'By Law women must preen for men' Times Online

From The Times    April 4, 2009

By law - women must preen for men

In male-dominated Afghanistan, women are treated like chattel. What's changed since the Taleban?

Åsne Seierstad

for full article written by the author of the BookSeller of Kabul  see Times online 

FREEDOM OF RELIGION ? Afghan Constitution

I was asked to write some advice about the Afghan Constitution - I love the Cox & Forkum Cartoon  It seems to sum up so much

The initial three articles of the Constitution of Afghanistan mandate:• Afghanistan shall be an Islamic Republic, independent, unitary, and indivisible state.

• The sacred religion of Islam shall be the religion of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Followers of other faiths shall be free within the bounds of law in the exercise and performance of their religious rights.
• No law shall contravene the tenets and provisions of the holy religion of Islam in Afghanistan.

The legal system is based on Shariah Law and religious minorities are granted right to perform their religious duties within the bounds of that Shariah Law. The constitution declares Afghanistan an "Islamic Republic". It also contains a section enforcing one particular school of Islamic law on disputes that cannot be resolved under existing laws. The constitution names "the sacred religion of Islam" as the official religion of the republic. Whilst "followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law," it goes on to say that "no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam”

This has been interpreted to mean peoples of other faiths (who were born into that faith: Sikhs, Hindus, even Jews) and quite possibly be ‘restricted’ to expatriates. It may not be interpreted as applying to ‘converts.’

A ‘convert’, from Islam to the Christian faith, in ordinary Afghan Muslim eyes, is an ‘apostate’ who deserves ‘death’. He is unlikely to find much protection under a changing and still embryonic law, (any convert has already been ‘sentenced to death’ by virtue of his baptism) and this new constitution has not yet been tested. And it is likely that a relative could easily take the law into his own hands. This would be his duty under tribal law (Puktoonwali), which is, in their eyes, a deeper law than any constitution. As an Afghan Pushtu proverb says: ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold.’

SOME CASE EXAMPLES

(1) Abdul Rehman: a convert to Christianity 

In March 2006 Abdul Rehman faced the death sentence for converting to Christianity and in the face of international pressure he was declared insane and is now in asylumPerhaps most troubling is Article 130, which states that if neither the constitution nor existing laws can be used in a particular case, courts should apply Hanafi jurisprudence, one of the four schools within Sunni Islam. The constitution is quiet on issues such as blasphemy or religious conversion, and as Zalmai discovered, Afghan courts often interpret Islamic law in the strictest sense when left to navigate the void.
In 2006, Abdul Rahman was also left to the mercy of harsh Islamic law.

Born a Muslim, Rahman converted to Christianity in 1990. When authorities found him with a Bible, they arrested and charged him with apostasy. According to the prosecutor in the case, Rahman was "a microbe [who] should be cut off and removed from the rest of Muslim society and should be killed." As he faced the death penalty, an international outcry brought about his release. Even so, his life remained in danger, and Rahman won asylum in Italy.

(2) Two Muslim clerics facing execution for translating the Koran into Dari
On February 15, Zalmai and his cleric friend were due to hear their fate in an appeals court. Though they barely escaped the death penalty, the three-judge panel upheld a lower court sentence of 20 years in prison for each man. When reading out the sentence, the chief judge reiterated that under Islamic Shariah law, "He who commits such an act is an infidel and should be killed."    23-2-09 Afghanistan's Constitution Creates Death Penalties for Religious Freedom Priya Abraham February 23rd 2009.

(3) Expatiate Church in Kabul

‘Although there are no overt churches, expatriate Christians are reportedly able to meet for private worship services in Kabul and one or two other major urban centers. However, some religious advocacy organizations are reporting instances of societal intolerance of and violence against persons who have converted to Christianity.
There is a catholic mass held in the Italian Embassy in Kabul as these Christmas eve pictures show

CONCLUSION

In conclusion I offer a few comments. Afghanistan is generally deteriorating security-wise, with increased Talibanisation, escalating conflict and uncertainty. Until the election, due to take place on 20th August, things will remain very unpredictable. The U.S. Religious Freedom Commission has also placed Afghanistan on a 'Watch List’

Shariat Law in the Swat valley

A video is circualting in Pakistan like wildfire about an ugly incident in the beautiful SWAT valley. Aamir in Pakistan who sent me a link writes:

This what Swat valley has been turned into after 'holy justice' got introduced to the once peaceful tourist resort in the heart of Pashtun land. Public bashing, humiliation, illegal detention, and deaths are a daily routine.

