Pakistani Christian Praised for Documenting Blasphemy Victims. Most Are Muslims.

Catholic advocate awarded by US State Department explains why Christians are disproportionately targeted while the Islamic majority predominantly accuses its own.

ast month, mob violence took the life of Lazar Masih of Pakistan. Hundreds of Muslims responded with brutality to accusations that the 74-year-old Christian had desecrated a Quran—even before he could be tried under the nation’s blasphemy law.

A year earlier, in a similar blasphemy accusation, thousands of rioters burned hundreds of 400 homes and 26 churches, sending Christian villagers fleeing for safety. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has consistently condemned this hostile climate as unjust, including in a special update issued last December.

“The brutal killing of Lazar Masih is an alarming reminder of the dangers of merely being suspected or accused of blasphemy in Pakistan,” stated USCIRF chair Stephen Schneck. “The country’s draconian blasphemy law signals to society that alleged blasphemers deserve severe punishment, which emboldens private individuals and groups to take matters into their own hands. Pakistani authorities must hold those responsible for his death accountable.”

Accountability is rare.

In 2011, Pakistan executed the assassin of Salman Taseer, a former governor outspoken in his criticism of such laws. But from 1994 to 2023, 95 individuals were killed in blasphemy-related extrajudicial attacks, according to data compiled by the Lahore-based Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). Stretching back to 1987, at least 2,449 people have faced legal accusations.

USCIRF has recommended Pakistan be classified as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) since 2002 for its violations of religious freedom. Created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), the independent bipartisan watchdog lobbies US policy to press reform on egregious offenders.

In January, Rashad Hussein, the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, commemorated the 25th anniversary of IRFA by honoring CSJ executive director Peter Jacob as one of nine award recipients for his dedication to the cause.

FULL ARTICLE FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY

At least 550 Muslims die at Hajj – as temperatures at Mecca hit 51.8C

Around 1.8 million Muslims were expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for the religious journey, where temperatures this year reached 51.8C in the shade.

At least 550 people have died during the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in the scorching heat, it has been reported.

Temperatures reached at least 51.8C (125F) in the shade in the Saudi Arabian city, as huge crowds of Muslims undertook the annual religious journey – one of the five pillars of Islam.

“Hajj is a difficult task, so you have to exert efforts and perform the rituals even in the conditions of heat and crowding,” an Egyptian pilgrim said.

Pilgrims used umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, as Saudi authorities warned pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours between 11am and 3pm.

FULL ARTICLE FROM SKY NEWS

Hajj pilgrims from around the world celebrate Eid Al-Adha at the holy sites

MAKKAH: Hajj pilgrims, hailing from various corners of the globe, embarked on a profound journey from Muzdalifah to Jamarat on Sunday, culminating in a joyous celebration of Eid Al-Adha.

The diversity of languages, cultures, and backgrounds present at Jamarat showcased the universal appeal of Islam and the importance of coming together in shared faith.

Eid Al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice in English, has its roots in the story of the Prophet Ibrahim, who God instructed in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of faith.

The diversity of languages, cultures, and backgrounds present at Jamarat showcase the universal appeal of Islam. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

As he was about to make the sacrifice, God intervened and sent the Angel Gabriel with a ram to be sacrificed instead.

Devoted individuals, who traversed vast distances to partake in the sacred pilgrimage, unite in shared reverence and harmony to mark the significant occasion.

Abdullah, a pilgrim from Egypt, told Arab News: “Praise be to God, this is our first hajj and thankfully it went smoothly.”

Abdullah said that he and his mother went to Arafat, and from Arafat to Muzdalifah, then on to Mina. “We came to Jamarat here, and thank God everything went well.

“Honestly, it is an indescribable feeling for someone experiencing it for the first time. It is a blessing from God that he brought us here, and may he grant us this opportunity every year,” he said.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE ARAB NEWS

Muslim drift to Republican Party stalls amid Gaza conflict

WASHINGTON — 

The war in Gaza is shaking Muslim Americans’ political loyalties ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.

Disenchanted by President Joe Biden’s embrace of Israel, many Democratic-leaning Muslims who once backed him are now vowing to withdraw their endorsement.

But it’s not just Muslim Democrats abandoning their once-preferred candidate. Some Muslim Republicans are also wavering amidst their own party’s support of Israel.

Mo Nehad, a Pakistani American Republican activist in Fort Bend County, Texas, has seen up close the political effects of the Gaza conflict on Muslim American voting.

In late 2020, Nehad, who is a small-business owner, police officer and military warrant officer, helped found a grassroots group in a bid to engage the local Muslim community with the Republican Party.

Initially focused on opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and mask mandates, the group, called Muslim Americans of Texas, soon found a new cause: a conservative backlash to sex and gender education policies in local schools.

“We were essentially trying to tell the Muslim community, regardless of what has happened in the past overseas, let’s focus on national topics and events,” Nehad said in an interview. “And when you compare what traditionally a Democratic-elected president has done and a Republican-elected president has done [on national issues], a Republican-elected president is much better for the Muslims.”

The advocacy paid off, he said. While the Fort Bend County Muslim community remained solidly Democratic, a small number started crossing party lines, mirroring a pattern seen across the country.

“These are people who go to the same masjid as I do, people who are in the same home-school groups,” he said.

Then the war in Gaza broke out after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, testing the political allegiance of Muslim Democrats and Republicans alike, with both viewing their parties as equally pro-Israel.

