tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13050305491149944242023-11-16T05:31:43.108-05:00Religious Freedom News. . . without religious freedom, there is no freedom at alledwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-82087946036080342552013-05-02T09:55:00.000-04:002013-05-02T09:57:54.819-04:00USCIRF publishes annual report<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to the <a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/reports-and-briefs/annual-report/3988-2013-annual-report.html">2013 Annual Report</a> on the State of International Religious Freedom by The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), released Tuesday April 30th: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>“The state of international religious freedom is increasingly dire due
to the presence of forces that fuel instability. These forces include
the rise of violent religious extremism coupled with the actions and
inactions of governments. Extremists target religious minorities and
dissenters from majority religious communities for violence, including
physical assaults and even murder. Authoritarian governments also
repress religious freedom through intricate webs of discriminatory
rules, arbitrary requirements and draconian edicts,” </i>said <a href="http://1.usa.gov/10Ywsqs">Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett</a>, USCIRF’s Chair.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Countries remaining of (particular)
concern or CPCs include: Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. Seven other countries
meeting the CPC threshold (also deserving the CPC designation) this year include: Egypt, Iraq,
Nigeria, Pakistan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.</div>
edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-24369884115645969582013-02-20T04:33:00.000-05:002013-02-21T02:14:23.010-05:00Of peacocks, hawks, doves and dodos<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/457670">A parody</a> from Saturday Night Live (SNL) is causing a commotion (publicity/marketing ploy) as Academy Award Sunday approaches, coinciding (this year) with the beginning of the solemn Christian period of observance known as <a href="http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lent">Lent</a>.<br />
<br />
One of the movies up this year for multiple awards is "Django Unchained" by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000233/">Quentin Tarantino</a>.<br />
<br />
Someone over at SNL thought it a clever play on words, etc., in the context of the Hollywood "scene" which; strangely enough, is not for everyone.<br />
<br />
Such reckless, careless disregard (goofiness) has, sadly, become common place.<br />
<br />
Our friend, Dr. Frank Kaufmann writes more on that, including essential reflections and a recent disturbing revelation regarding double standards <a href="http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/frank-kaufmann-way-forward/2013/feb/19/saturday-night-live-djesus-uncrossed-travesty/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Christianity, particularly among the liberal elite (self-described) of Hollywood would seem to be an easy target these days, particularly when one looks closely at what its own adherents (or proponents) have brought forth in the last few years.<br />
<br />
Standing alone (oddly) or perhaps most notably in that category, affiliation or label ("Christian") is Mel Gibson - AND - his "Passion of the Christ."<br />
<br />
As a self-proclaimed proponent of religious freedom, I thought it might be worth looking at Hollywood, Christianity and certain themes intertwining (not always or necessarily entertaining) and ask a few new questions, upon brief reflection:<br />
<br />
1. Why has "Passion of the Christ" apparently become a joke (at least) in Hollywood?<br />
<br />
2. What exactly defines a "religion of peace" in our modern world? And will "one size" ever fit all?<br />
<br />
3. Why (or how) is cinema relevant to "true" religion? Is it?<br />
<br />
4. When is freedom of expression more important than freedom of religion? Or is it?<br />
<br />
A certain <a href="http://godandgulags.blogspot.com/2012/09/not-movie.html">recent event</a> at the Libyan embassy comes to mind.<br />
<br />
And so it goes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Roelant_Savery_-_Landscape_with_Birds_-_WGA20885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Roelant_Savery_-_Landscape_with_Birds_-_WGA20885.jpg" width="320" /></a><span dir="auto"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Roelant Savery - Landscape with Birds</b></span></span></span></div>
<br />edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-37667650079472841302012-12-19T23:50:00.000-05:002012-12-19T23:50:04.678-05:00Embracing a religiously diverse future<i>The National Interest</i> had <a href="http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/western-europe-vs-religious-freedom-7869">an article</a> the other day (December 18) regarding current religious freedom challenges in Western Europe.<br />
<br />
Authored jointly by <a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3743:mary-ann-glendon&catid=33">Mary Ann Glendon</a> who serves as vice chair of the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom (<a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/about-uscirf.html">USCIRF</a>) and <a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3637:dr-azizah-y-al-hibri-commissioner&catid=33">Azizah al-Hibri</a> who serves as a
USCIRF Commissioner, of possible, particular note might be their concluding statement (bracketed comments added by yours truly):<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white;"><i>"If the lamp of liberty is to remain lit, Western Europeans [Everyone everywhere] must accept that the age of conformity to an official monoculture—secular or religious—is at an end. In the coming year, their countries [Everyone everywhere] should embrace their [Our common and/or universal] religiously diverse future and accord religious freedom to all."</i></span></blockquote>
edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-86083180636937974222012-12-07T08:13:00.000-05:002012-12-07T21:16:07.640-05:00"Conscience protection" part of new agendaRoman Catholic U.S. bishops yesterday announced a five-part pastoral strategy aimed at creating a movement dedicated to penance and prayer for "a renewed culture of life, marriage and religious freedom."<br />
<br />
According to Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, while "not meant to be another program but rather part of a movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty," the movement "engages the New Evangelization."<br />
<br />
Archbishop Cordileone chairs the U.S. bishops’ <a href="http://usccb.org/about/laity-marriage-family-life-and-youth/who-we-are.cfm#subcommittee">Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.</a><br />
<br />
Further it was stated that, this second campaign (a first was instituted/dedicated during the fourteen days of June 21—July 4, 2012) was "prompted by the rapid social movements and policy changes currently underway." <br />
<br />
The so named "<a href="http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/">Fortnight of Freedom</a>," will "emphasize faith and marriage in a particular way in the face of the potential Supreme Court rulings during this time," according to the bishops' conference, referencing, in particular, the approaching <a href="http://www.gg-law.com/CM/Publications/GGLaw-Alert-Compliance-with-HHS-Mandate.asp">Aug. 1, 2013 deadline for religious organization compliance with federal contraception mandates</a>, as well as "other threats to religious liberty in the realms of immigration, adoption and humanitarian aid."<br />
<br />
In addition, emphasis will be placed upon "the need for conscience protection." <br />
<br />
Follow@ <a href="http://www.usccb.org/" target="_blank"><strong>www.usccb.org</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/life-marriage-liberty.cfm">here</a>.edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-18231201307135752922012-09-21T00:50:00.001-04:002012-09-21T01:13:38.722-04:00Even in America?A <strong>controversial</strong> <a href="http://www.pewforum.org/Government/Rising-Tide-of-Restrictions-on-Religion-methodology.aspx" target="_blank">new study by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life</a> finds that restrictions on religion have risen throughout the world between mid-2009 and mid-2010 - including in the United States.<br />
<br />
The U.S., among 16 countries examined (out of 197), including Switzerland, was included in the "hostilities jumped" category during that time period. <br />
<br />
Brazil and Japan were ranked best (meaning; having the least) in the "government restrictions" category among the 25 most populous countries examined.<br />
<br />
Russia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and India were included in the worst countries in both categories.<br />
<br />
The ranking of the United States, according to researcher Brian Grim, was influenced by a spike in religion-related terror attacks in the U.S. <br />
<br />
Examples used included the December 2009 Nigerian Islamist attempt to blow up an airliner arriving in Detroit, Michigan; the Times Square attempted bombing in New York by a Pakistani-American Islamist as well as the 2009 killings at Fort Hood by radical Islamist convert Major <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidal_Malik_Hasan">Nidal Hassan</a>.<br />
<br />
Moreover, the alleged killer of the Fort Hood incident was recently <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2012-09-06/justice/justice_fort-hood-trial_1_nidal-hasan-gregory-gross-army-regulations" target="_blank">forced to shave his beard to appear in a military court</a>.<br />
<br />
Also in 2010, Oklahoma banned Islam's <a href="http://www.radicalislam.org/threat/global-threat/sharia-law">Sharia</a> law in a statewide vote. Thankfully, a federal appeals court <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/03/law-professor-ban-on-sharia-law-a-mess/" target="_blank">struck down the amendment in January 2012</a>, saying it violated the First Amendment.<br />
<br />
Reported religion-related workplace discrimination complaints filed with the <a href="http://www.eeoc.gov/">U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a> rose from 3,386 in the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2009, to 3,790 in the year ending on September 30, 2010. Cases determined by EEOC to have had "reasonable cause" rose from 136 to 314 during that period.<br />
<br />
The 2009-2010 time-frame doesn't account for recent events including the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19138754">August killings at a Sikh temple</a> in Wisconsin or the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/us-usa-crime-amish-idUSBRE88J13J20120920">Amish beard cutting incidents</a> (verdict reached yesterday).<br />
<br />
Is there perhaps a pattern in the above, somewhere?edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-70554329530604360222012-09-11T22:03:00.001-04:002012-09-15T02:22:04.451-04:00Thank you, Reverend MoonOfficial Note from Daniel G. Fefferman (ICRF President):<br />
<br />
Let me first express our feelings of deep gratitude for the life work of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, without whom the International Coalition for Religious Freedom would not exist. In addition to his work as the founder and spiritual leader of the Unification Church, Reverend Moon was a tireless campaigner for religious freedom and human rights. He has passed on to the next life now, but we at ICRF are strongly committed to carrying on his legacy.<br />
<br />
