http://www.wwcconline.org World Wide Christian Radio Connection Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:06:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.worthynews.com/8634-north-korea-urged-to-release-american-christian-amid-war-games http://www.worthynews.com/8634-north-korea-urged-to-release-american-christian-amid-war-games#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:45:30 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8634
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Worthy News)-- Rights investigators expressed concerns Monday, July 26, about the plight of a jailed American Christian in North Korea, while U.S.and South Korean warships practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula to warn Pyongyang against aggression.

Britain-based advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said it joined a “growing international campaign” for the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, who entered North Korea illegally January 25 this year, crossing the border from China exactly one month after activist Robert Park, a Korean-American, entered the country.

“North Korean defectors and human rights campaigners, including Free the NK Gulag, Global Justice Prayer Network, Justice for North Korea and Korea Liberty and Union, said held a press conference and demonstration in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 26, calling for Gomes’ release,” CSW said.

Gomes, who is from Boston, Massachusetts, was believed to have gone to North Korea to protest what CSW described as “grave violations of human rights perpetrated by the regime.”

He regularly attended prayer meetings and rallies for North Korean human rights in the United States and taught English at Choong-eui middle school in the South Korean city of Pocheon from 2008-2009 CSW said, adding that his colleagues called him “a devout Christian”.

"HOSTILE ACTS"

Gomes was detained by North Korean authorities, and sentenced to eight years in a labor camp. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $700,000 for illegal entry and unspecified “hostile acts”.

His arrest is the third time North Koreans have detained U.S. citizens within the past year and follows the detention of Robert Park and the journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, all of whom were released after several months in North Korean custody.

It was not immediately clear what impact Monday's military maneuvers in the Sea of Japan, the largest joint military exercise by the United States and South Korea in years, would have on the American's well-being.

Monday's drill was a response to the sinking of the South Korean navy ship Cheonan, that killed 46 sailors in March. Critics have expressed doubts that impoverished North Korea would have been able to hit the Cheonan and suggested human error or a technical fault.

However U.S. and South Korean officials involved in the military drills, say an investigation has concluded that North Korean forces torpedoed the ship.

INVESTIGATION "FABRICATED"

North Korea says the investigation results were fabricated and has accused the United States of attempting to punish it and threatened with a “sacred war” that could involve nuclear weapons. "They will face a costly consequence if they stick to the criminal activities ravaging peace and security on the Korean peninsula," North Korea's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in commentary carried Monday by the official Korean Central News Agency.

No increased North Korean military activity were observed Monday, July 26, American and South Korean military officials said.

Amid the stand-off, CSW’s National Director Stuart Windsor said his organization is “gravely concerned about the well-being” of Gomes. He said CSW has urged North Korean authorities to provide information “as to his whereabouts and well-being without delay” and to release the American “immediately.”

Besides Gomes, thousands of other Christians are believed to be detained in North Korea, where observers say there is no religious freedom as all citizens are forced to worship current leader Kim Jong-il and his deceased father Kim Il-sung.

“We are deeply concerned about the plight of thousands of other prisoners in North Korea’s brutal system of prison camps, and call on the North Korean regime to open up its gulag to access to international human rights monitors and aid agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the new UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in North Korea,” CSW's Windsor said.

Complicating international rights efforts is the fact that the peninsula technically remains at state of war because an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was never replaced with a peace treaty. Tuesday marks the 57th anniversary of the signing of the cease-fire.  ]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8634-north-korea-urged-to-release-american-christian-amid-war-games/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8634-north-korea-urged-to-release-american-christian-amid-war-games http://www.worthynews.com/8634-north-korea-urged-to-release-american-christian-amid-war-games#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:45:30 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8634
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Worthy News)-- Rights investigators expressed concerns Monday, July 26, about the plight of a jailed American Christian in North Korea, while U.S.and South Korean warships practiced anti-submarine maneuvers off the Korean peninsula to warn Pyongyang against aggression.