FULL ARTICLE FROM VOA NEWS

Communication and Dialogue: The Keynote of the 9th Annual Interfaith Solidarity March in Los Angeles

Muslims, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Buddhists, Scientologists, and members of other faiths and beliefs gathered at St. Basil Catholic Church in Los Angeles for the 9th Annual Interfaith Solidarity March and forum on Sunday, June 2. The event, organized to foster unity, peace and understanding among different faith communities, addressed pressing issues. Key among them were the Israel-Hamas War and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the resulting spike in hate crimes against Jews, Muslims and Arabs reported in other parts of the globe.

The program was organized and produced by the Institute for Religious Tolerance, Peace and Justice (IRTPJ), led by Dr. Arik Greenberg, founder and president of the nonprofit, who also serves on the Loyola Marymount University theology faculty. 

Those taking part in the march were urged to walk next to someone they didn’t already know, particularly someone of a different faith from their own. It was suggested that by getting to know and understanding an individual who may hold different views from our own, we may learn that communication and interfaith dialogue can be transformative.

Rev. Olivia McDuff of the Church of Scientology International, master of ceremonies at the march launch, acknowledged Dr. Greenberg and described him as “a strong voice for peace.” She said, “His persistence and passion for bringing all faiths together are the foundation of the initiative’s success. This program develops trust among different faith communities, and this is of vital importance. In the words of Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, ‘On the day when we can fully trust each other, there will be peace on Earth.’”

Following the march, a panel discussed the crises in Gaza and Israel. It was moderated by Father Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

FULL ARTICLE FROM WORLD RELIGION NEWS

International Day to Combat Islamophobia

What is Islamophobia?

Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.This definition emphasises the link between institutional levels of Islamophobia and manifestations of such attitudes, triggered by the visibility of the victim’s perceived Muslim identity. This approach also interprets Islamophobia as a form of racism, whereby Islamic religion, tradition and culture are seen as a ‘threat’ to the Western values.Some experts prefer the label ‘anti-Muslim hatred,’ fearing that the term ‘Islamophobia’ risks condemning all critiques of Islam and, therefore, could stifle freedom of expression. But international human rights law protects individuals, not religions. And Islamophobia may also affect non-Muslims, based on perceptions of nationality, racial or ethnic background.

A rising tide of anti-Muslim hate

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly condemned the continuing acts of anti-Muslim hatred and bigotry around the world, warning on several occasions that this worrying trend targets not only Muslims but also Jews, minority Christian communities and others.In his message for the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Guterres warns that Muslims face institutional discrimination, barriers and violations of their human rights and dignity. “Divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatizing communities. Online hate speech is fueling real-life violence”, he added.Calling for a strong stance against all forms of bigotry, the Secretary-General urges leaders and individuals alike to condemn inflammatory discourse, safeguard religious freedom and promote mutual respect and understanding, while digital platforms must take a stand against hateful content and protect users from harassment.Recent measures to combat Islamophobia include the adoption by the General Assembly of a new resolution requesting the Secretary-General to appoint a United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia.

Hate speech and violence online and offline

In response to the alarming trend of rising hate speech around the world, the Secretary-General launched in 2019 the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.The UN Human Rights Chief also voiced his alarm over the rise in global hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in Gaza (7 October) in response to the attack on Israel by Palestinian armed groups.Volker Türk strongly condemned the sharp rise in cases of hate speech, violence, and discrimination, both online and offline. He emphasized that states must ensure a safe and enabling space for participation and debate, consistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Lack of policies to promote diversity

States have a responsibility to address any hatred based on religion or belief in a manner that complies with human rights, recalls the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghane, in her last report on Hatred on the basis of religion or belief.The expert stresses that advocacy of religious hatred that leads to discrimination, hostility or violence should be prohibited by law. While international norms and standards provide a framework to combat incitement to discrimination and violence, laws are not enough, and States should also adopt policies and programs that promote diversity and freedom of expression, especially in multicultural and interconnected societies, proposed Ghane.Among her recommendations to the States, the Special Rapporteur proposes that countries could collect data on hate speech, take robust action against discriminatory speech, invest in trust-building, review legislation and policies and ensure no impunity for State actors who engage in hate speech.Another report by the former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, found that suspicion, discrimination and outright hatred towards Muslims had risen to ‘epidemic proportions’ following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and other horrific acts of terrorism purportedly carried out in the name of Islam.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE UN WEBSITE

China’s Tightening Grip on Islam

RELIGION IS DYING’

In a cold dusty part of central China, a local Muslim leader stands alone in the courtyard of a small mosque.

It feels eerily quiet.

We both know we shouldn’t stay too long. If the police realise foreign journalists are here, it will bring trouble for him – and for us. He is careful about what he says. Everyone here is. But there is a subtle reality at play that he wants to communicate.

“The religion was living and now, it’s like it’s dying,” he says.

What he’s describing is, in part, the impact of an express policy in Xi Jinping’s China – one that aims to “Sinicize” religion, to reduce its influence and make it more “Chinese”.

Linxia

Sky News has spent months investigating the impact of that policy on the ancient Hui community of Chinese Muslims.

We have witnessed the widespread de-Islamification of buildings, the creep of Communist Party ideology into religious spaces, and gradual moves to restrict religious teaching, language and cultural practices.

Mosques like this one have seen their domes removed, minarets changed and pagoda-style roofs added as the state has expanded its influence on worship.

It’s claimed that what is happening is a slow but concerted move to restrict the identity and practice of Islam in China.

FULL ARTICLE FROM SKY NEWS