More than 150 children have been kidnapped by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) -- now called Islamic State -- inside Syria's town of Manbij. The children have been missing for more than a month, yet their kidnapping has gone largely unnoticed, the IBT (International Business Times) website reports today (July 4, 2014).
According to a Human Rights watch report, ISIS abducted 153 children between the ages of 13 and 14 from the mostly Kurdish town of Ain al-Arab on May 29. The children were returning home from taking their year-end exams in the city of Aleppo when they were abducted.
The kidnapping in Syria did not receive anywhere near the news media coverage that the recent kidnapping of more than 200 girls in Nigeria received. Max Abrahms -- a terrorist expert from Northeastern University in Boston -- said the Syrian kidnapping case wasn't reported because Syria's civil war, now in its fourth year, has exhausted readers and international leaders.
"There is so much violence there in Syria, even big attacks go unseen," Abrahms said.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Abp. Joseph Named North American Metropolitan; Is Elected by Holy Synod of Antioch in Lebanon
His Eminence Archbishop Joseph was elected Antiochian Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America by the Holy Synod of Antioch, led by His Beatitude Patriarch John X, meeting in Balamand, Lebanon today (July 3, 2014), the Antiochian website reports. He succeeds Metropolitan Philip, who died of a heart attack at the age of 82 last March.
His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph was consecrated to the Holy Episcopacy on June 30, 1991 at the St. Mary Cathedral in Damascus, Syria, after many years of serving as a deacon and priest. His Eminence was born in Damascus in 1950. He was consecrated with the title Bishop of Katana in Syria, and served as Patriarchal Assistant and Secretary of the Holy Synod of Antioch.
In 1995, he was sent by Patriarch Ignatius IV of blessed memory to America. Here, Bishop Joseph was assigned to the West Coast Chancery by Metropolitan Philip of blessed memory. After self-rule was awarded to America's Antiochian Archdiocese, Bishop Joseph was enthroned at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral by Metropolitan Philip as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West on September 12, 2004.
On December 11, 2011, at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand in Lebanon, Patriarch Ignatius elevated Bishop Joseph to the rank of Archbishop, in honor of his many years of service as a bishop both in America's Archdiocese and in the Patriarchate of Antioch.
His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph was consecrated to the Holy Episcopacy on June 30, 1991 at the St. Mary Cathedral in Damascus, Syria, after many years of serving as a deacon and priest. His Eminence was born in Damascus in 1950. He was consecrated with the title Bishop of Katana in Syria, and served as Patriarchal Assistant and Secretary of the Holy Synod of Antioch.
In 1995, he was sent by Patriarch Ignatius IV of blessed memory to America. Here, Bishop Joseph was assigned to the West Coast Chancery by Metropolitan Philip of blessed memory. After self-rule was awarded to America's Antiochian Archdiocese, Bishop Joseph was enthroned at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral by Metropolitan Philip as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West on September 12, 2004.
On December 11, 2011, at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand in Lebanon, Patriarch Ignatius elevated Bishop Joseph to the rank of Archbishop, in honor of his many years of service as a bishop both in America's Archdiocese and in the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Colo.Woman Nabbed for Helping Terrorist Group; She Wanted to Launch a Holy War in Middle East
The FBI says a woman from Colorado was helping the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -- the violent jihadist group that recently renamed itself Islamic State -- the Washington Post website reports today (July 3, 2014).
The 19-year-old woman was arrested in April as she allegedly attempted to board a flight she hoped would ultimately get her to Syria. There, she planned to meet with Islamic State members, FBI officials said today. She is charged with conspiring to help a foreign terrorist organization, court documents show.
Shannon Maureen Conley -- a Muslim convert -- was arrested April 8 at Denver International Airport after telling federal agents she planned to go live with a Tunisian man she met online who claimed to be fighting for Islamic State. Conley -- a nurse's aide -- said she planned to become a housewife and a nurse at the man's camp.
She also told federal agents she wanted to utilize the American military training she gained from the U.S. Army Explorers to launch a holy war in the Middle East. The documents state that her "legitimate targets of attack" included military facilities, government employees, and public officials.
The 19-year-old woman was arrested in April as she allegedly attempted to board a flight she hoped would ultimately get her to Syria. There, she planned to meet with Islamic State members, FBI officials said today. She is charged with conspiring to help a foreign terrorist organization, court documents show.
Shannon Maureen Conley -- a Muslim convert -- was arrested April 8 at Denver International Airport after telling federal agents she planned to go live with a Tunisian man she met online who claimed to be fighting for Islamic State. Conley -- a nurse's aide -- said she planned to become a housewife and a nurse at the man's camp.
She also told federal agents she wanted to utilize the American military training she gained from the U.S. Army Explorers to launch a holy war in the Middle East. The documents state that her "legitimate targets of attack" included military facilities, government employees, and public officials.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Romanian Mayor Is Detained for Accepting Bribes; Given Some 520,000 Euro for Awarding Contracts
The mayor of the eastern Romanian city of Bacau, Romeo Stavarache, has been detained for allegedly accepting bribes totaling more than half a million euro, the Balkan Insight website reports today (July 2, 2014).
Stavarache -- a member of the opposition National Liberal Party -- was remanded in custody for 30 days today for allegedly receiving bribes of over 2.3 million lei (some 520,000 euro) from businessmen.
