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage or defilement as an insult to their religion…"
The current provision in the Pakistan Penal Code, as amended in 1986, introduces both the death penalty for insulting Muhammad and drops the concept of intent. According to Section 295-C of the Penal Code, "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life and shall also
be liable to fine."
The laws have drawn condemnation across the world, and two senior government officials – Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer, a liberal Muslim, and Federal Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, have been assassinated this year for demanding a review of the legislation.
Posted in Christianity, Islam, Pakistan, Presbyterian	| Tagged 1860, 1986, 2009, accused, across, admitted, against, allegedly, amended, anew, announcements, Anwar Masih, area, Arif Siraj, arrested, assuring, atmosphere, Aziz Colony, banned, baseless, blared, blasphemed, blasphemy, book, British India, burning, burnt, business, carnage, charges, Christian, Christian Technical Training Centre, Christianity, Christians, church, Church Road, churches, class, communities, compelled, completion, concept, condemnation, confessed, contingent, country, crime, CTTC, custody, damage, death, deep, defilement, demanding, demonstration, desecrating, destruction, detained, directly, district, drops, elders, enmity, evidence, extremely, extremists, factory, Faisalabad, false, falsely, family, Farrukh Mushtaq, Father, fear, federal minister, fine, FIR, fire, First Information Report, formally, found, freed, functioning, girl, Gojra, Gov, government, graduate, guilty, Gujranwala, halted, handwriting, handwritten, held, Holy, house, illegally, imposed, imprisonment, imputation, incident, indirectly, informing, initial, innocent, innuendo, insinuation, inspector, institutions, insult, insulting, intent, intention, introduced, investigation, irate, Islam, Islamic, Islamist, jealousy, Jinnah Road, Joseph Julius, jungle, killing, knowledge, Lahore, law, led, legislation, liable, Liberal, little, man, minorities, misused, moderator, mosques, Muhammad, Muhammad Nadeem Maalik, mullahs, Mushtaq Gill, Muslim, muslims, name, National Bank of Pakistan, No. 171/2011, note, object, officer, official, old, original, outfits, oversees, owner, pages, Pakistan, Pakistan Penal Code, Pakistani, partied, passion, Pastor, penalty, Persecution, persons, Philip Dutt, place, police, police station, Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, pressure, prison, prophet, protective, protests, punished, Punjab Province, Quran, ravaged, registered, released, religion, relocated, representation, residence, Rev, review, roads, run, sacred, safe, safe house, safety, Salman Taseer, scene, sealed, Section 295-B, section 295-C, senior, Shahbaz Bhatti, Sharif Alam, Sharing Life Ministry, shouting, signs, similar, slogans, Sohail Johnson, son, sparked, spoken, spread, Station House Officer, stone-throwing, stones, taken, tense, term, threw, violent, visible, welfare, words, working, world, written, younger, youth | Leave a comment
Murder of Governor in Pakistan Darkens 'Blasphemy' Case
Assassination called a blow to prospects of justice for Christian mother on death row.
LAHORE, Pakistan, January 5 (CDN) — The case of Asia Noreen, the first Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges, suffered a major setback when her most vocal supporter, the governor of Punjab Province, was gunned down by one of his police bodyguards yesterday (Jan. 4) in Islamabad.
The lives of Noreen and Gov. Salman Taseer were at risk since the day he, his wife and daughter visited her in the Sheikhupura District Jail on Nov. 22, after news of her conviction appeared in the media.
Taseer had openly criticized the blasphemy statutes and vowed to try to repeal the "black laws" in parliament. He also promised Noreen (also called Asia Bibi) that he would recommend a presidential pardon for her.
The governor's assurance and his support for Noreen gave new hope to the impoverished mother of two children and step-mother to three others – and drew violent condemnation from Islamist forces, sparking countrywide protests.
"The governor's visit gave us hope that all was not lost," Sohail Johnson of Sharing Life Ministries Pakistan, which has pursued Noreen's case from the onset, told Compass. "We believed that God had sent the governor to help us … his words of support boosted Noreen's morale, and she was actually quite optimistic about the outcome of her appeal in the high court."
He said the murder of Taseer in broad daylight had shocked all those opposing the blasphemy laws, and that "there is little hope of these laws ever being repealed."
Johnson confirmed that Noreen's life was at high risk ever since the governor had highlighted her case.
"The local Islamist forces believed that President [Asif Ali] Zardari would pardon Noreen on Taseer's recommendation, and this was unacceptable to them," said Johnson, confirming that intelligence agencies had determined that Islamists had plotted to kill Noreen inside jail to make an example of her. "Noreen was earlier allowed two hours in the morning and two in the evening to go outside her cell to relax. After the intelligence information, the jail authorities restricted her movement, and now she is kept in the cell at all times. A security guard has also been deployed with her."
He added that news of the assassination of the governor would surely panic the Christian woman.
Johnson said Noreen's appeal of her conviction had yet to be taken up for hearing by the Lahore High Court, but that the murder would definitely affect the course of justice. "The governor's brutal murder has diminished our hopes for justice for Noreen," he said.
Her family, he said, has been in hiding since Islamist parties started protests in favor of the blasphemy laws.
"Even I am keeping a low profile these days," Johnson said.
Taseer and Noreen were declared "Wajibul Qatil" (liable to be killed) by radical Islamic clerics. A cleric in Peshawar and a local politician in Multan offered a combined sum of 50 million rupees (US$579,300) for anyone who killed Taseer and Noreen.
Protests, shut-down strikes and general uproar pressured Pakistan's federal government to announce that the blasphemy laws would not be repealed.
Taseer, however, continued to publicly vent his opposition – even using Twitter – to the blasphemy laws, which effectively mandate death for anyone convicted of insulting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. Although courts typically overturn convictions, and no executions have been carried out, rights activists say the laws are used to settle rivalries and persecute religious minorities.
On Friday (Dec. 31), Taseer had tweeted "I was under huge pressure 2 cow down b4 rightest pressure on blasphemy. Refused. Even if I'm the last man standing."
The assassination is significant not simply because of the person targeted and the reason behind it, but because of the broader societal implications.
"[It points to] the presence of radical elements inside the Pakistani state apparatus," said columnist Cyril Almeida.
He said that the fact that Taseer's own bodyguard shot him is not just worrying because it indicates a failure of the vetting process but because it points to "the extent to which this poison has affected the Pakistani state. The investment in jihad has come home to roost."
In the hours immediately following the killing, television anchors hosted several shows in which guests, while stopping short of openly supporting the murder of Taseer, did speak out in support of killing those deemed to have blasphemed. Some Pakistanis have reported that they received text messages on their mobile phones praising the assassination.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the guard, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri, told police that he killed Taseer because of the governor's opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Qadri had escorted the governor from Rawalpindi to Islamabad on Tuesday (Jan. 4).
A 26-year-old policeman from Barakhao on the outskirts of Islamabad, Qadri had reportedly transferred to the Elite Force after commando training in 2008. Thus far, he has not been identified as a member of any violent Muslim extremist groups but is considered devout in his faith.