There is more coverage on BBC News   and Video link.  And you can also see the video on YouTube   (Please note it is disturbing)

Stephen in Dehli also sent an email about the response in India: 

 
India's Muslims denounce Taliban whipping of girl as un-Islamic

Sat, Apr 4 02:23 PM   New Delhi, April 4 (IANS)

After video clips of a 17-year-old girl being flogged in public by Taliban fighters in Pakistan's Swat valley were shown on TV, India's Islamic scholars denounced it as 'un-Islamic' and 'satanic' and condemned it as 'gross violation' of Quranic codes.

Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan spoke out strongly against the incident and added that if anything, the act was absolutely 'un-Islamic - even satanic'.

'This kind of treatment is neither Islamic nor human. In fact, not only is it un-Islamic and inhuman, but also satanic,' Khan, who has authored over 200 books on Islam, told IANS.

'The first thing that should be done is to educate people, develop ethical values, sensitivity towards women and treat them equally. Society can be reformed through education - punishment (of the perpetrators) can never be the starting point for any kind of reform or change,' he added.

Similarly, Mushirul Hasan, vice chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia university, condemned the incident saying that it was a wrong portrayal of Islam, which preaches exactly opposite of what the Taliban were seen doing to the hapless young girl.

'I am horrified. This (incident) is a gross violation of Islamic and Quranic injunctions which teaches humanity, love, peace and magnanimity,' Hasan told IANS.

The dangers of imposing Sharia laws in Pakistan's restive Swat Valley were brought into sharp focus Friday with the airing of a two-minute video showing a 17-year-old screaming, burqa-clad girl being whipped by Taliban fighters for coming 'out of her house with another man who was not her husband'.

The grainy video, shot on a mobile phone, showed the girl face down on the ground. Two men held her arms and feet while a third, a black-turbaned man with a flowing beard, whipped her repeatedly.

Salima Khan, a student doing her PhD in Delhi University, said that she literally boiled in anger after seeing the video clip on YouTube, the popular video sharing website and then again on TV.

'I can't believe how anybody can humiliate and beat up an innocent young girl in the name of religion. And what was her fault - that she was seen with a man who was not her husband! Who in their right state of mind would ever dare to do such a dastardly act?

'Such acts just show how Islam has been grossly misinterpreted by a handful of people who are using it as a tool to serve their own cause,' Salima said angrily.

On YouTube, the video received thousands of hits overnight and a barrage of comments.

One of the comments read: 'These people (Taliban) should be given a taste of their own medicine. They should be whipped in public for maligning the name of Islam and inflicting torture on poor, helpless women'.

Another comment from an Indian woman read: 'Thank God I was born in India and not there (Swat valley). There they treat women like animals - no, even worse. To live a life like that seems like sheer hell.'

    Women against Shariat 

What is obvious is that this video is getting wide circuation around the world and is caausing quite a response among Muslims in the sub-continent. It is whipping up interest to say the least. 

A Rocha, Lebanon

I received an update from Colin who has been working in A Rocha, Lebanon.  He has worked with the Aamiq wetland project.  A Rocha is a Christian conservation orgaisation doing an excellent job in many countries of the world. 