<i>Without religious freedom, God cannot fulfill His ideal… If you do not have religious freedom, you have no freedom at all.</i><br />
<br />
–Testimony to the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, June 26, 1984 <br />
<div _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_1347405527596272">
</div>
edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-69167279319704918832012-08-30T15:37:00.003-04:002012-08-30T15:53:00.588-04:00Fervent Prayers for Reverend MoonDr. Joon Ho Seuk<br />
International Vice-President<br />
Unification Church<br />
President of the Korean Church<br />
<br />
Excerpts from a letter to Unification Church members worldwide today:<br />
<br />
"Heaven's providence does not always move according to human will.<br />
<br />
"For a while it appeared that True Father's [Reverend Moon's] condition was improving;<br />
however, during the last few days, the doctors reported that he has entered an irreversible stage of his condition . . . "<br />
<br />
"Soon [he] will be transferred, while receiving care by the doctors from the <a href="http://www.cmcseoul.or.kr/global/eng/front">Seoul St. Mary's Hospital</a>, to the <a href="http://eng.csmc.or.kr/main/main.asp">Cheongpyeong</a> area where True Parents' Cheon Jeong Palace [Unification Church Holy Ground for All People) is located.<br />
<br />
"It is my wish that a miracle from Heaven occurs in relation to True Father's<br />
condition amid the prayers and holy songs of our many members . . . "<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.reverendsunmyungmoon.org/images/main_rev_moon_prayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://www.reverendsunmyungmoon.org/images/main_rev_moon_prayer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Reverend and Mrs. Moon in prayer</b></span></div>
<br />edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-41460128736919848202012-08-29T03:55:00.002-04:002012-08-31T18:20:41.366-04:00Jews in IranFew may know or recall that under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhollah_Khomeini">Ayatollah Khomeini</a>, Jews in Iran were afforded a respect unknown virtually anywhere else within the Muslim world.<br />
<br />
Of course, the paradox or contradiction within that edict (revised, though continuing) is great.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sephardicstudies.org/iran.html">Worth reading</a>.edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-45642675342543316382012-08-04T00:26:00.000-04:002012-08-04T00:32:29.164-04:00Majority of Muslims prefer a secular stateA study by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (<a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php">USCIRF</a>) analyzing constitutions in the “Muslim world” concludes that the majority of Muslims in the world by sheer numbers, at least, prefer living within a nation where a secular constitution is dominant.<br />
<br />
According to the study (an update of one done in 2005), approximately 44% of the world’s Muslim population live in 23 majority Muslim countries that have declared Islam to be the state religion. <br />
<br />
However, the remaining 56% live in countries that either proclaim the state to be secular or make no pronouncements concerning an official state religion.<br />
<br />
The USCIRF 2012 study can be read <a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/reports-and-briefs/special-reports/3787.html">here</a>.edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-5815286892110214782012-08-02T12:25:00.000-04:002012-08-02T12:37:41.117-04:00Internal affairsIs religious freedom solely or primarily an "internal affair" not to be interfered with?<br />
<br />
The People's Republic of China would like to have the world know that it answers that in the affirmative.<br />
<br />
But who is interfering with the "internal affairs" of the world's most populous nation (and the United States largest trading partner), if not the PRC itself?<br />
<br />
If vested as well as interested partners cannot speak up (and heavens, point to weaknesses that may effect current as well as future relationships) then who can?<br />
<br />
Does the PRC seriously believe that it can bully the world just as it continues to bully its own people?<br />
<br />
The U.S. State Department's most recent report on the declining state of religious freedom worldwide can be found <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapper">here</a>.<br />
<br />
For informational purposes only.<br />
<br />
<br />
The fine print:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your agenda is your own affair unless it interferes with mine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please pray, spout, pontificate, gripe, complain, meditate as you will and as often as you like.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">But let us be loving, most often, as well as ultimately.</span><br />
<br />edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-58727333045840105362012-05-24T15:57:00.001-04:002012-05-24T15:57:24.733-04:00Chen Guangcheng in the US<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MLhbS99trRM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-55895993033844137712012-04-28T07:43:00.002-04:002012-04-28T07:48:49.907-04:00Chinese Dissident escapes house arrest<p>After escaping from house arrest, blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng issued a dramatic video message calling on Premier Wen Jiabao to protect his family, punish the people who had attacked them and combat corruption, recounting alleged abuses he and his family suffered at the hands of police.</p>
<p>"Premier Wen, so many people do not know whether such illegal acts are the acts of corrupt local officials or commanded by the central authority. I think you must thoroughly investigate the truth and give your people a clear answer," Chen said. "If you continue to ignore this and do nothing, what will the people think?"