Britain-based advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said it joined a “growing international campaign” for the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, 30, who entered North Korea illegally January 25 this year, crossing the border from China exactly one month after activist Robert Park, a Korean-American, entered the country.

“North Korean defectors and human rights campaigners, including Free the NK Gulag, Global Justice Prayer Network, Justice for North Korea and Korea Liberty and Union, said held a press conference and demonstration in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 26, calling for Gomes’ release,” CSW said.

Gomes, who is from Boston, Massachusetts, was believed to have gone to North Korea to protest what CSW described as “grave violations of human rights perpetrated by the regime.”

He regularly attended prayer meetings and rallies for North Korean human rights in the United States and taught English at Choong-eui middle school in the South Korean city of Pocheon from 2008-2009 CSW said, adding that his colleagues called him “a devout Christian”.

"HOSTILE ACTS"

Gomes was detained by North Korean authorities, and sentenced to eight years in a labor camp. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $700,000 for illegal entry and unspecified “hostile acts”.

His arrest is the third time North Koreans have detained U.S. citizens within the past year and follows the detention of Robert Park and the journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, all of whom were released after several months in North Korean custody.

It was not immediately clear what impact Monday's military maneuvers in the Sea of Japan, the largest joint military exercise by the United States and South Korea in years, would have on the American's well-being.

Monday's drill was a response to the sinking of the South Korean navy ship Cheonan, that killed 46 sailors in March. Critics have expressed doubts that impoverished North Korea would have been able to hit the Cheonan and suggested human error or a technical fault.

However U.S. and South Korean officials involved in the military drills, say an investigation has concluded that North Korean forces torpedoed the ship.

INVESTIGATION "FABRICATED"

North Korea says the investigation results were fabricated and has accused the United States of attempting to punish it and threatened with a “sacred war” that could involve nuclear weapons. "They will face a costly consequence if they stick to the criminal activities ravaging peace and security on the Korean peninsula," North Korea's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in commentary carried Monday by the official Korean Central News Agency.

No increased North Korean military activity were observed Monday, July 26, American and South Korean military officials said.

Amid the stand-off, CSW’s National Director Stuart Windsor said his organization is “gravely concerned about the well-being” of Gomes. He said CSW has urged North Korean authorities to provide information “as to his whereabouts and well-being without delay” and to release the American “immediately.”

Besides Gomes, thousands of other Christians are believed to be detained in North Korea, where observers say there is no religious freedom as all citizens are forced to worship current leader Kim Jong-il and his deceased father Kim Il-sung.

“We are deeply concerned about the plight of thousands of other prisoners in North Korea’s brutal system of prison camps, and call on the North Korean regime to open up its gulag to access to international human rights monitors and aid agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the new UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in North Korea,” CSW's Windsor said.

Complicating international rights efforts is the fact that the peninsula technically remains at state of war because an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War was never replaced with a peace treaty. Tuesday marks the 57th anniversary of the signing of the cease-fire.  ]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8634-north-korea-urged-to-release-american-christian-amid-war-games/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8624-germany-stampede-kills-19-at-love-parade http://www.worthynews.com/8624-germany-stampede-kills-19-at-love-parade#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:07:08 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8624
DUISBURG/BUDAPEST (Worthy News)-- Officials in western Germany say at least 19 people have been killed and 80 injured in a stampede at the famed Love Parade techno music festival in the German city of Duisburg.  The annual event is meant to celebrate music, love and peace.

Rescue workers competed for attention with nearby electronic music. "Please make the road free" a man shouted through a loudspeaker as his team tried to reach a scene of carnage.      

Officials said the deaths and injuries occured when panic broke out among huge crowds in a roughly 600 meter long tunnel leading towards the day-long open air Love Parade festival in the German city of Duisburg.  

Soon after the incident, television footage showed rescue workers and others trying to attend to victims.

At the same time, a line of revelers filed slowly away from the scene.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE

A young German man told reporters he was lucky to be alive after he witnessed the stampede. "There was so much pressure on the crowd that nobody could do anything," he said. "People soon had fallen to the ground and had been trampled underfoot. Injured and dead people were laying on the floor". He said, "Women panicked. There was hysteria among the people."   