Noreen was convicted under Section 295-C of the defamation statutes for alleged derogatory comments about Muhammad, which is punishable by death, though life imprisonment is also possible. Section 295-B makes willful desecration of the Quran or a use of its extract in a derogatory manner punishable with life imprisonment. Section 295-A of the defamation law prohibits injuring or defiling places of worship and "acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class of citizens." It is punishable by life imprisonment, which in Pakistan is 25 years.
Posted in Christianity, Islam, Pakistan	| Tagged 2008, activists, Acts, agencies, anchors, appeal, appeared, Asia Bibi, Asia Noreen, Asif Ali Zardari, assassination, assurance, Barakhao, black, blasphemy, blow, bodyguards, called, case, charges, children, Christian, Christianity, Christians, citizens, class, cleric, clerics, commando, condemnation, convicted, conviction, countrywide, criticized, darkens, daughter, death, defamation, defiling, devout, down, Elite Force, executions, faith, federal, feelings, first, forces, Gov, government, governor, guests, gunned, hearing, high court, hope, impoverished, imprisonment, insulting, Intelligence, intended, interior minister, Islam, Islamabad, Islamist, jail, justice, killed, Lahore, Lahore High Court, laws, liable, life, lives, major, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri, mandate, media, messages, minorities, mobile phones, mother, Muhammad, Multan, murder, Muslim, muslims, new, news, openly, opposition, outrage, outskirts, Pakistan, Pakistani, pardon, Parliament, persecute, Persecution, Peshawar, places, plotted, police, policeman, politician, President, presidential, pressured, promised, prophet, prospects, protests, punishable, Punjab Province, Rawalpindi, recommend, recommendation, Rehman Malik, religious, repeal, rights, risk, rivalries, row, Salman Taseer, section 295-A, section 295-C, sentenced, setback, Sharing Life Ministries Pakistan, Sheikhupura District Jail, shows, Sohail Johnson, sparking, statutes, step-mother, strikes, suffered, support, supporter, television, text, training, try, tweeted, Twitter, unacceptable, violent, visited, vocal, vowed, Wajibul Qatil, wife, woman, worship | Leave a comment
Tensions High after Christians Killed in Bombings
Islamic extremist Boko Haram sect attacks churches in Borno, Plateau states.
LAGOS, Nigeria, December 28 (CDN) — Tensions continued to mount in the Christian community in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state in northern Nigeria, following the killing of a Baptist pastor and five other Christians on Christmas Eve.
The Rev. Bulus Marwa and the other Christians were killed in the Dec. 24 attacks on Victory Baptist Church in Alemderi and a Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) congregation in Sinimari by the outlawed Islamic Boko Haram sect opposed to Western education.
Those killed at the Baptist church, which was set ablaze, included choir members Philip Luka, 22, and Paul Mathew, 21, as well as 50-year-old Christopher Balami and Yohana Adamu. Philip Sopso, a 60-year-old a security guard, was killed at the COCIN church while 25 other persons were said to have been injured during the serial attacks by the Islamic group.
"It is sad that when Christians were supposed to be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, some people, out of wickedness, would come to perpetrate such evil," said Borno State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria the Rev. Yuguda Ndirmva.
The Boko Haram members reportedly first stormed the COCIN church in two vehicles and detonated bombs that shattered the gate of the worship center and killed the security guard.
Many Christians have taken refuge to avoid further attacks as soldiers and police keep watch at churches and other strategic locations in the state.
Danjuma Akawu, who survived the attack on the Baptist church, said "they hacked the two choir members using knives and petrol bomb before heading to the pastor's residence, where he was killed."
Borno Gov. Ali Modu Sheriff said he had alerted police to the possibility of an attack on churches during Christmas.
"It is very unfortunate and sad for the Christian community to be attacked and people killed without any genuine cause," Sheriff said.
Speaking during a visit to the Baptist church on Saturday (Dec. 25), the governor noted that the attack on the Christian community was an attempt by Boko Haram to create conflict between Christians and Muslims in the state. Several Boko Haram bomb blasts in Christian areas of Jos on Dec. 24 that killed scores of people were said to be an attempt to create the same inter-religious conflict.
Borno state, in northeastern Nigeria, is largely populated by Muslims who have disowned some activities of Boko Haram as contrary to Islam.
Police Commissioner Mohammed Abubakar admitted a security lapse on the part of his divisional police officers, whom he said had been told to watch out for Boko Haram members.
The activities of the Islamic extremist Boko Haram, whose names means "Western education is sin," were crushed by police in 2009 with the arrest of many of its members and the killing of its leader.
In retaliation, the group had killed policemen and was recently responsible for a prison break to set free its members in the Borno state capital.
Worried about the safety of Christians in Borno state, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, asked the federal government to curb the growing trend of terrorism in parts of the country.
"We can no longer allow this group of disgruntled elements to get away with these acts of terrorism in Nigeria," he said.
The general superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, demanded the arrest and prosecution of the Boko Haram members and others to serve as a deterrent.
"A situation in which feuds easily lead to the burning of churches and the endless killings of church ministers and innocent citizens is an abhorrent trend which must not be allowed to continue," Pastor Kumuyi said. "The initiative rests on the doorsteps of the security agencies to bring this unfortunate trend to an end."
Posted in Baptist, Christianity, Church of Christ, Islam, Nigeria, War on Terror	| Tagged 2009, activities, Alemderi, arrest, attacks, Ayo Oritsejafor, Baptist, Boko Haram, bomb, bombings, bombs, Borno, Borno State Chairman, break, Bulus Marwa, burning, capital, choir, Christ, Christian, Christian Association of Nigeria, Christianity, Christians, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christopher Balami, Church of Christ in Nigeria, churches, COCIN, conflict, congregation, contrary, country, Danjuma Akawu, Deeper Life Bible Church, deterrent, detonated, disowned, education, extremist, federal, General Superintendent, Gov, government, governor, growing, guard, hacked, high, injured, inter-religious, Islam, Islamic, Jesus, Jos, killed, killing, knives, Lagos, lapse, leader, Maiduguri, members, ministers, Modu Sheriff, Mohammed Abubakar, Muslim, muslims, Nigeria, northeastern, northern, opposed, outlawed, parts, Pastor, Paul Matthew, Petrol, Philip Luka, Philip Sopso, Plateau, police, police commissioner, policemen, President, prison, prosecution, retaliation, Rev, sect, security, serial, sin, Sinimari, soldiers, state, states, tensions, terrorism, trend, Victory Baptist Church, western, William Kumuyi, Yohana Adamu, Yuguda Ndirmva | Leave a comment
Hundreds Injure Church Members in Bekasi, Indonesia
Police barricade ineffective; church leaders demand a suitable venue for worship.
DUBLIN, August 9 (CDN) — Leaders of a church in West Java, Indonesia demanded justice from police after a fifth attack from Muslim protestors left at least a dozen people injured yesterday.