<p>Chen, a 41-year-old lawyer, was jailed for four years after exposing forced sterilization and other abuses carried out by Chinese family-planning authorities, then placed under house arrest once his prison term was over. He escaped last weekend in a rescue operation mounted by his supporters.
<p>"I finally escaped," Chen began his Friday video message to Wen.
<p>Chen asked Wen to investigate and punish police officers who he said had repeatedly attacked his home, robbing and assaulting his family. In one instance, more than 10 men had pinned him to the ground, and beat and kicked him for four hours, Chen said.
<p>His wife was beaten so badly that her eye socket bone was broken, but she was never allowed to call for medical treatment, he said. Chen said his child was followed to school every day by three officers. He said his mother was grabbed by the arm and thrown to the ground on her birthday, her head hitting a door.
<p>"She accused them of the shame of hurting the old. And they actually said back to her: 'Yes, this is true! ... You old ones can’t beat the young.'" Chen said. "This is evil. Inhuman. Intolerable.
<p>"You must see to the bottom of this," the activist said. "Even though I am free, my family ... are still in their grasp. While I was there, they were repeatedly harmed. Now that I'm gone, I can only imagine how it has blown up."
<p>Chen's rescue appears to have been timed to coincide with U.S.-China discussions on human rights this week. His case has attracted global attention.
<p>Source: <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/04/escaped-chinese-activist-chen-guangcheng-speaks-out-video.html">LA Times</a>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-58782446885812485622012-03-18T21:02:00.007-04:002012-03-19T16:40:15.086-04:00To Japan and BeyondThe MacArthur Legacy lives according to this <a href="http://www.religionnews.com/">Religion News Service</a> report posted Friday:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"Persecuted Christians [or any religious minority, technically] now can hold an entire seminary library on a fingertip.<br />
<br />
Bible League International is working with the Digital Bible Society to carry the thumbnail-sized chips to Christians in countries such as China or Saudi Arabia, where possessing unapproved religious materials can result in prosecution or even death.<br />
<br />
"It's like a miniature Christian bookstore," said Robert Frank, global CEO of Bible League International, an Illinois-based nonprofit evangelical ministry dedicated to training church leaders using the Bible.<br />
<br />
The digital ministry continues the historic work of the Bible League, which went international after World War II when Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur asked U.S. Christian groups to send Bibles to Japan.<br />
</blockquote><br />
"In addition to several versions of the Bible, each of the Digital Bible libraries include worship music, movies, Bible commentaries, a study library, a copy of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life and other landmark books about discipleship, ministry and history, as well as more than 1,200 images that can be used for a pastor's study and for teaching others.<br />
<br />
The digital era brings religious freedom to the teaming electronic hordes.<br />
<br />
Read more <a href="http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13600&Itemid=53">>>>>></a>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-59950839063973150922012-02-29T13:04:00.003-05:002012-03-01T17:23:58.474-05:00When Apostates Attack!A Christian pastor who [may have] converted from Islam may be put to death for [allegedly] leaving Islam following the recent ruling of an Iranian court.<br />
<br />
Youcef Nadarkhani, 34, was arrested more than two years ago on charges of apostasy, and has now been sentenced to death by an Iranian court for refusing to renounce his Christianity, according to the pastor's legal team.<br />
<br />
The father-of-two had defied a request by the Gilan provincial court, in Rasht, Iran, to repent, and now faces death by hanging.<br />
<br />
Religious freedom advocates everywhere continue to desperately attempt to save the life of a man who is guilty of nothing more than adhering to a personal belief system.<br />
<br />
Read more <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2105024/Christian-pastor-faces-execution-Iran-refusing-renounce-faith.html#ixzz1nnKnNWJr">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Latest update(s) <a href="http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=1315&search=">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Sign the petition created by The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) <a href="http://aclj.org/iran/save-christian-pastor-nadarkhani-iranian-death-sentence">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dT13xsxlGJM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-5303221659754373692012-02-28T14:21:00.008-05:002012-03-18T21:11:14.563-04:00Kyrgyzstan Bans Unification Church<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Considering the Kyrgyz Republic's history of enforced atheism [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirghiz_SSR">Soviet period</a>] followed by efforts to go secular within a predominantly (Sunni/Hanafi) Muslim milieu topped by an ever continuing, abysmal record on human rights, the decision is not surprising.<br />
<br />
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty posted this brief <a href="http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan_bans_unification_church/24493505.html">note</a> on the subject today. <br />
<br />
However, the <a href="http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav011609c.shtml">Religious Law of Kyrgyzstan</a>, (signed January 2009) and reaction to it, may be instructive:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Sergei Lysov, a pastor and head of Kyrgyzstan's chapter of Bible League, a non-profit Christian group, [noted at that time that he saw] the bill as yet another challenge to religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan and worries it will curtail his organization's activities. "We prayed this law would not be passed," Lysov said. But "I think it will only strengthen religious communities. For a true believer, it is important to have tests, because it only makes him stronger." </blockquote>Must torture, imprisonment, etc., ever be "tests"?<br />
