France's Interior Minister Claude Gueant says that since a ban on face-covering Islamic veils took effect last April, only six women have been convicted and fined, the Washington Post website reports today (January 3, 2012).
Controversy surrounded the French law. Muslim leaders say that it stigmatizes all followers of Islam.
Gueant says police cited a total of 237 women, but only six were convicted. He was surprised that nearly a quarter of the women police questioned had converted to Islam.
Backers say the law is aimed at ensuring France's secular values and gender equality, and nipping radical Islam in the bud.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Vandals Damage Mosques in NYC and Quebec; Viewed by Police as Hate Crimes against Muslims
The Slate website reports today (January 3, 2012) that police in Queens, New York believe that an arson attack on January 1 on the Imam Al-Khoei Islamic Center -- which houses a prominent Shiite Muslim mosque -- was a hate crime.
About 80 people were in the Islamic Center at the time of the attack. They quickly stomped out the fire, which was the result of two or three Molotov cocktails thrown at the building.
No one was hurt in the attack, and damage was minimal.
Meanwhile, an attack on a mosque in Quebec, Canada over the weekend -- in which vandals smashed windows and attempted to set two cars on fire -- has the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for a hate crime investigation.
About 80 people were in the Islamic Center at the time of the attack. They quickly stomped out the fire, which was the result of two or three Molotov cocktails thrown at the building.
No one was hurt in the attack, and damage was minimal.
Meanwhile, an attack on a mosque in Quebec, Canada over the weekend -- in which vandals smashed windows and attempted to set two cars on fire -- has the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for a hate crime investigation.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Only Women In Saudi Arabia Can Sell Lingerie; Country's Rel. Radicals Were Opposed to the Idea
The Telegraph (British) website reports today (January 2, 2012) that Saudi Arabia will begin enforcing a law this week that allows only women to work in lingerie and apparel stores, despite disapproval from the country's top cleric.
The 2006 law -- which bans men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores -- has never been put into effect, mainly because of the view of hard-liners in the religious establishment who oppose the idea of women working where men and women congregate together, like malls.
Saudi women -- tired of men buying their underwear -- have been boycotting lingerie stores to pressure them to employ women.
The government's decision to enforce the law goes into effect on January 5, 2012.
The 2006 law -- which bans men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores -- has never been put into effect, mainly because of the view of hard-liners in the religious establishment who oppose the idea of women working where men and women congregate together, like malls.
Saudi women -- tired of men buying their underwear -- have been boycotting lingerie stores to pressure them to employ women.
The government's decision to enforce the law goes into effect on January 5, 2012.
Worcester Diocese Wants Priest to Be Defrocked; Rev. Lowe Dongor Viewed Images of Naked Girls
A Roman Catholic diocese in Massachusetts has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest who is facing charges of possessing child pornography and stealing from his parish.
Bishop Robert McManus of the Worcester Diocese has asked the Pope to defrock the Rev. Lowe Dongor, the Huffington Post website reports today (January 2, 2012).
Authorities say that images of preteen naked girls were found on Dongor's computer. He is also accused of stealing $40 to $60 from St. Joseph parish in Fitchburg on several occasions.
It is believed that Dongor has fled to his native Philippines.
Bishop Robert McManus of the Worcester Diocese has asked the Pope to defrock the Rev. Lowe Dongor, the Huffington Post website reports today (January 2, 2012).
Authorities say that images of preteen naked girls were found on Dongor's computer. He is also accused of stealing $40 to $60 from St. Joseph parish in Fitchburg on several occasions.
It is believed that Dongor has fled to his native Philippines.
Columbia U. Offers "Occupy Wall Street" Course; To Be a Full-Credit Course in Anthropology Dept.
The Raw Story website reports today (January 2, 2012) that Columbia University's anthropology department will offer a full-credit course about the national and global "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations beginning this semester, titled "Occupy the Field: Global Finance, Inequality, Social Movement."
The course will be taught by Dr. Hannah Appel, who said that she has been heavily involved in the movement, including camping out at Zuccotti Park.
Appel said she would be as impartial as possible, despite her close ties to the protests.
She added, "Inevitably, my experience will color the way I teach. But I feel equipped to teach objectively. It's best to be critical of the things we hold most sacred."
The course will be taught by Dr. Hannah Appel, who said that she has been heavily involved in the movement, including camping out at Zuccotti Park.
Appel said she would be as impartial as possible, despite her close ties to the protests.
She added, "Inevitably, my experience will color the way I teach. But I feel equipped to teach objectively. It's best to be critical of the things we hold most sacred."
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Pope Names Former Episcopal Bishop to U.S. Post; Rev. Jeffrey Steenson to Head National Ordinariate
Pope Benedict XVI named a married former Episcopal bishop today (January 1, 2012) to head the first U.S. organizational structure for disaffected Anglicans and Episcopalians who want to join the Roman Catholic Church, the Associated Press website reports.
The Rev. Jeffrey Neil Steenson -- a father of three and a Catholic convert -- will lead the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, the equivalent of a diocese, that will be based in Houston, Texas, but will operate nationally.
The Vatican created the first such ordinariate in Britain last year. Other ordinariates are being considered in Australia and Canada.
Steenson stepped down in 2007 as the Episcopal Bishop of Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the Episcopal Church elected the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
The Rev. Jeffrey Neil Steenson -- a father of three and a Catholic convert -- will lead the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, the equivalent of a diocese, that will be based in Houston, Texas, but will operate nationally.
The Vatican created the first such ordinariate in Britain last year. Other ordinariates are being considered in Australia and Canada.
Steenson stepped down in 2007 as the Episcopal Bishop of Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the Episcopal Church elected the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Protesters Wear Nazi Garb; Protest in Jerusalem to Promote Their Way of Life
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency website reports today (January 1, 2012) that Israeli leaders criticized a haredi Orthodox demonstration in which protesters wore yellow stars to indicate that they are being oppressed in Israel like the Jews were in Nazi Germany.
More than 1,000 haredi Orthodox Jewish protesters gathered in Jerusalem on New Year's eve to protest what they described as persecution against their way of life, including separation of men and women.
Many of the protesters wore yellow stars with the word "Jude" written on them, using Holocaust imagery to hammer home their point. Young haredi Orthodox children were also brought on a makeshift stage wearing striped prison garb along with their yellow stars.
Elan Steinberg -- vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants -- said, in a statement: "We who survived and witnessed these Nazi crimes are particularly offended that demonstrators so blithely used children in their public outrage. They have insulted the memory of all Jewish victims, including those who were ultra-Orthodox."
More than 1,000 haredi Orthodox Jewish protesters gathered in Jerusalem on New Year's eve to protest what they described as persecution against their way of life, including separation of men and women.
Many of the protesters wore yellow stars with the word "Jude" written on them, using Holocaust imagery to hammer home their point. Young haredi Orthodox children were also brought on a makeshift stage wearing striped prison garb along with their yellow stars.
Elan Steinberg -- vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants -- said, in a statement: "We who survived and witnessed these Nazi crimes are particularly offended that demonstrators so blithely used children in their public outrage. They have insulted the memory of all Jewish victims, including those who were ultra-Orthodox."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)