As some 20 members of the Batak Christian Protestant Filadelfia Church (HKBP Filadelfia) in Bekasi gathered for Sunday worship on a church-owned plot of land in Ciketing, at least 300 members of the Islamic People's Forum (FUI) and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) broke through a police barricade and ordered them to leave, Theophilus Bela, president of the Jakarta Christian Communication Forum, told Compass. When the church members refused, the protestors assaulted the group with sticks, stones
or their bare hands.
A report in The Jakarta Post reported that as many as 700 protestors took part in the attack on the congregation, which numbers 1,500 in total. A video clip of the attack shown on local broadcasting network Metro Treve confirmed only that a large and physically aggressive mob was present at the site.
Indra Listiantara, a researcher with the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, said local residents identified the attackers as members of the FPI who had already attacked the church on previous occasions, including Bekasi FPI leader Murhali Barda, according to The Jakarta Globe.
When church members decided to leave, the mob "hunted us down and hit us," church leader Hendrik Siagian told local news magazine Tempo.
Those injured included church member Franky Taumbunan, 26, who was kicked several times while he attempted to protect his elderly father. Berliana Sinaga, 22, suffered bruising after several men hit her in the head and face, the Post reported.
Several church members required medical attention, Bela confirmed.
Police chief Iman Sugianto, however, said he blamed the church members as he had warned them not to hold services in the area because they were disturbing the residents, according to the Post.
The church has filed charges against the FUI and FPI for assault and defiling a religion, the Globe reported yesterday (Aug. 8). The Rev. Luspida Simanjuntak also demanded that the Bekasi administration offer the church an alternative venue.
Church members only resorted to worshiping on the plot of land in Ciketing after officials sealed a house used for worship in the Pondok Timur housing complex in Jejalen Jaya sub-district, Bekasi, Bela said.
The church purchased a plot of land in Ciketing in 1998 and began to construct a church there after gathering consent from 200 local residents and local officials; a 500-strong mob, however, burned down the partially-completed building in November 2000, he said.
In June 2007, the church purchased a house in the Pondok Timur housing estate for use as a temporary place of worship while they submitted a formal application to construct a church building in Ciketing. The application, however, remained unanswered for more than a year, while radicals stepped up their protests against the use of the house in Pondok Timur.
In October 2009, the church secured permission from the chief of Jejalen Jaya sub-district to hold services on the plot of land in Ciketing. The group then built a small structure there to store items such as tables and chairs.
Following protests in Ciketing, local authorities sent an official letter to the church rejecting their building application, Bela said. When church members continued to meet at the house in Pondok Timur, authorities also sealed that building in June.
Following an appeal from church members, Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Mohammad then reportedly promised to let the group meet in public areas and agreed to send police to safeguard church activities. (See http://www.compassdirect.org, "Muslim Protestors Surround Worshipers in Bekasi, Indonesia," Aug. 4.)
But Christians and Muslims alike have questioned the sincerity of such promises. Yesterday's attack came just one day after Jakarta Gov. Fauzi Bowo and Jakarta Police Chief Timur Pradopo attended the 12th anniversary celebrations of the Muslim extremist FPI. On Friday (Aug. 6), an FPI leader also visited Jakarta police headquarters to offer the Front's assistance in enforcing religious bylaws during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Post reported today.
Following weekend attacks on the Bekasi church and on a congregation of the Ahmaddiyah, a Muslim sect, moderate Muslims flooded social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook with criticism of the FPI, demanding that the government take action to prevent further violence.
In an effort to resolve the issue, church members plan to hold their next Sunday service in front of the State Palace, said Judianto Simanjuntak, one of several church legal advisors, the Post reported today.
Posted in Christianity, Indonesia, Islam	| Tagged 12th, Ahmaddiyah, anniversary, attack, barricade, Bekasi, Berliana Sinaga, celebrations, chief, Christian, Christianity, Christians, church, Ciketing, demand, demanded, extremist, Facebook, Fauzi Bowo, Filadelfia, FPI, Franky Taumbunan, FUI, Gov, Hendrik Siagian, HKBP, Huria Christian Protestant Batak Filadelfia Church, Imam Sugianto, Indonesia, Indra Listianara, ineffective, injure, injured, Islam, Islamic Defenders' Front, Islamic People's Forum, Jakarta Christian Communication Forum, Jejalen Jaya, Judianto Simanjuntak, justice, leaders, Luspida Simanjuntak, magazine, mayor, members, Metro Treve, Mochtar Mohammad, moderate, Murhali Barda, Muslim, muslims, news, Persecution, police, Pondok Timur, President, protestors, Ramadan, researcher, Rev, sect, Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, sites, social networking, State Palace, sub-district, suitable, tempo, The Jakarta Globe, The Jakarta Post, Theophilus Bela, Timur Pradopo, Twitter, venue, West Java, worship | Leave a comment
Lao Christians Expelled from Village Suffer Critical Illnesses
One dead, two hospitalized; village chief threatens other residents.
DUBLIN, May 14 (CDN) — In spite of assurances of religious rights by officials in March, Lao Christians expelled from a village in Saravan Province in January are suffering from a prolonged lack of adequate food and clean water.
The lack of basic resources has led to diarrhea, dehydration, eye and skin infections, fainting and general weakness for the Christians expelled from Katin village, and one person has died, Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) reported.
A Christian who went by the single name of Ampheng died suddenly in April while praying for one of two other Christians who were hospitalized with illnesses caused by their living conditions, an HRWLRF spokesman told Compass. The exact cause and date of Ampheng's death were not immediately known.
Expelled from their village at gunpoint on Jan. 18 for failing to renounce their faith, the 48 Christians were forced to build temporary shelters at the edge of the jungle, about six kilometers (nearly four miles) away from the village.
They have since survived on food found in the jungle and water from a hand-dug well that is unfit for cooking or drinking, sources told HRWLRF.
District officials in early May gave the Christians permission to return to Katin village and take rice from their family rice barns to prevent starvation, said another source on condition of anonymity.
In addition, some of the Christians have returned to tend their family rice fields, fearing that if the fields are completely abandoned they may lose the right to cultivate them next year. Water buffaloes essential for farm work, however, were confiscated in January along with the Christians' homes and registration papers, according to HRWLRF.
When the Christians interred Ampheng at the local burial ground, district officials fined them for failing to produce the required proof of house registration, according to HRWLRF.
Katin's village chief recently warned other residents that their personal possessions would be confiscated if they had any contact with the expelled Christians. If any family continued to maintain contact despite repeated warnings, their own homes would be torn down, the chief reportedly said.
Official reactions to the plight of the Christians have been mixed. In March, a delegation of provincial and district officials led by Gov. Khamboon Duangpanya visited the Christians at their jungle site and assured them of their legal right to embrace the faith of their choice and to live anywhere in the district.
Just days earlier, however, the district head, identified only as Bounma, summoned seven of the Christians to his office and said that he would not tolerate the existence of Christianity in areas under his control. (See "Lao Officials Visit Expelled Christians, Give Assurances," March 19.)
High level officials failed to intervene last July when villagers seized a Christian identified only as Pew and poured rice wine down his throat, killing him by asphyxiation. Village officials later fined Pew's family for erecting a cross on his grave, and then detained 80 Christians in a school compound, denying them food and pressuring them to renounce their faith.
