Page 166 - Religion Belief
A catharsis called art (Book Review)
Book: Reshaping Art; Author: T.M. Krishna; Publisher: Aleph; Pages: 116; Price: Rs 399
Body of Pak teenager killed at Texas school arrives in Karachi
The funeral prayers were today offered here for a 17-year-old Pakistani exchange student killed in a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas after her body arrived in the port city of Karachi. Sabika Sheikh was among 10 students and staff who were killed on Friday at Santa Fe High School. The alleged shooter is 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, who is being held on capital murder charges. The prayers were offered today at Karachi's Hakeem Saeed Ground. She will be laid to rest at the Azimpura graveyard in Shah Faisal Colony, Dawn News reported. The body of the teenager arrived at cargo complex of Karachi airport this morning from Houston, Texas through a private Turkish airline- TK-708- that was received by family members and officials of US Consulate at the airport, it said. Sabika, a Karachi teenager, was studying at Santa Fe High School in Texas on a US State Department scholarship under the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programme. She had been attending ...
Chilean church suspends 14 priests over child abuse
The Chilean Catholic church has suspended 14 priests for allegedly being involved in child sex abuse.
Fourteen priests linked to Chile sex abuse stripped of duties
Fourteen priests involved in a sex abuse scandal in Chile -- which has rocked Pope Francis's papacy -- were stripped of their priestly duties today. "Fourteen priests no longer are allowed to carry out their duties... These priests have taken part in actions that may be civilian crimes as well as within the church," the bishop's office in the city of Rancagua said. Just Friday, 34 Chilean bishops announced their resignation over the child sex abuse scandal. The striking announcement came after the pontiff summoned the bishops over the scandal. Several members of the Chilean church hierarchy are accused by victims of ignoring and covering up child abuse by Chilean pedophile priest Fernando Karadima during the 1980s and 1990s. On Thursday evening, Francis promised "changes" to the Chilean church to "restore justice" in a short declaration to the bishops, made public. But in a confidential 10-page document leaked Friday by Chilean TV channel T13, the Argentine pope goes much further in ..
AP CM accuses BJP of hatching 'conspiracy' to tarnish his
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today accused the BJP of hatching a "conspiracy" to tarnish his and his government's image by raking up an unnecessary controversy over the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala. Asserting that nothing was amiss in Tirumala, the chief minister lashed out at the Centre for trying to take over the Lord Venkateswara shrine "through the backdoor" in the name of a "protected monument." Addressing a public meeting here tonight, he said "Tirumala is the number one temple in the entire country that is run strictly in accordance with traditions. As part of a conspiracy to tarnish my image and also that of my government, the state and the Telugu Desam Party, the BJP is stirring up an unnecessary controversy using the former Chief Priest of the temple. We will not tolerate this." Asserting that no jewellery of the Lord was missing, he said no "pink diamond" existed and it was only a pink ruby. "Several commissions over the years ...
BRD doc on bail to work with Nipah patients
Dr Kafeel Khan, who was arrested after the death of several children at a Gorakhpur hospital last year, has volunteered to work with Nipah virus patients in Kozhikode, an offer accepted by the Kerala government within hours. Khan, who is now out on bail, is among the nine accused in the BRD Medical College case in which several children died last August after an alleged shortage of oxygen cylinders. The Uttar Pradesh doctor made his offer on Twitter as Kerala reported today that 10 people had died in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts due to the outbreak of Nipah, a virus hosted by fruit bats. Khan got a call from the Kerala chief secretary, saying Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had accepted his request. Vijayan said the government was happy to welcome doctors like him to work in the state. "There are several doctors who serve in the medical field without any concern to their life and health. I am seeing Khan as one among them," the chief minister said. Vijayan asked health workers ..
Tajik clerics recommend dam-builders skip Ramadan
Muslim clerics in ex-Soviet Tajikistan have advised workers building what will become the world's tallest hydroelectric dam not to observe Ramadan, echoing comments from the country's secular authoritarian ruler. A spokesman for the religious affairs committee told AFP by telephone today that the fatwa (directive) "was issued primarily for the safety of workers engaged in construction" of the Rogun dam. "They work at a great altitude in difficult conditions, as well as underground," said the spokesman. The Rogun dam is a signature project of President Emomali Rakhmon and its Italian contractor is in a race against time to get the first unit online by November. Rogun, which at 335 metres will become the world's tallest dam, is a USD 4 billion project that Rakhmon views as vital to lifting Tajikistan out of poverty. Earlier this month Rakhmon said that "fasting without thinking about tomorrow" is "not the quality of a true Muslim". Ramadan, one of Islam's most revered holidays in which
Denmark: Minister remarks on Muslims isn't govt policy
A spokeswoman for Denmark's government says remarks by the country's hardliner immigration minister that some working Muslims pose a safety hazard because of dawn-to-dusk fasting during Ramadan do not represent the views of the ruling coalition. Integration Minister Inger Stoejberg drew criticism yesterday after she urged Muslims to take leave from work during Ramadan "to avoid negative consequences for the rest of Danish society." She cited bus drivers as an example of workers whose performance could be affected by foregoing food and drink during daylight hours of the holy month. Karen Ellemann, chief whip of the Liberal Party, said today that Stoejberg's remarks were not a formal proposal to change the law. Ellemann added that Stoejberg, also a member of the Liberal Party, "had the right to start this debate.