<br />
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (<a href="http://www.osce.org/who">OSCE</a>) <a href="http://www.osce.org/odihr/82934">concerns</a> have been lost within the political shuffle.<br />
<br />
Last years' <a href="http://www.jw-media.org/kgz/20110630.htm">Jehovah Witnesses court victory</a> offers a glimmer of hope, though "pretrial detention" is still imprisonment. <br />
<br />
Continuing . . . <br />
<br />
</div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-9901678820820590042012-01-28T06:35:00.000-05:002012-01-28T06:35:35.643-05:00Comedian Offends Sikhs with "Political" JokeFreedom of speech crosses into perilous territory when it attempts to veil <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/jay-leno-angers-parliament-mitt-romney-joke-205420390.html">political humor with religious tones </a>as Jay Leno (and his writers) might have known already.<br />
<br />
But the subject was Mitt Romney, a member of <a href="http://www.lds.org/">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints</a> (Mormons), so what can we expect?<br />
<br />
Miit Romney's summer home?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Amritsar_Golden_Temple_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Amritsar_Golden_Temple_3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sgpc.net/golden-temple/index.asp">Amritsar Golden Temple</a></span></strong></div><br />
Or:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Salt_Lake_temple_baptismal_font.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="239" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Salt_Lake_temple_baptismal_font.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Salt Lake temple baptismal font</span></strong></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-69978948113262508962011-12-31T19:54:00.003-05:002012-01-01T02:55:36.997-05:00Religious Freedom: The BedrockAs an old year ends and a new year begins, a friendly reminder from the best friend of religious freedom:<br />
<br />
The <b>Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom</b> <br />
<br />
An Act for establishing religious Freedom. <br />
<br />
Whereas, Almighty God hath created the mind free;<br />
<br />
That all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens [sic], or by civil incapacitations tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and therefore are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, who being Lord, both of body and mind yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his Almighty power to do,<br />
<br />
That the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavouring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time;<br />
That to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical;<br />
<br />
That even the forcing him to support this or that teacher of his own religious persuasion is depriving him of the comfortable liberty of giving his contributions to the particular pastor, whose morals he would make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most persuasive to righteousness, and is withdrawing from the Ministry those temporary rewards, which, proceeding from an approbation of their personal conduct are an additional incitement to earnest and unremitting labours for the instruction of mankind;<br />
<br />
That our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions any more than our opinions in physics or geometry,<br />
<br />
That therefore the proscribing any citizen as unworthy the public confidence, by laying upon him an incapacity of being called to offices of trust and emolument, unless he profess or renounce this or that religious opinion, is depriving him injuriously of those privileges and advantages, to which, in common with his fellow citizens, he has a natural right,<br />
<br />
That it tends only to corrupt the principles of that very Religion it is meant to encourage, by bribing with a monopoly of worldly honours and emoluments those who will externally profess and conform to it;<br />
That though indeed, these are criminal who do not withstand such temptation, yet neither are those innocent who lay the bait in their way;<br />
<br />
That to suffer the civil magistrate to intrude his powers into the field of opinion and to restrain the profession or propagation of principles on supposition of their ill tendency is a dangerous fallacy which at once destroys all religious liberty because he being of course judge of that tendency will make his opinions the rule of judgment and approve or condemn the sentiments of others only as they shall square with or differ from his own;<br />
<br />
That it is time enough for the rightful purposes of civil government, for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order;<br />
<br />
And finally, that Truth is great, and will prevail if left to herself, that she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them:<br />
<br />
Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities. And though we well know that this Assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of Legislation only, have no power to restrain the acts of succeeding Assemblies constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare that the rights hereby asserted, are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present or to narrow its operation, such act will be an infringement of natural right.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Statute_for_Religious_Freedom#cite_note-2"></a></sup><br />
<br />
~Thomas Jefferson (1777)edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-38695146351783084302011-12-18T21:14:00.002-05:002011-12-19T15:11:09.227-05:00Last minute reprieve for commission<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A last-minute vote on Friday (Dec. 16) has reauthorized the 13 year old <a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php">USCIRF</a> for 3 years.<br />