I thought his summary of his ups and downs of the past 4 years was worth passsing on: 

During my four rich, varied, often challenging years in Lebanon I went through the whole range of emotions – many times:
Excitement and trepidation to be going to a new country and a new kind of work
Joy at being surrounded by the mountains, woods, and marshes of Lebanon
Wonder at the sight of thousands upon thousands of storks, eagles, cranes and buzzards passing overhead twice a year
Frustration at the difficulties of communicating in a place where most people don’t speak my language and satisfaction when at last I was able to talk to people, and be understood in my very broken Lebanese Arabic
Gloom at the scale of the problems facing both the wildlife and the country as a whole: hunting, uncontrolled development, fires, poverty, political instability, assassinations, warHope that things could change and were changing and always the sure knowledge that however bad things got, God has a plan for Lebanon as for the whole world which is beyond anything that we can ask or imagine
Security and comfortableness (is that an word or did I just invent it?) to be surrounded by good, loving and supportive friends in the A Rocha team but also in the village, my church and especially the music group. The team in particular was much more like a family than just work colleagues
Sadness when saying goodbye to members of that family at different times during the four years but again joy in welcoming new brothers and sisters to the team
Disbelief, shock and fear during the summer war in 2006 and numbness followed by anger during the evacuation and immediately afterwards (and almost the same emotions again in early 2008 during the “mini-war” when it looked as though the country might descend into civil war again) Doubt about whether I ought to return after the war (and then again about what I ought to do during the tense days in May 2008)
Relief, joy (again) and renewed hope on my return to Lebanon in 2007 – and again in late May 2008 when, against everyone’s expectations peace suddenly broke out and a president was elected followed by the formation of a government.

This emotional rollercoaster continued as I prepared to leave – gloom followed by hope followed by uncertainty followed by excitement about what I might do next

I'm sure that sort of experience is something many of us can identify wih, as we blown about by the winds and elements, a bit like flocks of migrating birds. 

Migrating white storks in Lebanon.

  

UPDATES: Gaza and Diocesan schools

UPDATES: Gaza and Al Ahli Hospital

Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza reports that they continue to be overwhelmed with patients like the little burn victim above.  Since the embargo is still in force, they suffer from shortages in basics such as toilet paper, detergent, sheets -- things you don't think of as being important until you don't have them.  Imagine trying to run a hospital without them. 

 

Suhaila Tarazi, Director of the Hospital writes, "Through your most recent donation, we have bought fuel and medicine and have sustained the running of the free medical missions.  Since January we have treated 1074 patients and can distribute milk, safe water and nutritious biscuits to more than 1200 children.  We also provide medical care for 200 chronically ill women."

 

Ann Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF, recently toured Gaza.  She expressed deep concern about the war's effect on the children.  "The children are the innocent victims with the nightmares," she said.  "In Gaza, with 58% of the population under the age of 18 and so many schools severly damaged, there is an incredible amount of [psychological] work to be done."

 

Please keep the staff and patients in your prayers and in your hearts as we move toward Holy Week.  Too many in the Holy Land are suffering and you can help by going to our website at www.afedj.org and clicking on the Donate Now button.  Give a meaningful gift this Easter by helping a family back to health and healing. 

Today's students will lead tomorrow's peace

(photo: Liane Marquis) 

Despite grinding poverty, Lorena works hard to do well in her school in Ramallah.  Thanks to full scholarship aid, she's able to stay in sixth grade despite her parents' sporatic employment.  School is a struggle for her and her two brothers, but they know that with an education comes choice for the future. 

 

Merna comes from Jericho. but lives at the Diocesan school in Ramallah.  Now in 10th grade, she's at the top of her class and works hard to stay there.  There are no Christian secondary schools in Jericho, and Merna's parents are not able to pay her school fees.  Scholarship help is the only way she will be able to attain her goal of college and a teaching career.  She wants to help other children learn and grow.

 

We can insure that these children stay in school through our contributions.  With our help, future civic leaders can build peace in a troubled land.

 

This Update came from 

Bishop Michael Nazir Ali to move on

Bishop Michael Nazir Ali is moving on from his role as Bishop of Rochester to a more direct involvement in Christian-Muslim engagement and issues of persecution.  

 

An article in Fulcrum  has some more details of the Sept 09 move.  