The heads of 13 families then signed documents renouncing Christianity in order to protect their children, but most resumed attendance at worship meetings within a few months.
Provincial officials did call a meeting in September 2008 asking Katin authorities to respect Lao religious laws and allow the Christians freedom to worship, but their request was ignored.
A communist country, Laos is 1.5 percent Christian and 67 percent Buddhist, with the remainder unspecified. Article 6 and Article 30 of the Lao Constitution guarantees the right of Christians and other religious minorities to practice the religion of their choice without discrimination or penalty.
Posted in Buddhism, Christianity, Communism, Laos	| Tagged abandoned, adequate, allow, Ampheng, anonymity, anywhere, areas, Article 30, Article 6, asphyxiation, assurances, assured, attendance, authorities, away, barns, basic, Bounma, Buddhism, Buddhist, Buddhists, buffaloes, build, burial, cause, caused, chief, children, choice, Christian, Christianity, Christians, clean, Communism, communist, communists, completely, compound, condition, conditions, confiscated, constitution, contact, continued, control, cooking, country, critical, cross, cultivate, date, dead, death, dehydration, delegation, denying, despite, diarrhea, died, Discrimination, district, documents, down, drinking, edge, embrace, erecting, essential, exact, existence, expelled, eye, failed, failing, fainting, faith, families, family, farm, fearing, fields, fined, food, forced, found, freedom, general, Gov, grave, ground, guarantees, gunpoint, hand-dug, head, high, homes, hospitalized, HRWLRF, Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom, identified, ignored, illnesses, immediately, infections, interred, intervene, jungle, Katin, Khamboon Duangpanya, killing, known, lack, Lao, Laos, later, laws, legal, level, living, local, lose, maintain, meeting, meetings, minorities, mixed, name, office, officials, papers, penalty, permission, Persecution, person, personal, Pew, plight, possessions, poured, practice, praying, pressuring, prevent, produce, prolonged, proof, protect, provincial, reactions, recently, registration, religion, religious, remainder, renounce, renouncing, repeated, required, residents, resources, respect, resumed, return, rice, right, rights, Saravan Province, school, seized, shelters, signed, single, site, skin, source, spite, starvation, suddenly, suffer, suffering, summoned, survived, temporary, tend, threatens, throat, tolerate, torn, unfit, unspecified, village, villagers, visited, warned, water, weakness, well, wine, without, work, worship | Leave a comment
Attacks on Christians in Karnataka Frequent, Furious
Southern state has become epicenter of religious assaults, Christians say.
NEW DELHI, February 4 (CDN) — Karnataka state recorded the highest number of anti-Christian attacks in India last year, and it is keeping pace this year.
Christians in Karnataka are being attacked "at rapid regularity" and "with near impunity," and it is "a serious matter of concern for the Christian community," said Dr. Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).
Much of the violence occurs under the vigilante pretext of rounding up Christians supposedly involved in "forcible" or "fraudulent" conversion efforts. On Monday (Feb. 1) in Thagadur village, Kodagu district, Hindu extremists dragged 11 Christians – including four women – from their homes and colluded with police to arrest them on such false charges.
The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that all of the Christians, members of the Beraka Gospel Church in Suntikupa village, were tortured at the Siddapur police station to pressure them to admit to the charges. Most of the jailed Christians are tribal, daily wage laborers who work on coffee plantations.
Police denied torturing the Christians, but like many people in India easily confused by Hindu extremist propaganda, Inspector Ratan Singh of the Siddapur police station seemed to erroneously believe that laws against fraudulent conversion apply to any kind of proclamation of faith.
"According to the complaint we received, the accused were inviting local Hindus for prayer meetings to convert them," Singh told Compass, as if such activity were illegal in India. "We did not beat them. When they were produced before the judicial magistrate, they said they were not mistreated by the police."
The GCIC recorded 72 attacks on Christians in Karnataka in 2009. That represents a decline from the 112 attacks the previous year, when three months of anti-Christian violence in Orissa state's Kandhamal district in 2008 led Hindu extremists in Karnataka to lash out as well, according to Christian leaders.
Justice Michael F. Saldanha, a retired judge of the Karnataka High Court and president of the Catholic Association of South Kanara (a district in Karnataka also known as Dakshina Kannada), told Compass that attacks on Christians in the state increased after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began to rule.
In May 2008 the BJP came to power in Karnataka, thus making it the first southern state with a stand-alone BJP government in the history of India. The party's rule was preceded by a 20-month rule in alliance with a local party, the Janata Dal (Secular).
Although Karnataka has had a dominant presence of the Hindu extremist Sangh Parivar since 1950, its cadres obtained free rein only after the BJP's electoral victory, Saldanha explained.
"The real headquarters of the Sangh Parivar is not in Maharashtra [official headquarters of the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, in Nagpur), it's in Karnataka," said Saldanha, who conducted a private inquiry into a series of attacks that rocked Karnataka in September 2008 following the unprecedented anti-Christian bloodbath in Orissa state's Kandhamal district.
Between Aug. 17 and Sept. 21, 2008, more than 28 attacks on churches, led mainly by the Hindu extremist Bajrang Dal, a Sangh Parivar offshoot, were reported from various parts of Karnataka.
Saldanha pointed out that Brahmins, the highest or priestly class in the caste hierarchy in Hinduism, from Udupi district and Mangalore city in neighboring Dakshina Kannada district played a special role in leading the Hindu right-wing movement. The retired judge also accused the BJP government of supporting Sangh Parivar outfits with public money.
"The Karnataka government gives money to right-wing groups for festivals in the name of celebrations, and also through donations to certain temples," he said.
Agreeing with Saldanha, the CBCI's Joseph said the violence in Karnataka points to a "decline in civility and collapse of administration."
"It is indeed sad that Karnataka, which enjoyed communal harmony and social amity for so long, has recently been pushed into the cycle of hate crimes perpetrated by the extreme elements in society that do not believe in mutual tolerance or acceptance," Joseph said.
Karnataka Gov. H.R. Bhardwaj reportedly said earlier this week that protection of people's lives and liberties, including the right to propagate their religion, was "the essence of Indian democracy."
The governor said it was the responsibility of the state government "to see that nobody is allowed to flout the democratic norms and laws of the land," acknowledging a rise in the incidence of attacks against churches, reported Daijiworld.
His comments came a day after an attack on a glass painting of the Virgin Mary at the entrance arch of the Canara Organisation for Development and Peace building in Nantoor area on Saturday (Jan. 30).
On that day Christians held a silent protest in Mysore, and on Monday (Feb. 1) Christians in Mangalore protested in like fashion against increasing attacks on them.
On Jan. 28, unidentified people burned down a church in Raipura area in Molakalmuru town in Chitradurga district. The Jesus Loves Holy Temple Church turned into ashes, reported GCIC.
Two Catholic churches were attacked in Mysore and Uttara Kannada districts on Jan. 25. Unidentified people reportedly broke a statue of Mary on the compound wall of the Holy Family Church in Hinkal village in the wee hours in Mysore district. In the other incident, glass panes covering the statue of Mary were broken at St. Anthony Church in the Pernamakki area in Uttara Kannada district.