<br />
The USCIRF was created by Congress when it passed the <a href="http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/2297.pdf">International Religious Freedom Act of 1998</a> (IRFA). Established as an independent, bipartisan, federal government entity, USCIRF monitors the status of freedom of religion or belief abroad and provides policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.<br />
<br />
With nine commissioners, a staff of 17 and a $4 million annual budget, the bill had been held up in the Senate for almost four months before passing with an amendment on Tuesday, culminating with the reauthorizing resolution by voice vote on Friday.<br />
<br />
Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who had reportedly held the bill as <a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/politics/congress/2011/12/agencies-face-budget-curbs-1-trillion-bill?page=0%2C0%2C0%2C1">leverage</a> in a dispute over federal funding for a prison in his state, proposed several tweaks to the re-authorization bill. <br />
<br />
Durbin's amendment will limit the appointment of USCIRF's commissioners to a maximum of two, two-year terms. The term of any current commissioner who has served at least two full terms will expire 90 days after the legislation is enacted, virtually eliminating almost all of the current commissioners. <br />
<br />
Leaders from both parties in Congress and the president appoint members to the commission.<br />
<br />
The bill cuts the USCIRF’s budget from $4 million to $3 million and also places the commissioners under the same travel restrictions as State Department employees, which could possibly limit their ability to travel to certain areas where religious freedom abuses are acute. <br />
<br />
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<br />
This last measure may be a nod to a former agency policy analyst, <a href="http://crcc.usc.edu/initiatives/amcli/safiya-ghori-ahmad.html">Safiya Ghori-Ahmad</a>, who filed a complaint against USCIRF with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in fall 2009. She charged that her contract was cancelled because of her Muslim faith and her affiliation with the Muslim Public Affairs Council.<br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/18/uscirf-not-closing_n_1154670.html">Huffington Post</a> and <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/house-vote-saves-uscirf-funding-approved-for-3-years-65064">Christian Post</a></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-55810578960092707422011-11-29T04:30:00.003-05:002011-11-29T15:49:55.570-05:00Dick Durbin stands alone for American Muslims<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As noted <a href="http://religiousfreedomnews.blogspot.com/2011/09/religious-freedom-commision-may-get.html">here</a> and elsewhere over the course of the last few months, the future of the United States Commission on International <span style="color: black;">Religious Freedom</span> (USCIRF) remains tenuous at best.<br />
<br />
The commission's governing mandate originally expired in September, only to be renewed in an overall federal budget resolution that expired November 18th.<br />
<br />
The stalemate over USCIRF's future occurred as it was part of an omnibus Senate bill on the 2012 fiscal year's budget appropriations and it is a lone Senator, <a href="http://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/">Dick Durbin</a> (D-Ill.) who halted that vote.<br />
<br />
While Christians, in particular, are leading the outcry, the senator's reasoning seems to be firmly rooted <a href="http://durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2cec9887-2dda-4192-ab6e-b948f0847de7">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Mr. Durbin's <a href="http://durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=591c5033-478a-4a2a-89f6-f4ae0947921e">entire opening statement</a> from that March 29, 2011 hearing is worth reading (again), but here's the gist of it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"I had my differences with President George W. Bush, but he showed real<br />
leadership after 9/11, when he made it clear that our war was with the terrorists<br />
who perverted the teachings of Islam, not with Muslims who were faithful to<br />
what he called, quote, “a faith based upon love, not hate.”</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Congress too spoke with a clear voice. I cosponsored a resolution with John<br />
Sununu, who was then the only Arab-American in the Senate, that condemned<br />
anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry and said that American Muslims “are vibrant,<br />
peaceful, and law-abiding, and have greatly contributed to American society.” Our<br />
resolution passed both chambers of Congress unanimously.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Today, President Obama continues to speak out as forcefully as President Bush,<br />
even though President Obama is challenged by a chorus of harsh voices:</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">• A leading member of Congress states bluntly, quote, “There are too many<br />
mosques in this country.”</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">• A former Speaker of the House falsely claims, quote, “America is<br />
experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine<br />
and destroy our civilization.”</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">• And a prominent religious leader says Islam is, quote, “wicked” and “evil."</blockquote>Still, should such compassion for American Muslims really be the point when it comes to the much bigger picture; that of religious freedom worldwide? <br />
<br />
Senator Durbin, you've clearly stated your reasoning on your support for American (and non-radical) Muslims as well as your generally bipartisan approach on the matter and are hence to be congratulated.<br />
<br />