I also like Bishop Nick Baines’ Blog comment: 

I remember hearing Michael for the first time at a clergy conference when I was a curate up north. He spoke without notes and without hesitation, repetition or deviation for an hour and then responded skilfully to questions from the floor. It was remarkable and his ability to remember details is formidable. Which is a good word to use of him. He is a formidable opponent, but a remarkable ally. Whatever one makes of his stance on particular issues or his absence from last year’s Lambeth Conference, what must never be questioned is his integrity or courage.’

My experience has been similar  He has been my 'boss' at CMS , when he served as General Secretary (1989-1994) and our paths have crossed on many occasions in Britain and Pakistan. Lambeth 98, the Queens Garden Party, Westminster, Interfaith meetings.   Most recent was at the Pakistan High Commission  in London when they threw a Christmas Party for Pakistani Christians in Britain. We sangs Pakistani Carols, had Bible readings (I even prayed for the Nation of Pakistan in Urdu)  and Bishop Michael spoke there elequently.  It was obvious the high esteem with which he is held by the Pakistani Community. 

2 articles taht are worth looking at with very differnet views on the situation: 
Melanie Philips in the Mail When a bishop has to leave the Church of England to stand up for Christians, what hope is left for Britain? By Melanie Phillips, writing in the Daily Mail
on 01st April 2009


George Pitcher writing in the Daily Telegraph Bishop Nazir-Ali retires; a rebellion fizzles out
Dr Nazir-Ali's departure signals the end of Anglicanism's damaging schism, says George Pitcher.  30 Mar 2009

And finally a cartoon from the Church TImes. 

I wonder what new path he will dig. 

  

'faith-hate' crime in UK

I received the following update from the Barnabas fund. It is about a  friend of mine Rev Nobel Samuel who takes a part in a  satellite TV show. He was beaten up last month and has been described as a faith hate crime. 

There is a Google video clip with him as part of a Pakistani singing group.  He is standing on the right. I include the Barnabas update in full. I noticed they have spelt his name differently but it is appropriate since Nobel Samuel's response has indeed been noble.    

UK - CHRISTIAN MINISTER ATTACKED WHILE IN LONDON

The Rev. Noble Samuel, a Christian minister at a United Reformed Church in West London, has been attacked by three men on his way to the TV studio where he films a Gospel programme. Mr Samuel was born in Pakistan and moved to Britain 15 years ago. He presents an hour-long live Asian Gospel Show on satellite television. He does not set out to be confrontational, but in recent weeks his views have been aggressively challenged by Muslim callers in a broadcast phone-in.

The incident, which has been described as a "faith hate" crime by police, happened when a car pulled in front of Mr Samuel and a man came over to ask for directions. The attacker opened the car door and started punching Mr Samuel and trying to hit his head on the steering wheel; he then grabbed Mr Samuel's cross and pulled it off, throwing it to the floor. Two other men stole his laptop and Bible. The assailants warned Mr Samuel, "If you go back to the studio, we'll break your legs." Following the attack, Mr Samuel went ahead with his show at studios that are owned by local Muslim businessman Tahir Ali, who went on air later that day to condemn the attacks.

Earlier this year, the plight of Asian Christians in Britain was highlighted during a meeting at the General Synod of the Church of England. An Asian Synod member, Mrs Zahida Mallard, noted, "We are very much aware of the persecuted Church in Iraq, Palestine, Pakistan and other places where to own the Name of Christ is to invite suffering, stigma and social isolation ¦ but the persecuted Church is a reality not just in these foreign lands but in our cities." Particularly vulnerable are British-born Asians who have converted from other faiths to follow Christ and are often treated as traitors by their friends, relatives and community. A minute's silence was held at the meeting in February 2009 in honour of persecuted Asian Christians in England.

• Thank God that Mr Samuel faced his attackers with courage and continued with his work for Christ following the attack.

• Pray for the Lord's protection of Mr Samuel's family, and that their faith in the Lord Jesus will keep them from fear.

• Pray that "faith hate" crimes will be taken seriously in the UK and that the police will deal with such crimes appropriately.

You can read the rest fo the update here