An Egyptian court today (January 31, 2015) banned the armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas and listed it as a terrorist organization, according to the Big News Network website.
Hamas is an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood which Egyptian authorities have also declared a terrorist group and have repressed since the army ousted one of its leaders, Mohamed Morsi, from the presidency in 2013.
Today's ruling came days after the country faced some of the bloodiest attacks on security forces in years. During Morsi's one-year presidency, militants in Sinai kidnapped seven soldiers and killed 16 others.
"The court ruled to ban the Qassam Brigades and to list it as a terrorist group," said Judge Mohamed al-Sayid of the special Cairo court which deals with urgent cases.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
IS Militants Say They Will Behead Pres. Obama; Also Plan to Convert US into a Muslim Province
Islamic State (IS) militants have threatened to behead Barack Obama and turn the United States into a Muslim province in a gruesome video from their caliphate of Iraq and Syria, the Daily Mail (British) website reports today (January 31, 2015).
In the video, a black-clad jihadist -- standing over a Kirdish soldier who has been beheaded -- warns the U.S. president: "Know, oh Obama, that we will reach America."
He adds: "Know also that we will cut off your head in the White House and transform America into a Muslim province."
The IS militant's threats on the video also include a message for France and "sister" Belgium. He says: "We advise you that we will come to you with car bombs and explosive charges and will cut off your heads."
In the video, a black-clad jihadist -- standing over a Kirdish soldier who has been beheaded -- warns the U.S. president: "Know, oh Obama, that we will reach America."
He adds: "Know also that we will cut off your head in the White House and transform America into a Muslim province."
The IS militant's threats on the video also include a message for France and "sister" Belgium. He says: "We advise you that we will come to you with car bombs and explosive charges and will cut off your heads."
Friday, January 30, 2015
Protesters Mar TX Muslim Rally for Rel. Freedom; Tell Muslims They Should Go Back to Middle East
A rally in Austin, Texas by Muslims seeking religious tolerance was repeatedly disrupted by a small group of protesters who said the state belonged to followers of Jesus Christ and that Muslims should go back to the Middle East, the Reuters website reports today (January 30, 2015).
During opening remarks at the Texas Muslim Capitol Day event, a Christian activist from Michigan grabbed the microphone from the speaker and said: "I proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ over the capitol of Texas. I stand against Islam."
A group of people who described themselves as Christian activists also heckled the group of about 600 Muslims who showed up for the rally.
Some of the protesters shouted: "Go home. You ain't going to be happy here."
During opening remarks at the Texas Muslim Capitol Day event, a Christian activist from Michigan grabbed the microphone from the speaker and said: "I proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ over the capitol of Texas. I stand against Islam."
A group of people who described themselves as Christian activists also heckled the group of about 600 Muslims who showed up for the rally.
Some of the protesters shouted: "Go home. You ain't going to be happy here."
Synagogue Begins Rel. Court Case to Evict Rabbi; Voyeur Rabbi Barry Freundel Won't Leave Home
The Washington, D.C. synagogue that dismissed Orthodox Rabbi Barry Freundel after he was charged with voyeurism is now trying to evict him from his synagogue-owned residence, the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) website reports today (January 30, 2015).
Kesher Israel has launched a case with the Beit Din of America to oust Freundel, who was arrested in October on charges that he secretly filmed several naked women -- among them his students and converts -- who used a Jewish ritual bath adjacent to the Orthodox synagogue.
"We were informed in late December that Rabbi Freundel did not have plans to leave the house," Elanit Jakabovics, the president of Kesher Israel, said yesterday in an email to congregants. "So, we began informal conversations to resolve this issue with Rabbi Freundel and his attorney, but to no avail."
Freundel is granting his wife, Sharon, a religious divorce -- called a "get" -- which is required for an Orthodox Jewish woman to remarry.
Kesher Israel has launched a case with the Beit Din of America to oust Freundel, who was arrested in October on charges that he secretly filmed several naked women -- among them his students and converts -- who used a Jewish ritual bath adjacent to the Orthodox synagogue.