Organizers said 1.5 million people had been expected to turn out for what was meant to be a joyous celebration of dance culture and techno music. That is three times more than the entire population of host city Duisburg which is located near the larger city of Duesseldorf. 

Duisburg security official Wolfgang Rabe suggested to media that the huge crowds made it difficult to break up the festival, following the deadly stampede. "Considering all the security aspects, the crisis staff of the city decided not to immediately end the festival," a visibly upset Rabe explained. He said the city wanted "this event to end calmly to avoid even more panic."  

By late Saturday, July 24, crowds could still be seen in Duisburg with organizers struggling to arrange transport for everyone.

German president Christian Wulff said in a statement that "Such a catastrophe that has caused death, sorrow and pain during a peaceful festival involving young people from many countries, is dreadful."

GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S "DIFFICULT HOURS"

And, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that in these difficult hours her thoughts were with the relatives of the victims. German-born Pope Benedict XVI said he is "praying for the victims." 

Witnesses have already criticized what they perceived as a lack of police and other security personnel on the scene.

It was the worst accident of its kind in Europe since July, 2000 when nine people suffocated in a crush at the Roskilde music festival in Denmark.

Germany's Love Parade, which was first held in Berlin in 1989, is one of Europe's biggest techno festivals, featuring world-renowned disc jockey's onstage with large crowds dancing and moving to the music.]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8624-germany-stampede-kills-19-at-love-parade/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8609-icj-kosovo-independence-does-not-violate-international-law http://www.worthynews.com/8609-icj-kosovo-independence-does-not-violate-international-law#comments Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:05:18 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8609
BUDAPEST/BELGRADE (Worthy News)-- The United Nations International Court of Justice has ruled that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 does not violate international law.

"The Court considers that general international law does not contain any prohibition on declarations of independence," said the president of the International Court of Justice, Hisashi Owada, as he read the court's non-binding opinion.  "Accordingly, it concludes that the declaration of independence [of Kosovo] on the 17th of February 2008 did not violate general international law."

That ruling came as a setback for Serbia, which had asked the International Court of Justice, the ICJ, to give an opinion on Kosovo's declaration. Serbian President Boris Tadic said Serbia would not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo officials hailed the decision.  In Washington, visiting Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci called the ruling "the best possible answer for the entire world."

Trial observers said the court's non-binding ruling could encourage more countries to recognize Kosovo's independence. Kosovo's statehood has been recognized by 69 countries, including the United States and most European Union nations. But Serbia and its main ally Russia and several others have opposed the move.

SEPARATISTS CONCERN

There is also concern in countries ranging from Spain to Georgia that international recognition for Kosovo could lead to similar demands from separatists in their independence seeking regions.

But in an earlier interview with BosNewsLife in Budapest, Kosovo's Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni said several countries had told him they would recognize Kosovo's independence after the court procedures.

He said he believed that even Russia, would eventually recognized Kosovo as a sovereign nation. “Russia as well will recognize Kosovo one day. It doesn't mean that Russia will be among the first to do that. But definitely it may not be among the last to do that.”

But he also admitted that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 has not yet brought prosperity to everyone, and that there remains concerns about the treatment of Kosovo's Serbian minority. "Many people are without jobs. And I say very openly that independence has resolved many of our problems but not all of them," he said in an extensive interview.

U.S. SUPPORT

In Washington, the U.S. State Department expressed support for the ICJ ruling and urged Europe to "unite behind a common future."

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said the U.N. chief urged "constructive dialogue" and urged all sides to "avoid any steps that could be seen as provocative and derail the dialogue." The spokesman said the advisory opinion would be forwarded to the General Assembly, which would "determine how to proceed on this matter."

