The Jewish Week website reports today (June 2, 2011) that Rabbi Saul Kassin -- a spiritual leader of the Syrian Jewish community in America -- was sentenced to two years of probation for illegally sending money to Israel through a charity he operated.
Kassin's sentencing yesterday culminated a legal saga that dates back to the summer of 2009, when more than 46 individuals -- including Kassin, the chief rabbi of Congregation Shaare Zion in Brooklyn; two rabbis from the Syrian Jewish enclave of Deal, NJ; and a string of high-ranking elected officials and civil servants -- were brought down in a federal sting.
Citing the rabbi's age, U.S. District Judge Joel Pisano did not give jail time to Kassin, 89, although he fined him $36,750.
The sum is in addition to the nearly $370,000 Kassin agreed to give up when he was nabbed in the sting -- the largest-ever corruption bust in New Jersey history.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Judge Forbids Prayer at High School Graduation; Agnostic Parents of Texas Senior Filed Lawsuit
The Renew America website reports today (June 2, 2011) that a federal judge in San Antonio, Texas has banned prayer at a high school graduation ceremony, after the agnostic parents of a senior went to court.
The ruling from Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery came as Medina Valley High School in Castroville, Texas prepares for Saturday's graduation.
Biery's order was in response to a lawsuit filed by Christa and Danny Schultz on behalf of their son, Corwin, to block use of prayer. The judge said speakers cannot call on audience members to bow their heads, join in prayer, or say "amen."
Assistant Superintendent Chris Martinez said school officials will follow the order against public prayer.
The ruling from Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery came as Medina Valley High School in Castroville, Texas prepares for Saturday's graduation.
Biery's order was in response to a lawsuit filed by Christa and Danny Schultz on behalf of their son, Corwin, to block use of prayer. The judge said speakers cannot call on audience members to bow their heads, join in prayer, or say "amen."
Assistant Superintendent Chris Martinez said school officials will follow the order against public prayer.
Survey Finds BBC Tends to Be Anti-Christian; Suggests BBC Treats Minority Religions Better
The Telegraph (British) website reports today (June 2, 2011) that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) -- based on its own research -- uses "derogatory stereotypes" to portray Christians.
Many people believe that the BBC retains a politically left-wing or "liberal bias" and that religions other than Christianity were sometimes better represented, according to the survey.
The report -- based on the poll results -- concluded: "In terms of religion, there were many who perceived the BBC to be anti-Christian and as such misrepresenting Christianity."
It added: "Christians are specifically mentioned as being badly treated, with a suggestion that more minority religions are better represented, despite Christianity being the most widely observed religion within Britain."
Many people believe that the BBC retains a politically left-wing or "liberal bias" and that religions other than Christianity were sometimes better represented, according to the survey.
The report -- based on the poll results -- concluded: "In terms of religion, there were many who perceived the BBC to be anti-Christian and as such misrepresenting Christianity."
It added: "Christians are specifically mentioned as being badly treated, with a suggestion that more minority religions are better represented, despite Christianity being the most widely observed religion within Britain."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
COMMENTARY: Muslim Woman Should Not Have Been Stoned to Death for Entering Beauty Contest
A 19-year-old Ukrainian Muslim woman was stoned to death by three Muslim young men last week. Why? Because she entered a beauty contest in Ukraine.
That's right -- killed just for entering a beauty contest! The three Muslim youths believe they were justified in killing her, because Sharia (Islamic) Law states that a woman who commits adultery can be stoned to death. But this was not adultery.
Nonetheless, the Muslim youths perceived her participation in the beauty contest as being similar to committing adultery. They felt that her appearance at the beauty contest in a bathing suit was in violation of Islamic tradition of women's bodies being covered in public from head to toe.
The sad fact is that Katya Koren's body was found by police in the Crimea region of Ukraine where she lived. Police have arrested one Muslim youth for her murder, who admitted he stoned her to death -- and said he was justified in doing so -- because she took part in the beauty contest. Police are still searching for two other suspects.
To stone a woman to death for having committed adultery is itself a barbaric penalty to pay for a sin. To stone a woman to death for entering a beauty contest is totally unjustified and should never have even been considered as a punishment. In fact, Katya Koren should not have been punished at all.