At 2:30 a.m. this morning, unidentified people broke into a Catholic church and vandalized it in the Malavalli area of Mandya district, reported the Karnataka-based GCIC. The cross, statues and musical instruments in the St. Mathias Church were destroyed, it said, adding that the parish priest filed a complaint at the Malavalli police station.
'Lip Service'
Echoing claims of the Hindu nationalist BJP, Karnataka State Minorities Commission member Anthony Fernandez said he does not believe there is any reason for concern.
"Some elements are simply trying to tarnish the image of the state government," he said.
Fernandez acknowledged, however, that the Hindu nationalist Sri Ram Sene (Army of God Rama) was involved in some attacks. The Sri Ram Sene is believed to be a splinter group from the Sangh Parivar family of organizations under the RSS.
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Jan. 28 warned those who vandalize religious places, saying he would have their hands "chopped off."
"I, the chief minister of Karnataka, am saying I will chop off their hands," Yeddyurappa was quoted as saying by Headlines Today news channel.
The CBCI's Joseph said "lip service" by the government was "no longer enough."
"It has to show results on the ground that it means business in tackling the menace of communal elements," he said. "Unprovoked violence against fellow citizens in the name of religion is pernicious, and it must stop forthwith, or else the impression may gain ground that the administration of the day is colluding with criminal and extreme elements in vitiating the social harmony for short term political gains – something this country can ill afford in the long run."
Posted in Christianity, Hinduism, India, Roman Catholicism	| Tagged 1950, 2008, 2009, acceptance, accused, acknowledging, activity, administration, admit, afford, alliance, amity, Anthony Fernandez, anti-Christian, apply, area, Army of Lord Ram, arrest, Ashes, assaults, attacked, attacks, B. S. Yeddyurappa, Babu Joseph, Bajrang Dal, beat, become, began, believe, Beraka Gospel Church, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, bloodbath, Brahmins, broke, broken, building, burned, business, cadres, Canara Organisation for Development and Peace, caste, Catholic Association of South Kanara, Catholic Bishops Conference, CBCI, celebrations, certain, channel, charges, Chief Minister, Chitradurga, chop, chopped, Christian, Christianity, Christians, church, churches, city, civility, claims, class, coffee, collapse, colluded, comments, communal, community, complaint, compound, concern, conducted, confused, conversion, convert, country, covering, crimes, criminal, cross, cycle, Daijiworld, daily, Dakshina Kannada, decline, democracy, Democratic, denied, destroyed, district, dominant, donations, Dr, dragged, easily, echoing, efforts, electoral, elements, enjoyed, entrance, epicenter, erroneously, essence, extreme, extremist, extremists, faith, false, fashion, fellow, festivals, filed, first, flout, following, forcible, fraudulent, free, frequent, furious, gain, gives, glass, Global Council of Indian Christians, Gov, government, governor, ground, H. R. Bhardwaj, hands, harmony, hate, Headlines Today, headquarters, hierarchy, high court, highest, Hindu, Hinduism, Hindus, Hinkal, History, Holy Family Church, homes, ill, illegal, image, impression, impunity, incidence, including, increased, increasing, India, Indian, inquiry, inspector, instruments, inviting, involved, jailed, Janata Dal-Secular, Jesus Loves Holy Temple Church, judge, judicial, justice, Kandhamal, Karnataka, Karnataka State Minorities Commission, keeping, kind, Kodagu, laborers, land, lash, laws, leaders, leading, led, liberties, like, lip service, lives, local, magistrate, Maharashtra, Malavalli, Mandya, Mangalore, Mary, matter, means, meetings, member, members, menace, Michael F. Saldanha, mistreated, Molakalmura, money, movement, musical, mutual, Mysore, Nagpur, name, Nantoor, nationalist, near, neighboring, New Delhi, news, nobody, norms, number, obtained, official, offshoot, Orissa, outfits, pace, painting, panes, parish, parts, people, Pernamakki, pernicious, perpetrated, places, plantations, played, police, police station, power, prayer, preceded, presence, President, pretext, priest, priestly, private, proclamation, produced, propaganda, propagate, protection, protest, public, pushed, quoted, Raipura, rapid, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Singh, Ratan Singh, reason, recorded, regularity, rein, religion, religious, reported, represents, responsibility, results, retired, right, right-wing, rise, rocked, role, Roman Catholic, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholics, rounding, RSS, rule, Sangh Parivar, saying, series, serious, short, show, Siddapur, silent, simply, social, Society, southern, special, splinter, spokesperson, Sri Ram Sene, St. Anthony Church, St. Matthias Church, state, statue, statues, Suntikupa, supporting, supposedly, tackling, tarnish, temples, term, Thagadur, tolerance, tortured, torturing, town, tribal, trying, turned, Udupi, unidentified, unprecedented, unprovoked, Uttara Kannada, vandalize, vandalized, various, victory, vigilante, village, violence, Virgin, vitiating, wage, wall, women, work | Leave a comment
Anglican Archbishop Kidnapped in Southern Nigeria
Gunmen abduct Edo state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria after service.
LAGOS, Nigeria, January 26 (CDN) — Gunmen are still holding the Anglican archbishop of Benin diocese in southern Nigeria's Edo state after abducting him on Sunday (Jan. 24).
Peter Imasuen, who is also the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), was abducted in front of his official residence on his way back from a church service. The kidnappers are reportedly demanding $750,000 for his release.
The armed kidnappers reportedly followed the archbishop from the St. Matthew Cathedral to his residence, where they dragged him out of his car and took him to an unknown location.
Executive members of CAN led by the Rev. Richard Ofere met with Edo Gov. Adams Oshiomhole yesterday on the abduction of the bishop; they declined to speak to news media but are believed to be working with family members and government officials on the matter.
Gov. Oshiomhole decried the kidnapping, which he blamed on the federal government's withdrawal of soldiers from a state joint security program code-named, "Operation Thunderstorm" designed to help thwart militant violence and kidnappers.
He promised to meet officials of the president's office on the need to increase security in the state and ensure that the bishop is released soon. Muslim President Umaru Yar'Adua left the country on Nov. 23 to seek treatment in Saudi Arabia, leading some to speculate on a leadership vacuum in the country.
"I feel I have failed as a governor to protect the lives of our people, but whatever we have to do will be done," Gov. Oshiomhole said. "I have sent for all those who should know that everybody must do what needs to be done. We can never surrender to criminals."
The identity of the kidnappers was not clear, but in recent years abducting top public figures for ransom has become common in the South-South and South- Eastern zones of the country, where militant groups have been campaigning against the poor level of development of the area.
Armed groups seeking a larger share of oil revenues for local residents have attacked oil installations in southern Nigeria since 2006. One major group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), declared an open-ended ceasefire last October.
The cease-fire was meant to open the way for talk with authorities, but MEND recently said it was "reviewing its indefinite ceasefire announced on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2009 and will announce its position on or before Jan. 30, 2010."