Kosovo was placed under U.N. supervision in 1999, following a 78-day NATO bombing campaign that ended a two-year war between Serbia and the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo, which was then a Serbian province. (Parts of this Worthy News story also airs via Voice of America (VOA) network).]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8609-icj-kosovo-independence-does-not-violate-international-law/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8598-news-watch-experts-exhume-bodies-of-romanian-dictator-wife http://www.worthynews.com/8598-news-watch-experts-exhume-bodies-of-romanian-dictator-wife#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:22:46 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8598
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (Worthy News)-- Forensic analysts have exhumed what are believed to be the bodies of late Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife, Elena, who were executed in 1989.  It comes after relatives raised doubts that the couple was really buried in Romania's capital Bucharest.

Witnesses said a team of pathologists and cemetery officials raised the wooden caskets of the Ceausescus early Wednesday, July 21. Officials took samples from the corpses and put them into plastic bags in a process lasting more than two hours, before re-burying the coffins.

Their son-in-law, Mircea Oprean, told Romanian television the investigation came after the family expressed doubts the Ceausescus were really buried in Bucharest's Ghencea cemetery.

He said, "the corpses are being exhumed to get samples for DNA testing."  Oprean added that "they have to know if it is really them who are buried here. " If not, he warned, the family will launch a lawsuit against the state for hiding the truth.

The couple's three children repeatedly said they doubted their parents had actually been buried there.

BODIES EXHUMED

For years, authorities blocked their attempts to have the two bodies exhumed, but officials now say they are convinced the results will show they have nothing to hide.

The couple was executed two decades ago outside Bucharest during a revolution against Nicolae Ceausescu's rule that killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands injured. He had ruled the country with an iron fist. Many Christians also suffered during that time. Bibles had to be smuggled into the country to avoid detection by border guards and the powerful secret service, known as the Securitate.

After a trial that reportedly lasted two hours, Romanian television footage showed how the clearly upset couple was led, hands tied, to their final destination. Romanian soldiers shot and killed them on December 25, 1989, Christmas Day, in many countries.

Fearing the tombs might be desecrated, the new authorities buried the Ceausescus at night, in Bucharest's Ghencea cemetery.

WINTER COAT

The husband of the Ceausescus' late daughter Zoia, Mircea Oprean, told reporters later he saw what he believed to be their bodies for the first time Wednesday. He said he recognized his father-in-law's winter coat and added it had holes in it.

Oprean said he planned a full funeral ceremony if the tests confirmed the remains were those of his inlaws.

The head of Romania's national institute of legal medicine, Dan Dermengiu, has warned the DNA tests could take up to six months.

He explained to reporters he hopes the DNA is not altered by water, fertilizers or acidic substances, because, "if this is the case, it will be very difficult to obtain a very precise result."

There is still some nostalgia for the communist period and regrets the Ceausescus were executed.  Often, elderly Romanians can be seen putting flowers near the small graves of what they believe are those of the Ceausescus.  (Parts of this Worthy News/BosNewsLife News story also airs via the Voice of America (VOA) network.) ]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8598-news-watch-experts-exhume-bodies-of-romanian-dictator-wife/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8588-breaking-news-murdered-christian-men-quickly-buried-after-gunfire-exclusive http://www.worthynews.com/8588-breaking-news-murdered-christian-men-quickly-buried-after-gunfire-exclusive#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:50:06 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8588
FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)-- Two Christian evangelists who were shot and killed by suspected Islamic militants were quickly buried around sunrise Tuesday, July 20, in the Pakistani city of Faisalabad after a night of sectarian clashes, officials told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife.

Police "forcefully took the dead bodies" of Pastor Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his  30-year-old brother Sajid Masih Emmanuel just hours after they were assassinated by five masked gun men Monday, July 19, at a court building in Faisalabad in Punjab province, said Khalid Gill, a Christian legislator in the Punjab Assembly, who attended the funeral.

"They" [the police] got them buried around 6am local time", added Gill, who is also the president of the Christian Lawyers’ Foundation, in an interview with Worthy News.

Several other Christian leaders, including Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, and the men's family, were also present at the funeral.