Of all the items within any of the budget debates today, surely you might agree that freedom itself remains uniquely priceless. Further, the principle of upholding freedom, particularly religious freedom, as it infuses the dangerous and fragile world arena currently, overrides all such considerations of either partisan or even deeply personal convictions regarding civil or societal liberties.<br />
<br />
Therefore, please seriously reconsider your support <i>for</i> the omnibus bill that includes funding for the USCIRF.<br />
<br />
This is no time for silence.</div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-5770505835830117292011-11-10T02:48:00.003-05:002011-11-10T18:09:51.505-05:00The Chinese Jack-o'-lantern<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/aa/Pumpkins2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/aa/Pumpkins2009.jpg" width="153px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Red) Chinese origins?</span></b></div><br />
<a href="http://www.chinaaid.org/2011/11/house-church-leaders-visit-chinese.html">Three representatives of China's house church movement in exile</a> and <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/phony-religious-freedom-in-china-59715/">Chuck Colson's</a> musings on recent tricks amidst the treat of an exhibition of Bibles currently touring the U.S., reinforces the idea that Red China remains a land of contradiction, deception and foreboding, particularly for Christians (and <a href="http://religiousfreedomnews.blogspot.com/2010/07/speech-to-falun-gong-at-us-capitol.html">other faiths</a>, too).<br />
<br />
Sadly, it also adds fire to those who would seek nothing better than to deter, downgrade and ultimately destroy any and all American moral stature on that most fundamental and essential freedom; that of religion.<br />
<br />
Have we come so far as to yet be so deceived?<br />
<br />
As ever, make up your own mind.<br />
<br />
Read of the tour's "background," <a href="http://www.bibleinchina.org/index.html">here</a> and of its inexorable, ripening conclusion <a href="http://billygrahamlibrary.org/pgview.aspx?pid=18&eid=40">here.</a></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-75406730682676534852011-10-04T05:56:00.000-04:002011-10-04T05:56:26.124-04:00Dalai Lama too inconvenient for South Africa?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="introduction" sizcache="4" sizset="92"><div class="entry-content KonaBody" sizcache="4" sizset="98"><div sizcache="4" sizset="98">The Dalai Lama has called off a planned visit to South Africa after "now [being] convinced that for whatever reason or reasons, the South African government finds it inconvenient to issue" a visa.</div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98"><br />
</div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98">In a statement from New Delhi, the Dalai Lama's office said he had planned to leave his Indian exile home Thursday [October 6th], but after failing to receive a visa this week the trip has been called off.</div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98"><br />
</div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98">South African foreign ministry officials have denied accusations of bowing to pressure from China . . . </div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98"><br />
</div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98">Fellow Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu had invited the Dalai Lama to South Africa to celebrate his 80th birthday, and bitterly criticized the delay in the issuing of a visa.</div><div sizcache="4" sizset="98"><br />
</div>Dumisa Ntesebeza, chairman of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, which had planned to host a speech by the Dalai Lama on Saturday, the day after Tutu's birthday, said he could not immediately comment. The foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela refused comment.<br />
<br />
Rights groups, academics, opposition parties and newspapers in South Africa had pressed their government to grant the Dalai Lama a visa.<br />
<br />
In a statement last week, Loyisa Nongxa, vice chancellor of Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand, said that instead of trying to "silence" the Dalai Lama, South Africa should "welcome the opportunity and allow all voices to be heard in our democracy -- a right for which we fought with our lives."<br />
<br />
The university had hoped to host the Dalai Lama for a second speech during his visit.<br />
<br />
In an editorial this week, the <a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2011/10/04/dalai-lama-cancels-trip-over-visa-problem">Sunday Times of Johannesburg</a> said: "The government has dithered for weeks over the Tibetan spiritual leader's visa application, leading to suspicion that Pretoria has once again been put under immense pressure by China not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit."<br />
<br />
South Africa's deputy president was on a state visit to China last month as it remains a major trade partner for South Africa.</div></div></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-48350967359734017642011-09-26T03:25:00.006-04:002011-10-03T06:32:12.557-04:00Religious Freedom Commission faces defunding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">WASHINGTON—The U.S. government’s resources for monitoring international religious freedom are already small and they may get smaller.<br />
<br />
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (<a href="http://www.uscirf.gov/">USCIRF</a>), an independent government watchdog for abuses of religious freedom abroad, may cease to exist if the Senate doesn’t act over the weekend to reauthorize it. Congress leaves soon for a weeklong recess, depending on when the House and Senate resolve a spending bill to keep the government functioning, and the commission will shut down Sept. 30 without Senate reauthorization. One Democratic senator is apparently holding up the reauthorization, according to several sources.<br />
<br />
If the 13-year-old commission does shut down next Friday (September 30th), Congress could still reauthorize it at any point, but all the commissioners would have to be reappointed and staff rehired—a process that could stall the commission’s work for a year or more. . . .<br />
