Building Bridges and Tolerance By HJS

BUILDING BRIDGES AND TOLERANCE

HJS COMMENTS: WE THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW TWO MORE SHORT NEWS ITEMS, SHOWING THE WONDERFUL SENSE OF TOLERANCE WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE RELIGION OF PEACE. ONE WOULD SUSPECT THAT IN GENERAL, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THAT WORLD APPEAR TO BE INTERESTED IN BUILDING ANY BRIDGES, ONLY SCAFFOLDS AND COFFINS.

I WONDER WHAT REASONS OUR MEDIA WOULD USE TO DEFEND THEIR FAILURE TO ALERT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO INTERNATIONAL EVENTS THAT TOUCH UPON OUR LIVES AS WELL. I WOULD SAY PERHAPS THEY MAY HAVE MORE IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS NEWS, SUCH AS WHO GOES HOME ON DANCING WITH THE STARS. OR MAYBE A POLL ON HOW MANY LEFTISTS DESPISE BILL O’REILLY.

Note: Highlighting and notes by Ideology of Islam.


Muslims Burn Christian Homes in Egypt over Romance Rumor
Tue, Nov. 16, 2010 Posted: 02:32 PM EDT

Muslims burned at least ten Christian homes in Southern Egypt over a rumor that a young Coptic Christian man and a Muslim girl were in a romantic relationship, said officials Tuesday. [NOTE: It is a violation of Sharia law for a non-Muslim man to marry a Muslim woman. It is even more of a violation to have illicit sexual relations between a non-Muslim man and a Muslim woman.]

Authorities have arrested several people suspected of being involved in the torching of Christian homes in Qena province that began overnight Sunday. They have also taken into custody the Christian man and Muslim girl that are at the center of the controversy for investigation. Locals caught the two together at night in the village cemetery, security officials told The Associated Press.

In Egypt, historically Christians and Muslims have generally lived peacefully side by side. They have lived integrated in neighborhoods and attended the same schools. But in recent years, there has been increasing division between the two communities. An increasing number of Christians are moving into all-Christian neighborhoods and attending schools run by the church.

The separation is a reaction to the increasing persecution against Christians by Muslim extremist groups. In January, a group of gunmen in several cars opened fire on Christians exiting a church in the Southern Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi on Christmas Eve (Coptic Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in January). The drive-by shooting incident left six people dead and another nine injured. Among those reportedly killed were a young man and his fiancé and a 14-year-old boy

Local sources say the gunmen wanted to kill Bishop Kirollos of the Nag Hammadi Diocese, who had publicly defended Coptic Christians after a Muslim riot last November.

Previously, a riot took place in November 2009 due to the allegation that a Christian young man had raped a young Muslim girl. Coptic Christians, however, asserted that the story was fabricated in order for Muslims to justify their attack.

The riot reportedly left 65 shops destroyed and caused over $1 million in damage. In the town of Farshoot alone, about 80 percent of Coptic businesses were destroyed.

Besides dramatic events such as the November 2009 riots, Coptic Christians report general inequalities when it comes to education, economic opportunities, and government positions.

The Apostle Mark founded the Coptic Church in the 1st century when he brought Christianity to Egypt. Then Muslims brought Islam to Egypt in the 7th century. After several centuries of conversion, Egypt now has a Muslim majority. Christians make up 10 percent of Egypt’s population while Muslims make up the remaining portion.
Ethan ColeChristian Post Reporter


Afghanistan: Convert from Islam to Christianity arrested, tortured, faces trial for apostasy

But wait! I thought all the learned analysts had assured us that there is no death penalty for apostasy in Islam! Isn't that right, Dr. Bassiouni? Mr. Kruse? Ms. Heagney?

Afghanistan's U.S.-backed government has done this before. Remember Abdul Rahman?
"Mossa's day in court," by Mindy Belz in World Magazine, November 13 (thanks to all who sent this in):

For more than a decade, the second Sunday in November has been commemorated in churches worldwide as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This year it is also the day that Sayed Mossa, an Afghan convert from Islam to Christianity, has been scheduled to stand trial.

Afghan government officials announced earlier this week that they have scheduled that court date for Mossa's case--which WORLD has been covering (see "Fugitives," Aug. 28, 2010, and "Deeds done in darkness," Nov. 20, 2010)--even though the charges and his legal representation remain in doubt.

According to Westerners closely following his case in Kabul, Mossa is likely to be charged with espionage and with conversion to Christianity, or apostasy--crimes that may be punishable by death under Islamic law. The court session may be televised, officials have said, and it is likely that Mossa will be asked to renounce his faith.

Mossa was arrested in late May as part of a crackdown against Afghan converts to Christianity that followed a television broadcast of several baptisms. He has been held in a prison in Kabul under worsening conditions and has been subjected to daily beatings, torture, and sexual abuse. Court-appointed legal counsel, all Muslims, have refused to take his case because he is considered an apostate. Officials from the International Committee on the Red Cross, where Mossa worked for 15 years, visited him twice, and he has received other Western visitors, including representatives from the U.S. embassy. They confirmed that Mossa had been tortured and successfully pressured the Afghan government to move him to another prison, away from other prisoners. That took place Oct. 29....

UPDATE (Nov. 15, 2010):Court officers on Sunday postponed the trial of Afghan convert Sayed Mossa due to the Muslim holiday of Eid. They say trial will be held next Sunday, Nov. 21. Meanwhile, according to Westerners close to the case, Afghan officials have not formally stated the charges against Mossa (though they are likely to be conversion from Islam and espionage), they have not allowed him legal representation, and they have refused requests from family members to see his court file.

Posted by Robert on November 16, 2010 4:30 AM