Rizwan Paul, president of advocacy group Life for All (LFA), told Worthy News and BosNewsLife that police arranged the fast funeral in Faisalabad "to avoid huge processions." Security forces imposed a curfew Monday, July 19, when after the killings gunfire broke out in a predominantly Christian neighborhood of Faisalabad between Muslim and Christian gunmen.

MASSIVE GUNFIRE

Gunfire could be heard till early Tuesday, July 20 and police said at least eight people were detained. Shots seemed to have been fired from rooftops, people in the area told Worthy News.

"The police did this funeral early morning so that few people were able to attend. They explained that it was an attempt to calm the situation and bring back law and order," added Paul, who has been trying to calm the situation overnight.

The handcuffed Emmanuel brothers of mission group United Ministries Pakistan, were killed Monday, July 19, as they were led to a court room to stand trial on charges of blasphemy against Islam, witnesses said.

Trial observers described the charges as false and linked them to the brother's activities, that included evangelism.

MEN DETAINED

Police detained the men July 2 after complaints from local residents, including a market salesman, Muhammad Khuram Shezad.

He and other Muslims accused them of writing a pamphlet with blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. The charges were based on hand-written and photo-copied pamphlets with remarks about the prophet Muhammad that the Muslims consider offensive.

Following the arrests of the evangelists, anti-Christian protests broke out and residents said an angry crowd burned tires and shouted slogans against Christians on July 12.  On July 16, some mosques provoked Muslims to protest at a rally and also to “burn the houses of Christians,” Christians said.

Muslim leaders could not be reached for comment.

BROTHERS "INNOCENT"

However Gill and Paul said the men were innocent, and handwriting experts reportedly notified police that signatures on papers denigrating Muhammad did not match those of the accused.

Gill suggested to Worthy News that the men have been pressured to admit wrongdoing. "When I saw the dead bodies I saw cuts and other signs of police torture including marks on their faces."

Police had no comment on these allegations, but Punjab’s inspector general reportedly suspended two senior officials for failing to provide security for the slain brothers.

LFA's Paul said his organization has called for nationwide protests against the killings and the police decision "not to allow a proper funeral for the deceased." A first protest was expected Tuesday, July 20, in the city of Rawalpindi near the nation's capital Islamabad. Another demonstration in Lahore was canceled due to heavy rain, Paul said.

It comes amid growing pressure on minority Christians, according to rights activists. Several Christians have been detained in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy, but critics claim the legislation has been misused to settle personal disputes, for instance over land or money.

Under blasphemy legislation of predominantly Muslim Pakistan, a man can potentially face execution if his insult to Islam amounts to apostasy, or turning away from Islam, while a woman generally faces life imprisonment. (With editing by Worthy News' Stefan J. Bos).
]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8588-breaking-news-murdered-christian-men-quickly-buried-after-gunfire-exclusive/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8578-breaking-news-gun-battles-rock-pakistan-city-after-militants-kill-christians-exclusive http://www.worthynews.com/8578-breaking-news-gun-battles-rock-pakistan-city-after-militants-kill-christians-exclusive#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:56:52 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8578
FAISALABAD/ISLAMABAD (Worthy News)-- Gun battles broke out in a predominantly Christian neighborhood of the Pakistani city of Faisalabad Monday, July 19, shortly after two Christian evangelists were shot and killed by suspected Islamic militants, witnesses told Worthy News and its news partner BosNewsLife.

Christian and Muslim gunmen exchanged gunfire for at least five hours in Daud Nagar area, said Rizwan Paul, the president of Life for All, a major Christian advocacy group that is trying to calm the situation. "The situation is very tense," he added speaking by telephone to a BosNewsLife and Worthy News reporter.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Police said they detained at least eight people for damaging properties and burning tires, but it was not immediately clear any of those involved in the armed clashes were detained.

As night fell gun fire could still be heard late Monday, July 19.

POLICE CURFEW

Police imposed a curfew in the troubled area, with maximum five people allowed to gather, said Khalid Gill, a Christian legislator in the Punjab Assembly.