VHP slams Delhi archbishop, calls his letter attack by Church
Hitting out at the Archbishop of Delhi over his letter cautioning against threat from "turbulent political atmosphere" in the country, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad today termed it as a "direct attack by the Church on India's secularism". VHP's international working president Alok Kumar also alleged that it was a direct intervention of the Vatican, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, and an attempt to divide India on the basis of religion. "This is a direct attack by the Church on India's secularism and democracy... This is a direct intervention by the Vatican as these Bishops are appointed by the Pope. Their accountability is not to India, but to the Pope," Kumar said. He was speaking to reporters during his maiden visit to the city after being elected to the post last month. The Archbishop of Delhi, Anil Couto, has written a letter to all parish priests and religious institutions in the Delhi archdiocese, in which he said a "turbulent political atmosphere" in the country ...
UNHRC asked to save, protect Pakistani Christians
A legal submission has been made to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to save and protect Pakistani Christians from persecution.The submission has been made by the Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a Christian-based social activism and watchdog for corruption.In its submission placed before the UNHRC, the ACLJ claimed that, "The Islamic Republic of Pakistan continues to violate the human rights of its religious minorities. Instances of mob violence; police torture; false accusations of blasphemy; rape, murder, and other forms of violence occur on a regular basis. Authorities in Pakistan have shown a continuous inability or unwillingness to protect its minorities from human rights abuses. These aren't isolated incidents. Christians are being specifically targeted."It further said in a statement, which appears on its web site aclj.org, that, "Pakistani Christians are (being) terrorized, tortured, murdered - even sentenced to death - simply ...
Minorities safe in India: Rajnath on Archbishop letter
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India is one of those countries where minorities are safe and no one is allowed to discriminate anyone on the basis of caste and religion.His statement comes after the Archbishop of Delhi Archdiocese, Anil Joseph Couto, through a letter called upon the churches of the capital to start a year-long prayer campaign ahead of the 2019 general elections."I have not seen the letter, but I want to say India is one of those countries where minorities are safe and no one is allowed to discriminate on the basis of caste and religion," he told reporters here.Meanwhile, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "Every action has a reaction. I won't take a step that disrupts communal harmony. But if the church asks people to pray so that Modi government isn't formed, the country will have to think that people from other religions will do 'kirtan pooja'."Archbishop Anil Couto, had released a circular to the Delhi churches on May 8, urging the Christian ...
200-year-old "military" mosque offers 'green' iftar
When this mosque was constructed for the soldiers of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore over two centuries ago, it was a tiny thatched roof structure sans domes and minarets. Sharing border with a Hindu shrine, it offered Muslim members of the royal army a place to offer their prayers and 'eidgah' near their cantonment in the capital city. When it had metamorphosed into the present magnificent structure over decades, the 'Juma Masjid' at Palayam here now woos even non-Muslims with its unique iftar feast and secular gatherings during the month of Ramadan. Cutting across religious barriers, local people including officials of the nearby state Secretariat, drivers, traders, travellers and passers by, throng the centuries-old mosque during evenings of the holy month. Complete adherence to green protocol and distribution of "oushadha kanji, a unique medicinal porridge prepared and served in an eco-friendly manner, make the iftar of this "pattalappalli" unique. The ...
Google Doodle celebrates Ram Mohan Roy's 246th birthday
Google is honouring Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the father of the Indian Renaissance, through a special doodle today.Raja Ram Mohan Roy, born this day in 1772, was a staunch supporter of monotheism and stood against orthodox Hindu rituals including idol worshipping and 'sati'.Not only religious reforms, Roy also fought for equal rights for women, including the right to remarry and the right to hold property.His campaigning paved way for the formation of the Bramho Samaj in 1828, one of the first Indian socio-religious movements.Today's doodle is made by illustrator Beena Mistry and is visible on Google homepages in India and Sri Lanka.