In Christianity, Jesus opposed the stoning of a woman to death for having committed adultery. Jesus' opposition is described in the Bible when He was asked by several men if they should stone a woman to death for having committed adultery. Jesus answered, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." --John 8:7
Upon hearing Jesus' words, all of the men -- realizing that every one of them had committed sins -- walked away without casting a single stone...
That's right -- killed just for entering a beauty contest! The three Muslim youths believe they were justified in killing her, because Sharia (Islamic) Law states that a woman who commits adultery can be stoned to death. But this was not adultery.
Nonetheless, the Muslim youths perceived her participation in the beauty contest as being similar to committing adultery. They felt that her appearance at the beauty contest in a bathing suit was in violation of Islamic tradition of women's bodies being covered in public from head to toe.
The sad fact is that Katya Koren's body was found by police in the Crimea region of Ukraine where she lived. Police have arrested one Muslim youth for her murder, who admitted he stoned her to death -- and said he was justified in doing so -- because she took part in the beauty contest. Police are still searching for two other suspects.
To stone a woman to death for having committed adultery is itself a barbaric penalty to pay for a sin. To stone a woman to death for entering a beauty contest is totally unjustified and should never have even been considered as a punishment. In fact, Katya Koren should not have been punished at all.
In Christianity, Jesus opposed the stoning of a woman to death for having committed adultery. Jesus' opposition is described in the Bible when He was asked by several men if they should stone a woman to death for having committed adultery. Jesus answered, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." --John 8:7
Upon hearing Jesus' words, all of the men -- realizing that every one of them had committed sins -- walked away without casting a single stone...
Obama Proclaims June as the LGBT Pride Month; Says LGBT Group Allows a More Perfect Union
The Christian Post website reports today (June 1, 2011) that President Obama yesterday declared June as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) month. He has issued similar proclamations each year he has been in office.
The proclamation reads in part, "The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union."
According to a study released in April of this year, an estimated 3.5 percent of adults in the United States identify themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and an estimated 0.3 percent of adults as transgender.
The proclamation reads in part, "The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union."
According to a study released in April of this year, an estimated 3.5 percent of adults in the United States identify themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and an estimated 0.3 percent of adults as transgender.
International Journalist Murdered in Pakistan; Saleem Shahzad Got Threats from Intel. Agency
The Spero Forum website reports today (June 1, 2011) that a journalist -- who worked for an international news service based in Italy -- was murdered in Pakistan on May 29.
The body of investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad, 40, was recovered from Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab province, in Pakistan on May 30.
Police said there were clear signs of torture on his body. His ribs were also broken.
A fellow journalist, Omar Waraich, said, "Shahzad had recently complained he was receiving threats from the leading agency ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) for writing articles on the agency's activities. Pakistani police are investigating the matter and are probing the involvement of the ISI.
The body of investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad, 40, was recovered from Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab province, in Pakistan on May 30.
Police said there were clear signs of torture on his body. His ribs were also broken.
A fellow journalist, Omar Waraich, said, "Shahzad had recently complained he was receiving threats from the leading agency ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) for writing articles on the agency's activities. Pakistani police are investigating the matter and are probing the involvement of the ISI.
Mladic to Appear in War Crimes Court This Friday; Accused of Leading Massacre of 7500 Muslims
The Dutch News website reports today (June 1, 2011) that former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic will appear before the Yugoslavia war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Friday, June 3.
Mladic, 69, arrived in the Netherlands by plane on May 31. He is being held in Scheveningen prison.
Mladic -- who was arrested on May 26 following 16 years on the run -- faces genocide charges over the 1992-95 Bosnian War.
The general is accused of being behind the massacre of at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995. The enclave was under the protection of Dutch troops at the time.
Mladic, 69, arrived in the Netherlands by plane on May 31. He is being held in Scheveningen prison.
Mladic -- who was arrested on May 26 following 16 years on the run -- faces genocide charges over the 1992-95 Bosnian War.
The general is accused of being behind the massacre of at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995. The enclave was under the protection of Dutch troops at the time.
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