According to the government's anti-corruption department, DNA, between 2008 and 2011, Stavarache allegedly received -- directly or via two other people who were also detained over the bribery claims -- various amounts of money from four businessmen, in exchange for assigning them public contracts.
In one incident, Stavarache allegedly asked a company to give him 50 percent of the value of the work paid for by Bacau city hall for installing street lights. He also demanded from another firm 10 percent of the value of a building contract for a 45-apartment block which was worth 2.7 million euro.
Stavarache -- a member of the opposition National Liberal Party -- was remanded in custody for 30 days today for allegedly receiving bribes of over 2.3 million lei (some 520,000 euro) from businessmen.
According to the government's anti-corruption department, DNA, between 2008 and 2011, Stavarache allegedly received -- directly or via two other people who were also detained over the bribery claims -- various amounts of money from four businessmen, in exchange for assigning them public contracts.
In one incident, Stavarache allegedly asked a company to give him 50 percent of the value of the work paid for by Bacau city hall for installing street lights. He also demanded from another firm 10 percent of the value of a building contract for a 45-apartment block which was worth 2.7 million euro.
Palestinian Teen Is Abducted and Killed Today; Viewed as Revenge for Deaths of 3 Israeli Teens
A Palestinian teen was abducted and killed in Jerusalem today (July 2, 2014), Palestinians said, accusing Israeli settlers of carrying out a revenge attack for the deaths of three Israeli youths. The accusation sparked clashes with Israeli forces and demands by the Palestinian president that Israel hold the killers accountable, the Huffington Post website reports.
The latest claim stokes tensions already heightened by the deaths of the three Israeli teens, whose bodies were found this week -- two weeks after they were abducted in the West Bank -- and a surge in fighting between Israeli and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Just hours after Israel buried the three teens, relatives of Mohammed Abu Khdeir said the 17-year-old was forced into a car in a neighborhood of east Jerusalem before it sped off. A burned body was found shortly afterward in a Jerusalem forest.
Abu Khdeir's family said it had identified the body. The teen's cousin, Saed Abu Khdeir, said the family believes the youth was killed by Israelis in an act of revenge.
The latest claim stokes tensions already heightened by the deaths of the three Israeli teens, whose bodies were found this week -- two weeks after they were abducted in the West Bank -- and a surge in fighting between Israeli and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
Just hours after Israel buried the three teens, relatives of Mohammed Abu Khdeir said the 17-year-old was forced into a car in a neighborhood of east Jerusalem before it sped off. A burned body was found shortly afterward in a Jerusalem forest.
Abu Khdeir's family said it had identified the body. The teen's cousin, Saed Abu Khdeir, said the family believes the youth was killed by Israelis in an act of revenge.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
European Court Upholds France's Full Veil Ban; Woman Argued Ban Violated Her Rel. Freedom
The European Court of Human Rights has upheld a ban by France on wearing the Muslim full-face veil -- the niqab -- the BBC website reports today (July 1, 2014).
A case was brought to the court by a 24-year-old French woman, who argued that the ban on wearing the veil in public violated her freedom of religion and expression.
The French law -- which was passed in 2010 -- says nobody can wear in a public space clothing intended to conceal the face. The penalty for doing so can be a 150-euro ($205) fine.
France has about five million Muslims -- the largest Muslim community in Europe -- but it is believed that only about 2,000 women wear full veils.
A case was brought to the court by a 24-year-old French woman, who argued that the ban on wearing the veil in public violated her freedom of religion and expression.
The French law -- which was passed in 2010 -- says nobody can wear in a public space clothing intended to conceal the face. The penalty for doing so can be a 150-euro ($205) fine.
France has about five million Muslims -- the largest Muslim community in Europe -- but it is believed that only about 2,000 women wear full veils.
Israel Retaliates at Hamas for Deaths of 3 Teens; Attacks 34 Targets on Hamas Power Base of Gaza
Hours after three Israeli teenagers who disappeared from the West Bank on June 12 were found dead, the Israeli air force carried out an attack overnight on what an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson described as 34 targets in Gaza, the Slate website reports today (July 1, 2014).
Although the prevailing Palestinian political force in the West Bank is the moderate Fatah party, Israel believes Hamas (which is still considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department) perpetrated the murder of the teenagers -- "Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night -- and has struck the group's power base, Gaza.
Members of Netanyahu's Likud party are calling for the eradication of Hamas.
Israel suspects that Hamas-affiliated militants named Marwan Qawasameh and Amar Abu Aisha are responsible for the murder of the three teenagers; less than five hours after the announcement of the teens' deaths, Israeli forces cleared Qawasameh and Aisha's homes in the West Bank city of Hebron and then destroyed them with explosives. The whereabouts of the two suspects are unknown.
Although the prevailing Palestinian political force in the West Bank is the moderate Fatah party, Israel believes Hamas (which is still considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department) perpetrated the murder of the teenagers -- "Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night -- and has struck the group's power base, Gaza.
Members of Netanyahu's Likud party are calling for the eradication of Hamas.
Israel suspects that Hamas-affiliated militants named Marwan Qawasameh and Amar Abu Aisha are responsible for the murder of the three teenagers; less than five hours after the announcement of the teens' deaths, Israeli forces cleared Qawasameh and Aisha's homes in the West Bank city of Hebron and then destroyed them with explosives. The whereabouts of the two suspects are unknown.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)