"We were informed in late December that Rabbi Freundel did not have plans to leave the house," Elanit Jakabovics, the president of Kesher Israel, said yesterday in an email to congregants. "So, we began informal conversations to resolve this issue with Rabbi Freundel and his attorney, but to no avail."
Freundel is granting his wife, Sharon, a religious divorce -- called a "get" -- which is required for an Orthodox Jewish woman to remarry.
Taliban Shoots 3 American Contractors in Kabul; Killed by an Afghan Radical Who Infiltrated Mil.
The Taliban claimed responsibility today (January 30, 2015) for a shooting incident at a military base attached to Kabul's international airport yesterday that killed three American civilian contractors and an Afghan national, saying the attacker had infiltrated the ranks of the security forces, according to the Washington Post website.
On Twitter, the military group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, tweeted that the shooter's name was Ihsanullah, from Laghman province in eastern Afghanistan. He said the man had infiltrated the ranks of the Afghan security forces and was working at Kabul's airport.
The attacker "opened fire on invaders" before he was "martyred by return fire," Mujahid tweeted.
An unidentified Afghan air force official told the Reuters news agency that the shooter was an Afghan soldier.
On Twitter, the military group's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, tweeted that the shooter's name was Ihsanullah, from Laghman province in eastern Afghanistan. He said the man had infiltrated the ranks of the Afghan security forces and was working at Kabul's airport.
The attacker "opened fire on invaders" before he was "martyred by return fire," Mujahid tweeted.
An unidentified Afghan air force official told the Reuters news agency that the shooter was an Afghan soldier.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Vandals Destroy a Virgin Mary Statue in Australia; Statue Kept Outside Sydney Church for 2 Decades
A statue of the Virgin Mary was destroyed yesterday by vandals at the St. Charbel Church in Punchbowl (Australia) -- a suburb of Sydney -- the Catholic News website reports today (January 29, 2015).
The statue -- which has stood inside a glass enclosure outside the church for more than two decades -- was discovered broken in half around 5 a.m. yesterday by church volunteers.
The destruction of the 1.2m statue has left the church community shocked and police are now investigating.
Fr. Joseph Sleiman, church pastor, said: "The community has been deeply affected and shocked by the attack. We would like to state that we strongly condemn any behavior of this nature to our church and any place of worship. Our church is a place of worship and prayer that should be respected by all."
The statue -- which has stood inside a glass enclosure outside the church for more than two decades -- was discovered broken in half around 5 a.m. yesterday by church volunteers.
The destruction of the 1.2m statue has left the church community shocked and police are now investigating.
Fr. Joseph Sleiman, church pastor, said: "The community has been deeply affected and shocked by the attack. We would like to state that we strongly condemn any behavior of this nature to our church and any place of worship. Our church is a place of worship and prayer that should be respected by all."
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Pope: Workaholic Dads Turn Kids Into Orphans; Tells Them "Waste Time" Playing with Offspring
Pope Francis said today (January 28, 2015) that many children are effectively orphans because their fathers are absorbed with work and do not play with them, the Catholic Herald website reports.
Speaking at his customary Wednesday morning audience, the Pontiff urged fathers to "waste time" playing with their offspring.
"They [children] are orphans, but within the family, because the fathers are often absent, also physically, from the home but above all because, when they are home, they do not behave as fathers, they do not have a dialogue with their children," Pope Francis said.
He added, "They do not give to their children ... those principles of life that they need, just as much as they need bread."
Speaking at his customary Wednesday morning audience, the Pontiff urged fathers to "waste time" playing with their offspring.
"They [children] are orphans, but within the family, because the fathers are often absent, also physically, from the home but above all because, when they are home, they do not behave as fathers, they do not have a dialogue with their children," Pope Francis said.
He added, "They do not give to their children ... those principles of life that they need, just as much as they need bread."
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