<br />
Read more <a href="http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/18683">here</a> and also follow the progress of <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h.r.2867:#">HR 2867</a>.</div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-86396829599727090612011-09-04T00:44:00.002-04:002011-09-04T01:15:10.905-04:00Religious Freedom: Myth and Reality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_k5b841="111"><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120"><div closure_uid_4szr9e="96">The debunking of myths ever preoccupies and appeals in these days of great wonder, uncertainty and plain boredom.</div></div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120">Witness just one instance of late from a site that bills itself as <em><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3lnzn7k">Business Insider</a></em> where it is stated that "The Pilgrims did not come to the New World for religious freedom."</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120">The truth, it seems, is that "becoming too Dutch" was even more horrid to them.</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120">Right.</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="120"> </div></div><div closure_uid_k5b841="116"><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="119"><div closure_uid_q9xxbx="96">Yes, the "Pilgrims" escaped religious intolerance -- in England -- and yes, they left -- Amsterdam-- (in part) for fear of their children becoming too Dutch.</div></div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="119"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="119">However, foremost, above all, and easily overlooked, apparently, is the original impetus for that small, brave band: The quest for [uncommon] religious tolerance and freedom.</div><div closure_uid_oe2ghb="119"><br />
</div></div></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-47040482278942860202011-07-31T11:17:00.000-04:002011-07-31T11:17:01.123-04:00Washington Times Hosts RF Conference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_qiltpk="197"><strong>Faith Groups and US Government Leaders Unite to "Stop Religious Persecution Now!"</strong></div><div closure_uid_qiltpk="237"><br />
</div>By Dan Fefferman<br />
<br />
<div closure_uid_qiltpk="201">"Stop Religious Persecution Now!" was the theme for a one-day conference co-sponsored by the International Coalition for Religious Freedom at <em closure_uid_qiltpk="203"><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/">The Washington Times</a></em> July 13. Religious leaders, human rights activists, government officials and media experts joined together for the event, which featured reports on religious persecution by representatives of 12 faith communities, ranging from Christians in Islamic lands to Muslims in China, Sikhs in the US and new religious groups in Europe.</div><br />
The purpose of the event was to press the US government to increase its attention on religious freedom issues through such actions as holding hearings on Capitol Hill and putting diplomatic pressure on nations that fail to uphold international standards. An afternoon session focused on informing religious groups and non-governmental organizations how to effectively spread their messages through traditional media outlets and the new social media. <br />
<br />
Read more <a href="http://tinyurl.com/4x3b5dy">. . . >>> </a></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1305030549114994424.post-29779156946500706292011-07-13T19:34:00.000-04:002011-07-13T19:39:24.296-04:00In Memory of Takako Fujita<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Martyr for Religious Freedom in Japan</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1305030549114994424" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1305030549114994424" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1305030549114994424" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwgv5CkQ00oSSG3_GDRGJ1YtcjdAiE99gjbdJlZrJHNer_5ZtqMcO6dkkYtEi4DKm5e8NmP2VyoH9JYFVow-PwEWnY3T1MZ6gM5rvhvjha4oJnnfjssb6Xiojw3Ly0DNB74l01sGmBQvB/s1600/xh2e_TakakoFujita167_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwgv5CkQ00oSSG3_GDRGJ1YtcjdAiE99gjbdJlZrJHNer_5ZtqMcO6dkkYtEi4DKm5e8NmP2VyoH9JYFVow-PwEWnY3T1MZ6gM5rvhvjha4oJnnfjssb6Xiojw3Ly0DNB74l01sGmBQvB/s1600/xh2e_TakakoFujita167_1.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Mrs. Takako Fujita, who married a Korean believer and lived in Korea, visited her home in Ehime prefecture in Japan alone, to attend a Buddhist funeral ceremony. During her stay in her parents’ home, she was kidnapped and brought to Kyoto city where she was confined in an apartment for about four months in an attempt to break her faith and force her to renounce her marriage. Like many other victims, a Christian minister was apparently involved in her confinement.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, in despair, she attempted suicide and was brought to a hospital, where she died on July 13, 1997, at the age of 27. The police were aware of the situation but did not treat it as a criminal investigation, despite the fact that she had been held against her will. Nor did they assist her husband in his attempt to rescue her during her confinement. In the end, no one was arrested or indicted. Her husband returned to Japan in an attempt to attend her funeral ceremony, but her family refused to admit him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>To learn more details about Takako’s story, <a href="http://t.ymlp164.net/bqaxaymwafajwhatauemy/click.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1310599247_0">go Here.</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>To read more about other victim’s cases firsthand (Takako is #8), <a href="http://t.ymlp164.net/byakaymwaiajwhaxauemy/click.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1310599247_1">go Here.</span></a></b></div></div>edwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214185482347071551noreply@blogger.com0