China's war against Islam
There has been a sharp uptick in government-backed persecution of Christianity and other religions in China, but none are currently suffering as much as the Muslim population in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Some 11 million Uighurs reside in this northwest Chinese province.Of course, using the word "autonomous" to describe Xinjiang is a complete misnomer, because it has no autonomy whatsoever. Instead, thousands of Muslims are currently incarcerated in extrajudicial detention centers and reeducation camps.The exact number of victims is impossible to verify, but estimates range from several hundred thousand upwards. Human Rights Watch, for example, claims 800,000 Muslims are detained, while Uighur exile groups estimate about 1 million Uighurs. They allege that nearly every Muslim household has been affected by these arbitrary arrests. For example, in Moyu county alone, 40% of adults have disappeared, with family members often having no idea where their loved one ...
Naidu inaugurates revival of dance drama 'Ashtapadiyattam'
Making a strong pitch for preserving and nurturing art forms, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu today relaunched the ancient dance drama 'Ashtapadiyattam' based on 'Gita Govindam' believed to be penned by 12th century poet Jayadeva, ata function here. Classical Indian art forms should not be neglected, he said. Naidu said while the country has preserved and nurtured its illustrious artistic heritage, unfortunately, certain classical Indian art forms remain in a state of neglect and are slowly fading. "We must not allow this unfortunate situation to persist.. our cultural roots sustain us, make our lives richer and make our society more humane and civilised," he said. On the significance of the function, Naidu said reviving 'Ashtapadiyattam' is like "unearthing buried treasure and it is like watering a plant that is fast losing its vitality." The vice-president said he hoped that the dance drama would be revived in all its pristine glory, as Jayadeva would have wanted it, .
All mosques in China should raise national flag: China Islamic Association
All mosques in China should raise the national flag and study the Chinese Constitution, socialist core values to strengthen their "concept of nation" and carry forward "the spirit of patriotism," state-run China Islamic Association said. Chinese experts hailed the initiative for seeking to assimilate religion into a socialist society and as progress for religious development. In a letter published on its website, the association urged nationwide Islamic associations and mosques to raise national flags all the time and in prominent positions. Associations and mosques should also study the Chinese Constitution, socialist core values and traditional classical Chinese culture, state-run Global Times quoted the letter as saying. The legal study classes should be offered so that Muslims can conduct religious activities in accordance with the law and correctly understand its relationship with religious doctrine. According to an official white paper published last month, China has 20 million .
Should TVs telecast Azan five times a day? No, says daily
Should Pakistani judiciary order news channels to telecast Azan, the Islamic call to prayer, five times a day? No, says a leading Pakistani newspaper arguing that it will only cause more harm than good.
Jitendra Singh slams Pak over ceasefire violation during Ramzan
Hitting out at Pakistan for multiple ceasefire violations this month, Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Monday said those indulging in firing prove that they have less faith in Ramzan, Islam and Holy Quran."Those who are indulging in firing from across the border has proved to the entire world that they have the least of faith in Ramzan, Islam and Holy Quran. This is the country which calls itself Pakistan and is indulging in most 'Napaak' activity during Ramzan," Singh told ANI.Earlier today, Pakistan violated ceasefire in Arnia sector of Jammu. Pakistan also opened small-arms firing in Ramgarh sector of Samba district last night.On May 18, Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in RS Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu and Kashmir killing a total of five people including one Border Security Force (BSF) jawan and four civilians.It is to be noted that the Centre recently ordered to suspend the security operations against ...
12 minutes max to destroy Israel-Pak commander
General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, was quoted by AWD News, as saying, "If Israel tries to invade our land,we will raze the Zionist regime in less than 12 minutes."General Mahmood Hayat is on record as saying that he was not an anti-Semetic and was candid enough to admit and acknowledge that there is a need fro Pakistan to change from within first, rather than worry about what other countries thought of it.Speaking in support of the Palestinian cause, he said, "I don't agree that Jews are our (Pakistan's) enemies either. Zionism and Judaism are two very different concepts. To simplify things, all monotheistic beliefs are from the same maker which renders the fight over religion pointless; hate will only brew more hate. This is a fight for human rights who everyone has the right to defend."He further said, "Pakistan itself has a tainted slate when it comes to human rights. But it wouldn't get any closer to making amends by forming an alliance with .
Extremism not limited to particular country or region, its global issue: Pak PM
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has described extremism as a global issue, not limited to a particular country or region as he visited the family of a Pakistani girl, killed in the latest shooting incident in a US school. In a scathing attack on Pakistan, US President Donald Trump had accused it of "lies and deceit" and of fooling US leaders while providing shelter to terrorists, but Islamabad had repeatedly denied that there are any terrorist safe havens inside its territory. Abbasi, along with Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair yesterday visited the family of Sabika Sheikh -- the 17-year-old Pakistani national who was killed in shooting in the Santa Fe High School in Texas, met her family members and condoled her death. Sheikh, an exchange student from Pakistan, was among the eight students and two teachers who were killed when a 17-year-old student opened fire in the school on May 18. She was to return to Pakistan next month to celebrate Eid festival with her family in ..