The fighting came after five masked men, believed to be Muslim militants, shot and killed two Christian men who were due to appear in court on charges of blasphemy against Islam, Gill told Worthy News.

Gill, who witnessed the incident, said Brothers Sajid Masih Emmanuel, 30, and Rashid Emmanuel, 32, were assassinated by five masked gun men Monday, July 19, ouside a district court building in Faisalabad, before they could enter a trial room. The attackers escaped, he added.

"Sajjid Masih died on the spot and Rashid died while being taken to the ambulance," Gill said.

The two young men, who witnesses said showed signs of police torture, were earlier dragged to the court building to face charges of blasphemy against Islam while carrying out activities for their mission group group "United Ministries Pakistan". Their work  included evangelism among Muslims.

MEN DETAINED

Police detained the men last month after complaints from local residents, including a market salesman, Muhammad Khuram Shezad.

Police detained the men last month after complaints from local residents, including a market salesman, Muhammad Khuram Shezad.

He and other Muslims accused them of writing a pamphlet with blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. The charges were based on hand-written and photo-copied pamphlets with remarks about the prophet Muhammad that the Muslims consider offensive, trial observers said.

Following the arrests of the evangelists, anti-Christian protests broke out and residents said an angry crowd burned tires and shouted slogans against Christians on July 12. On July 16, some mosques provoked Muslims to protest at a rally and also to “burn the houses of Christians,” Christians said.

Muslim leaders could not be reached for comment.

Several Christians have been detained in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy, but critics claim the legislation has been misused to settle personal disputes, for instance over land or money.

BLASPHEMY LEGISLATION

Under Pakistan's blasphemy legislation a man can potentially face execution if his insult to Islam amounts to apostasy, or turning away from Islam, while a woman generally faces life imprisonment.

Rights group have urged the Pakistani government to annul the blasphemy legislation.

Christians comprise less than five percent of Pakistan's mainly Muslim population of over 177 million people, according to estimates by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (With editing by Worthy News' Stefan J. Bos).]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8578-breaking-news-gun-battles-rock-pakistan-city-after-militants-kill-christians-exclusive/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8567-nearly-half-of-israelis-want-to-see-the-temple-rebuilt http://www.worthynews.com/8567-nearly-half-of-israelis-want-to-see-the-temple-rebuilt#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:55:57 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8567
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Worthy News) -- Nearly half of Israelis want the Biblical Temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem according to a major opinion poll, commissioned by Israel's Knesset Television Channel and monitored by Worthy News Monday, July 19.

Of those questioned, 49 percent said they want the rebuilding of the destroyed Temple to take place, while only 23 percent opposed it.  The remaining 28 percent of those polled were unsure.

The public is nearly split on whether the third Temple will become a reality, with 42 percent saying it will happen and 39 percent claiming it won't.

On the final poll question, "Should the State of Israel take active steps towards the reconstruction?" nearly half of the participants (48 percent) answered "no", while only 27 percent said "yes", researchers added.

The poll was released just prior to a national day of mourning, also known as Tisha B’Av, an annual fast day in Judaism to commemorate the destruction of both the First and the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

JEWS EXPELLED

Along with the destructions of the Temples, other infamous events have been associated with Tisha B’Av. In 1290, Jews were expelled from England on this day, according to historic records. The Alhambra Decree of 1492, deporting  Jews from Spain occurred two days prior to Tisha B’Av.

Centuries later, World War One started on Tisha B’Av. And, on the eve of Tisha B’Av in 1942, the mass deportation of Jews began from the Warsaw Ghetto, en route to Treblinka concentration camp.

Traditionally, the book of Lamentations, along with the book of Job is read throughout synagogues on Tisha B’Av.]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8567-nearly-half-of-israelis-want-to-see-the-temple-rebuilt/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8570-breaking-news-pakistan-christians-shot-dead-by-pakistan-militants-exclusive http://www.worthynews.com/8570-breaking-news-pakistan-christians-shot-dead-by-pakistan-militants-exclusive#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:13:04 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8570
FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)-- Suspected Muslim militants shot and killed two Christian men who were due to appear in court on charges of blasphemy against Islam in Pakistan's Punjab province, trial observers confirmed Monday, July 19.

