Latest news with #Religion
Forbes
5 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
When Violence Based On Religion Or Belief Amounts To International Crimes
August 22nd marks the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, a day established by the United Nations General Assembly to condemn acts of violence targeting individuals on the basis of or in the name of religion or belief. Such violence is ever-growing around the world and requires urgent and comprehensive responses. On this day, we remember all victims and survivors of such violence and call upon the international community to address the crimes. Violence based on religion or belief will have multiple and diverse manifestations. In its extreme forms, such violence may amount to international crimes, including crimes against humanity and even genocide. Such crimes require comprehensive responses, including steps to ensure justice and accountability. The last decade has seen a multitude of such extreme manifestations of violence based on religion or belief. In Nigeria, Boko Haram and other militia groups have been spreading havoc and targeting anyone who does not subscribe to their interpretation of Islam. Among their victims are Christians, who are a minority in the states where the terror group operates. The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recognized the gravity of the crimes by Boko Haram when, in 2020, it concluded the preliminary examination and sought formal investigations. The next steps have been stalled for the last five years as the ICC has been waiting for domestic authorities to investigate the crimes. In Syria, reports suggest a new wave of atrocities committed against religious minorities, including violence against Christians, the Alawites and the Druze. In Iraq, Yazidis continue to fight for justice and accountability, some eleven years after the Daesh genocide, with close to 2,600 Yazidi women and children still enslaved to this day. In China, Uyghurs are said to be moved from forced indoctrination camps to forced labor camps, with the products tainted by this slavery flooding Western markets. In Afghanistan, religious minorities such as Christians, Ahmadiyas, and Baha'is, among others, are effectively extinct in the country after many of them were evacuated when the Taliban was taking over, with a small number of their members going underground. Hazara Shias, a numeric minority group, although going into millions of members, continue to be subjected to targeted attacks by the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (IS-KP) and other groups. The Taliban, while not claiming responsibility for these attacks, is responsible for failing to prevent them. In Iran, Baha'is are considered to be apostates and face persecution, marked by extreme violence including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. Baha'is are denied equal rights, which affects all aspects of their lives in the country. This year has also seen an increase in Islamist attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as perpetrated by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters, part of the Islamic State's Central African Province. One of such attacks, on a church in the town of Komanda, resulted in some 40 worshipers killed. To name a few. All such attacks, which meet the legal definitions of international crimes, must be addressed by states and the international community as a whole. However, as we see too often, responses are rare and often too late to make a difference in the lives of individuals, let alone whole communities. Investigations and prosecutions of those responsible are an exception to the rule, with the rule being impunity. Prevention of these atrocities is a faraway goal with little to no preparatory work being undertaken by States. In relation to the crime of genocide, States have a legal duty to prevent, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The duty to prevent requires States to take 'all means reasonably available to them, so as to prevent genocide so far as possible', with the trigger for this duty being 'the serious risk of genocide.' A similar legal duty to prevent will be imposed in relation to crimes against humanity, once the draft treaty on crimes against humanity is adopted. This process may take some 5-10 years. In addition, States have the political commitment of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), which should trigger responses, especially where the duty to prevent genocide does not reach. Unfortunately, as seen too many times over the years, prevention is a promise yet to be fulfilled. Too often, States choose their own interest over their legal duties or political commitments and fail to act. Such an approach is contrary to the duties themselves and the spirit of the commitments States made voluntarily. As we mark the UN day, and stand with victims and survivors of acts of violence based on religion or belief, we must call out the hypocrisy of the international community by screaming 'Never Again' but doing nothing and allowing the atrocities to happen again and again.
Associated Press
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Hegseth reposts video on social media featuring pastors saying women shouldn't be allowed to vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — The man who oversees the nation's military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote and should 'submit' to their husbands. The extraordinary repost on X from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made Thursday night, illustrates his deep and personal connection to a Christian nationalist pastor with extreme views on the role of religion and women. In the post, Hegseth commented on an almost seven-minute-long report by CNN examining Doug Wilson, cofounder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, or CREC. The report featured various pastors of the denomination advocating the repeal of women's right to vote from the Constitution and parishioners saying that women should 'submit' to their husbands. 'All of Christ for All of Life,' Hegseth wrote in his post that accompanied the video. Hegseth's post received more than 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X. Some users agreed with the pastors in the video, while others expressed alarm at the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideas. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell told The Associated Press on Friday that Hegseth is 'a proud member of a church' that is affiliated with CREC and he 'very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings.' In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services that Hegseth has held inside the government building during working hours. Defense Department employees and service members said they received invitations to the event in their government emails. 'I'd like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I'd like to see the world be a Christian world,' Wilson said in the CNN report. ___ AP journalists Mike Pesoli in Washington and Ali Swanson in New York contributed to this report.
Barnama
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Selangor Assembly Passes Administration Of Religion Of Islam (Amendment) Enactment Bill
SHAH ALAM, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Selangor State Legislative Assembly today passed the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) (Amendment) Enactment Bill 2025, aimed at clarifying the criteria for appointing members of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) other than ex-officio members, members of the Fatwa Committee, the Credentials Committee and the Credentials Appeal Committee, who must adhere to the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah creed. The bill, which involves amendments to 10 clauses, was unanimously passed after the third reading, following a debate by six assemblymen at today's sitting. Earlier, State Islamic Religious Affairs and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah, when tabling the bill, said the amendment proposes to include the interpretation of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah in Enactment No. 1/2003. He said that during the drafting of the 2025 Bill, MAIS conducted engagement sessions with stakeholders, including legal experts and representatives from relevant departments and organisations. 'Among the parties involved were the Selangor State Legal Advisor's Chamber, Selangor Mufti Department, Selangor Syariah Judicial Department, Selangor Prosecution Department, Selangor Islamic Religious Department, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Attorney General's Chambers, academics and other relevant stakeholders,' he said when tabling the bill here. Elaborating, Mohammad Fahmi said the amendment could also prevent the appointment of individuals with extreme or liberal views, or those inclined towards teachings that deviate from the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah creed, in the administration of Islamic affairs in Selangor. 'It is also to ensure that the Islamic administration of Selangor aligns with the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah and the principles of Maqasid Syariah, particularly in preserving the religion,' he said. Mohammad Fahmi said the bill was also in line with the decree of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, on March 14, instructing MAIS chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin to immediately implement the amendment to include provisions on the position and interpretation of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah for the Muslim community, particularly in Selangor. -- BERNAMA
Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The Times Daily Quiz: Friday May 23, 2025
1 Jack Rosenthal's 1976 TV play Bar Mitzvah Boy centres on which religion? 2 Which 20th-century global conflict pitted the Allies against the Central Powers? 3 Which animal precedes 'burglar' in a term for a thief who uses agility to break into buildings? 4 The RNIB is the Royal National Institute of … which people? 5 A cross of the Enterprise and Honeycrisp, the Cosmic Crisp is a variety of which fruit? 6 Which Royal Botanic Gardens was given Unesco world heritage site status in 2003? 7 Handel's Zadok the Priest was the first piece played on which radio station in September 1992? 8 The world's first organised municipal fire brigade was founded in which Scottish city? 9 For his royal cypher, Charles III chose
CNA
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Pope Leo: New leader of Roman Catholic Church celebrates first mass
The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, has celebrated his first mass, within 24 hours of being chosen by fellow cardinals. Pope Leo had, until now, remained largely out of the public eye, but with new prominence, there will be much more focus on where he stands on key issues.