In the past four years, hundreds of foreign and local oil workers have been kidnapped in the region, with many being released unharmed after hefty ransom payments.
The militants have also blown up pipelines and offshore oil platforms.
Posted in Anglicans, Christianity, Islam, Nigeria, Sandemanianism	| Tagged 2006, 2009, 2010, abduct, abducting, abduction, Adams Oshiomhole, Anglican, announce, announced, Archbishop, area, armed, attacked, authorities, become, believed, Benin, bishop, blamed, blown up, campaigning, CAN, car, ceasefire, chairman, Christian, Christian Association of Nigeria, Christianity, Christians, church, clear, code-named, common, country, criminals, declared, declined, decried, demanding, designed, development, diocese, dragged, eastern, Edo, executive, failed, family, federal, feel, figures, followed, foreign, front, Gov, government, governor, groups, gunmen, hefty, help, holding, identity, increase, indefinite, installations, Islam, joint, Kidnapped, kidnappers, know, Lagos, larger, leadership, leading, led, left, level, lives, local, location, major, matter, media, meet, members, MEND, met, militant, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Muslim, muslims, need, never, news, Nigeria, office, official, officials, offshore, oil, open, open-ended, Operation Thunderstorm, payments, people, Persecution, Peter Imasuen, pipelines, platforms, poor, position, President, program, promised, protect, public, ransom, region, release, reportedly, residence, residents, Rev, revenues, reviewing, Richard Ofere, Saudi Arabia, security, seek, seeking, sent, service, share, soldiers, south, southern, speak, speculate, St. Matthew Cathedral, state, still, surrender, talk, thwart, top, treatment, Umaru Yar'Adua, unharmed, unknown, vacuum, violence, way, withdrawal, workers, working, zones | Leave a comment
Mexican High Court Frees Nine Men Accused in Acteal Massacre
Joy mixes with disappointment as 28 of 57 convicted in Chiapas remain in prison.
MEXICO CITY, November 6 (CDN) — More than 35 mainly evangelical Christian prisoners unjustly accused in the December 1997 massacre in Acteal, Chiapas had hoped they would be released from jail this week, but after long deliberations the Supreme Court of Mexico on Wednesday (Nov. 4) ruled only nine should be freed and ordered new trials for 16 others.
The high court thus ended its involvement in the controversy over the ordeal of the peasant laborers, ordering the release of the nine men – without declaring them innocent – and retrials for 16 others, this time without "invented" evidence and testimony. Those 16 men, plus several others including six who had previously been granted retrials, remain in prison.
In a 4-1 vote, the court ruled the federal attorney general violated legal process, fabricated evidence and false testimonies, formulated non-existent crimes and provided no concrete argument establishing culpability of the nine men.
Supreme Court Justice José Ramón Cossío Diaz said the decision to free the men was not a declaration of innocence but recognition of "a lack of impugning evidence" against them in the Dec. 22, 1997 massacre, in which 45 people were killed, including women and children.
"These Indians were condemned and declared guilty as a result of a trial that was plagued with violations," Cossío Diaz said, according to El Universal. "No material proving their guilt exists."
When prisoners convicted in the Acteal slayings learned that only nine were being released, they reportedly wept – some for joy, but most from disappointment.
"Everything was invented – I did not kill anyone," one of the evangelical Christians released, 45-year old Manuel Luna Perez, told Proceso magazine. "Many of our companions [in jail] also know nothing about who planned the massacre."
The court ruled that federal authorities had used "invented proofs and witnesses" in convicting the men, many of them evangelical Christians supportive of the then-ruling party who had land disputes and other conflicts with their accusers – mainly Roman Catholics sympathetic to the rebel Zapatista National Liberation Army.
At least five of the nine men released were known to be evangelical Christians when they were rounded up 12 years ago: Pablo Perez Perez, Emilio Gomez Luna, Juan Gomez Perez, Hilario Guzman Luna, and Manuel Luna Perez. Also released were Mariano Diaz Chicario, Pedro Lopez Lopez, Juan Hernandez Perez and Ignacio Gomez Gutierrez.
The nine were released from El Amate federal prison in Cintalapa, Chiapas yesterday and transported to Tuxtla where they are temporarily housed.
"There must have been about 200 to 250 people who made the trip [to the prison] – many were spouses and family members anxious to see the men," said a Compass source in Chiapas. "As per the previous occasion, the people waited patiently outside the prison for the men to be released, only to be disappointed because they were not allowed to speak with them when they left the prison. The men were put in a mini-bus and taken to where they will be housed under government supervision for the next couple of weeks."
The relatives and others traveled on to the men's temporary quarters in Tuxtla, where they were able to meet with them, and several of the ex-prisoners' spouses and other family members are staying with them there, the source said.
The freed men said the government has offered them what it promised 20 prisoners released on Aug. 13, the source said: farmland, help with building houses, water, electricity and other basic amenities, as well as helping them monetarily until they become self-supporting.
An attorney representing 31 defendants in the case, Jose Antonio Caballero, reportedly expressed disappointment that the high court didn't free more of those accused. But the attorney told EFE news service that the ruling would help remedy some of the mistakes in the legal process.
In the case of the 16 men to be given new trials, the high court ruled there was sufficient evidence for prosecution to retry them in a lower court in Chiapas. This time, the Supreme Court ruled, the lower court will not take into consideration any of the fabricated evidence or false testimonies, and the charges of use of military weapons and carrying a gun without a license are dropped.
On Aug. 12 the high court ordered the release of the first 20 prisoners (freed the next day), for the same reasons the nine men were released yesterday. All the freed men, mostly evangelical believers who insisted on their innocence, had been sentenced to 25 years and had already served nearly 12.
The most recent group was to have been freed on Oct. 28, but the Chiapas government led by Gov. Juan Sabines requested extra time to present "new proofs which demonstrate the probable responsibility of previous state and federal public officials, as well as civilians" in the massacre, according to La Jornada. Over the years, lawyers have insisted that the men were tried without access to interpreters or legal defenders acquainted with their indigenous culture and customs, as required by Mexican law.
For the past several weeks, families of the condemned men had set up a form of tent protest in the central plaza of Mexico City, attempting to call attention to the plight of their husbands, fathers, brothers and cousins.
With this week's decision and the decision on Aug. 12, the court has ordered the release of 29 of the total 57 prisoners and retrials for 22 others accused in the Acteal massacre. Those 22 plus six others remain in prison.
Controversy over who killed the 45 people has revolved around whether there was a "massacre" by numerous "paramilitary" villagers or a "confrontation" between a handful of neighboring peasants and Zapatista National Liberation Army rebels. Historian Héctor Aguilar Camín has argued that there was both a confrontation and a massacre, with some overlap between each, but that they were largely separate incidents.
Five confessed killers have testified that they and four others engaged only Zapatista militia to avenge the death of a relative, while the federal attorney general's office charged that at least 50 pro-government "paramilitaries" descended on a relief camp hermitage full of displaced peasants bent on killing and robbing them. The testimonies of the five confessed killers – four others remain at large – agree that the nine avengers were the only ones involved in the firefights, and that the decision to attack the Zapatistas was a private family decision made with no involvement from government authorities.