Brothers Sajid Emmanuel, 30, and Rashid Emmanuel, 32, were assassinated by masked gun men Monday, July 19, inside a district court building in the city of Faisalabad, before the men could enter a trial room, said witness Khalid Gill, a Christian legislator in the Punjab Assembly.

He told Worthy News that Sajid Emmanuel died on the spot while Rashid Emmanuel passed away while being rushed to an awaiting ambulance.

The gunmen reportedly managed to escape. It was not immediate how many attackers were involved in the shooting.

MEN "INNOCENT"

The Christian men had been accused by Muslims of blasphemy, but Christian rights group following Monday's trial said they were innocent.

Several Christians have been detained in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy, but critics claim the legislation has been misused to settle personal disputes, for instance over land or money.

Rights group have urged the Pakistani government to annul the blasphemy legislation. Christians comprise less than five percent of Pakistan's mainly Muslim population of over 177 million people, according to estimates by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8570-breaking-news-pakistan-christians-shot-dead-by-pakistan-militants-exclusive/feed/ 0 http://www.worthynews.com/8560-muslim-lawyer-apologizes-for-anti-christian-leaflets http://www.worthynews.com/8560-muslim-lawyer-apologizes-for-anti-christian-leaflets#comments Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:49:08 +0000 admin http://www.worthynews.com/?p=8560
PAKPATTAN, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)-- A Muslim lawyer has apologized for thousands of anti-Christian leaflets distributed in Pakistan at a reconciliation meeting with Christian leaders who said they forgave him because they are followers of "the Prince of Peace," according to delegates attending the gathering.

The lawyer, Waqar Hussain Minhas, told the Christian leaders that his name was "misused" by another Muslim writer who called Pope Benedict XVI "a bastard", described churches as "brothels" and said the Bible was changed by Christian and Jewish scholars.

"All the religions brought messages of peace and salvation but Jews and Christians changed their Holy Books..." said the leaflets, which were distributed last month in the town of Arifwala in Pakistan's Pakpattan District. "Nowadays churches in Western countries including Europe and USA have become houses of prostitution and Christian clergymen teach their congregants to commit adultery, there."

The author also wrote that several cardinals wanted to become pope, but that only the current pontiff could become the leader of the world's one billion Catholics because he was "a bastard or an illegitimate offspring beyond any doubt...Therefore he was chosen to lead the Christian world or Christianity."

STATEMENTS CONDEMNED

Minhas condemned the statements during a reconciliation meeting in an Arifwala Catholic church attended by some 40 Christian leaders, including politicians, clerics and civil society leaders, explained Javed Masih Sahotra, a Christian lawyer, in an interview with Worthy News and its partner BosNewsLife.

The recent gathering came after Christian youth threatened to organize a massive rally against the publications, added Rokas Bhatti, the regional coordinator of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, a grouping of minority parties.

In an affidavit, submitted by two Muslim lawyers accompanying him, Minhas also said that the leaflets must be seen as an "explicit conspiracy" against him.

"We are followers of the Prince of Peace", a reference to Jesus Christ, and believe in "reconciliation therefore we forgive you," said the Christian delegation in a statement obtained by BosNewsLife. However they stressed that if "the same would have been said about Islam by a Christian, Muslims would not have forgiven that person. Instead they would have torched the Christian infrastructure and residential areas and reduced them to ashes."

Several Christians have been detained in Pakistan on what rights groups have described as "false" blasphemy charges. Following the reconciliation meeting, both parties left "happily in complete peace and tranquility," said Sahotra and Bhatti. (With editing by Worthy News' Stefan J. Bos).]]> http://www.worthynews.com/8560-muslim-lawyer-apologizes-for-anti-christian-leaflets/feed/ 0