They also agree that the sole motive was to avenge the assassination of a relative – the latest of 18 unprosecuted murders by Zapatistas over the previous three months, according to Aguilar Camín.
Government prosecutors unduly dismissed much of the testimony of the five confessed avengers, Aguilar Camín wrote in a 2007 article for Nexos, noting that the killers testified that state security forces were nearby and did nothing. He highlighted the judicial irregularities of the round-up and conviction of the peasants – apprehensions without evidence or warrant, charging 83 people with homicide when only 45 people were killed and lack of translators and attorneys for the suspects, Tzotzil Mayans who did not know Spanish.
Posted in Christianity, crime, Mexico, Roman Catholicism, Zapatista National Liberation Army	| Tagged access, accused, Acteal, amenities, assassination, attack, attorney, avenge, avengers, basic, believers, building, carrying, central, Chiapas, children, Christian, Christianity, Christians, Cintalapa, condemned, confessed, confrontation, convicted, crimes, culpability, culture, customs, decision, declaration, declaring, defendants, defenders, disappointment, displaced, dropped, El Amate, El Universal, electricity, Emilio Gomez Luna, engaged, Evangelical, Evangelicals, evidence, fabricated, false, family, farmland, federal, federal attorney general, firefights, formulated, frees, Gov, government, guilty, gun, Hector Aguilar Camin, hermitage, high court, Hilario Guzman Luna, historian, housed, houses, Ignacio Gomez Gutierrez, Indians, indigenous, innocent, interpreters, invented, Jose Antonio Caballero, Jose Ramon Cossio Diaz, joy, Juan Gomez Perez, Juan Hernandez Perez, Juan Sabines, justice, killed, killers, La Jornada, laborers, lack, law, lawyers, legal, license, lower court, magazine, Manuel Luna Perez, Mariano Diaz Chicario, massacre, Mayans, men, Mexican, Mexico, Mexico City, military, monetarily, new, non-existent, Pablo Perez Perez, paramilitary, peasant, Pedro Lopez Lopez, Persecution, plaza, prison, prisoners, private, Proceso, process, prosecution, protest, rebel, relative, relief camp, remain, retrials, robbing, Roman Catholic, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholics, slayings, Spanish, supreme court, suspects, temporarily, tent, testified, testimonies, testimony, transported, trials, Tuxtla, Tzotzil, unjustly, villagers, violated, violations, water, weapons, women, Zapatista National Liberation Army | Leave a comment
Church Wins Legal Battle to Worship in Building
Court in West Java rescinds mayor's order revoking permit.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, September 29 (CDN) — Christians have won a court battle restoring the right to worship in their building in Depok City, West Java.
Depok Mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail on March 27 had revoked the building permit for a multipurpose building and house of worship for Gereja Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) church following protests by Muslims. A court in Bandung on Sept. 17 rescinded the order that revoked the church building permit, paving the way for congregants to resume worship there.
Head Judge A. Syaifullah read the decision of the three-judge panel, which found the mayor's reasoning for canceling the building permit inadequate. The mayor had said that most people living near the church objected to its building in Jalan Pesanggrahan IV, Cinere Area of Depok City.
"These objections by the local residents should have been raised when the building permit was going through the approval process, not protesting afterwards," said Syaifullah.
Syaifullah added that the mayor also should have taken the views of church members into consideration.
"In this case, the revocation of the building permit was based upon the objections of one group in the community without considering those from the church," he said.
Construction of the church building had begun in 1998, shortly after the permit was issued, but halted soon afterward due to a lack of funds.
When the project began anew in 2007, members of a Muslim group from the Cinere Area of Depok City and neighboring villages damaged the boundary hedge and posted protest banners on the walls of the building. Most of the protestors were not local residents.
The court determined that lawyers for the church successfully demonstrated that church leaders had followed all Depok City procedures for the building permit. Betty Sitompul, vice-chair of the HKBP church building committee, stated that the church court win was a victory for all Christians.
"We won because we had followed all the procedures and had completed all the required documents," she said.
In early June the church had filed suit against the mayor's action in a provincial court in Bandung, with church lawyer Junimart Girsang arguing that the mayor's revocation of the permit was wrong.
Girsang said that the court had finally sided with justice for all Indonesians.
"The judges made the right decision and had no choice, because all of the papers for the permit were done properly," he said.
The church had been meeting in a naval facility located about five kilometers (nearly three miles) from the church building since the permit was revoked, causing great inconvenience for church members, many of whom did not have their own transportation.
In South Sumatra Province, another HKBP church outside the provincial capital city of Palembang is trying to overcome objections by Muslim protestors in order to complete construction of its building in Plaju.
Church leaders acknowledge they had not finished the application process for a permit before beginning construction. They said they went forward because after they applied to the mayor of Palembang, he told them to talk with the governor of South Sumatra. After talking with Gov. Alex Noerdin and securing his approval on Feb. 10, church leaders began construction on a donated plot of 1,500 square meters only to face a demonstration by members of several Muslim organizations on June 27.
The South Sumatra Muslim Forum (FUI Sumsel) organized the demonstration. Carrying a copy of a mayoral decree dated May 2009 ordering a halt to construction, the protestors gathered outside the building site, listened to speeches and then destroyed a bridge leading to it before demanding that the government ban the building project.
Applications for church permits are often fraught with difficulty in Indonesia, leaving many congregations no choice but to worship in private homes, hotels or rented conference facilities. Such gatherings leave churches open to threats and intimidation from activist groups such as the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front), in recent years responsible for the closure of many unregistered churches.
Posted in Christianity, Indonesia, Islam	| Tagged 1998, 2007, A. Syaifullah, acknowledge, action, activist, Alex Noerdin, anew, application, applied, approval, arguing, ban, Bandung, banners, based, battle, began, beginning, Betty Sitompul, boundary, bridge, building, building permit, canceling, capital, carrying, choice, Christian, Christianity, Christians, church, churches, Cinere Area, city, closure, committee, community, completed, conference, congregants, congregations, consideration, construction, copy, court, damaged, decision, decree, decsion, demanding, demonstrated, Depok City, destroyed, determined, difficulty, documents, donated, facilities, facility, filed, finished, followed, forward, found, fraught, Front Pembela Islam, FUI Sumsel, funds, Gereja Huria Kristen Batak Protestan Church, Gov, government, governor, great, group, halted, hedge, HKBP, homes, hotels, house, inadequate, inconvenience, Indonesia, Indonesians, intimidation, Islam, Islamic Defenders' Front, issued, Jakarta, Jalan Pesanggrahan IV, judge, Junimart Girsang, justice, lack, lawyers, leaders, leading, legal, listened, living, local, located, mayor, mayoral, meeting, members, multipurpose, Muslim, muslims, naval, neighboring, Nur Mahmudi Ismail, objected, objections, order, ordering, organizations, organized, overcome, Palembang, panel, papers, people, permit, Persecution, Plaju, plot, posted, private, procedures, process, project, properly, protest, protesting, protestors, protests, provincial, raised, read, reasoning, rented, required, rescinds, residents, responsible, restoring, revocation, revoking, right, securing, sided, site, South Sumatra Muslim Forum, South Sumatra Province, speeches, stated, successfully, suit, talk, threats, transportation, unregistered, vice-chair, victory, views, villages, walls, West Java, wins, worship, wrong | Leave a comment
Karnataka Top in Attacks on Christians in India
Through August, more violence against Christians reported in state than in any other.
NEW DELHI, September 21 (CDN) — With at least 43 incidents of anti-Christian violence, Karnataka saw more attacks on Christians in the first eight months of this year than any other state in India, according to advocacy organizations.
The figure compares with 35 attacks on churches, worship services and Christians during the same period last year in the state, which has become the center of violence against Christians. The states with the next highest incidents of anti-Christian violence from January through August this year were Andhra Pradesh with 14 and Madhya Pradesh with 11, according to figures from the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and the All India Christian Council.
Former Chief Minister of Karnataka H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sept. 11 called on Gov. H.R. Bhardwaj to rein in abuses by the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to ensure that law and order is maintained, reported the GCIC. In several districts of Karnataka during the first eight months of the year, local authorities allowed Hindu extremists to beat pastors, disrupt prayer meetings and worship services, and burn, vandalize, demolish or shut down prayer halls.
After August last year the number of violent incidents against Christians in Karnataka raced up, with a total of 112 attacks on Christians in 2008, and the Christian community fears a repeat of hostilities.
Kumaraswamy noted that a Sept. 10 attack on St. Francis De Sales Church at Hebbagudi, on the outskirts of Bangalore, came just days after Gov. Bhardwaj voiced concern over the security of minorities in the state. Armed attackers broke into the church, damaged statues and other items, smashed windows and destroyed a house behind the building, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India. Church damages were estimated at 200,000 rupees (US$4,173).
"It is unfortunate that the government did not take any action to curb communal menace even after your caution," Kumaraswamy wrote in a memorandum to the governor, adding that Gov. Bhardwaj was constitutionally bound to stop state security personnel from violating the law.
The former chief minister said he felt that the attack on the church, located close to the Hebbagudi police station on a busy road, reflected growing religious intolerance and tension in the state, and he criticized Home Minister V.S. Acharya for terming the attack a "minor incident."
Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras told Compass that past experience leaves him little hope for future justice.
"The state government has promised to make an immediate inquiry into the recent church attack in Hebbagudi, but nothing has been done so far, and we have no results whatsoever from the Justice B.K. Somashekar Commission of Inquiry made into church attacks last year," he said. "Sad as it is, we feel that justice delayed is justice denied."
Former chief minister Kumaraswamy has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into attacks on prayer halls in the state. The leader of the opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah (who goes by a single name), has also demanded a CBI inquiry into all attacks on minorities and places of worship. The Hindu reported that he had asked state Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to stop blaming others for the mistakes of his government.
Siddaramaiah told media on Sept. 13 that members of the Hindu extremist Sangh Parivar were involved in the attacks on churches.
"The BJP government led by B.S. Yeddyurappa has failed to take action against those involved in these incidents that created unrest in society, and now the chief minister is blaming others for the mistakes committed by his government, which has resulted in a law-and-order problem in the state," he said.
The Hindu reported Siddaramaiah as saying that in an effort to cover up their mistakes, the chief minister and his cabinet dismissed the accusations as efforts to topple his government.
"If the chief minister has any proof to support his statements, let him hand over the issue to the CBI," Siddaramaiah added. "The truth will be out."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also recently remarked that Karnataka has witnessed a number of incidents of communal violence this year.
"What is more worrisome is that the incidents were not limited to one or two districts," Singh said in comments that Chief Minister Yedduyurappa brushed off as untrue; the chief minister referred to the violence as a "few stray incidents" that were "blown out of proportion."
Tensions are high in the districts of Davangere, Mangalore, Bangalore, and also potentially volatile are the districts of Chickmagalur, Chitradurga, Belgaum, Tumkur, Udupi, Shimago, Bagalkot, Dharwad and Kodagu, reported the GCIC.
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa reportedly has instructed police to provide security at all religious venues and directed them to take steps to take preventative measures. City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari has reportedly said the chief minister ordered security officers to deal sternly with those involved in incidents of religious violence.
The Bangalore Rural police on Sept. 12 reportedly handed over the investigation of the attack on St. Francis De Sales to the Criminal Investigation Department.
Attempted Anti-Conversion Law
Foremost among priorities of the Hindu nationalist BJP when it came to power in Karnataka last year was to introduce the kind of "anti-conversion" law that has provided the pretext for anti- Christian violence in other states.
Alarmed by what they said was an increase in conversions to Christianity, six prominent Hindu leaders on June 25 said that they had urged Chief Minister Yedduyurappa to introduce "anti-conversion" laws similar to those of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, reported The Hindu. Passage of an anti-conversion bill has been left hanging, however, with negative publicity over communal violence and Christian protests against such a bill.
Such laws are designed to thwart forcible or fraudulent conversion, but they are popularly misunderstood as criminalizing conversion in general. The laws seek to curb religious conversions made by "force, fraud or allurement," but human rights groups say they obstruct conversion generally as Hindu nationalists invoke them to harass Christians with spurious arrests and incarcerations.
Anti-conversion laws are in force in five states – Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat – and its implementation is awaited in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Several cases against Christians have been filed under various anti-conversion laws in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, but no one has been convicted in more than four decades since such laws were enacted.
Naveen Kumar of the Federation of Christian Churches and Organizations told Compass that Christians from different districts in Karnataka have come out in protest against such a bill since August of 2008. The Christians believe that the passing of an anti-conversion bill in the state would heighten atrocities against them.
Of the 52.8 million people in Karnataka, Christians number slightly more than 1 million.
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Location: Situated on the W side of the Stepaside to Pentre road. Set back from the road behind a low wall, and with cow house on the S side, and a corrugated metal lean-to garage attached to the N gable.
Early C19, as shown on Mochdre Tithe map of 1839. The outshot was added later. The roof was renewed c1935.
Assymetrical double fronted, 2-storey house, with outshot at rear under a catslide roof. Brick, painted white, with corrugated metal roof. Two end stacks in brick. Dentilled eaves. Front elevation has 4-pane casements in the upper storey. Lower storey windows are wider, under segmental brick heads, with a 4-pane casement to the left, and a 6-pane iron frame casement to the right. Gabled porch of corrugated metal sheets, with a 6-panel front door, the upper 2 panels of frosted glass. Outshot has C20 windows at the back. Cow house under a lower, corrugated metal roof, of random rubble painted white, and with cement render at the front. In the upper storey it has an opening to a former loft, and 2 openings at ground level. At the back is a planked door.
Not accessible at time of inspection (February 1996).
Isolated building on W side of Mochdre, within a churchyard.


text:
Braniccy herbu Gryf – polski ród magnacki wymarły w XVIII w.
 Braniccy herbu Korczak – polski ród magnacki

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia