Page 18 - Religion Belief
Report of European Parliament exposes worsening condition of minorities in Pakistan
The European Parliament here has released a report, highlighting the worsening situation of religious minorities in Pakistan, an Asian nation where Muslims are in dominance.The report titled "Religious Minorities in Pakistan" was compiled by the European Parliamentarians including Alberto Cirio, Fulvio Martusciello, Ryszard Czarnecki, Indrek Tarand and Heinz K Becker.The report aims at drawing the attention to the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan and the institutionalised discrimination against these groups.The report examined the nature of persecution faced by various religious minority groups apart from presenting some brief case studies on the oppression faced by women from these communities.The report said that the religious minority groups included Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and the Ahmadiyyas, and further cited real-life examples from these communities.It added that the Constitution of Pakistan only recognised Islam as the religion of the state. "The Constitution of ...
Criminal complaint filed in Delhi court against Kamal Hassan for 'hurting religious statements'
A criminal complaint was filed in a Delhi's Patiala House Court against actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan for allegedly "hurting religious sentiments of Hindus" by associating terrorism with Hindu religion in a speech in Tamil Nadu on May 12.The court is likely to hear the matter on May 16.The complainant Vishnu Gupta who claims to be a founding member of Hindu Sena said Haasan's remarks hurt religious sentiments and promoted enmity between Hindu and Muslims. Gupta also sought the accused to be summoned for the same.On May 12, Kamal Hassan, chief of political outfit Makkal Needhi Maiam while campaigning in Tamil Nadu's Aravakurichi assembly constituency had stirred a controversy by asserting that first terrorist in independent India was a Hindu, referring to Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi."I am not saying this because many Muslims are here. I am saying this in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue. The first terrorist in independent India is a Hindu, his name is
PIL in HC against misuse of religion for electoral gain, refers to Haasan's remark
The controversial remarks of actor-cum-politician Kamal Haasan that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse was a 'Hindu terrorist' were mentioned in a PIL before the Delhi High Court Tuesday seeking directions for the Election Commission to "restrict" misuse of religion for poll gains. The petition was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice A J Bhambhani by BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay who has also sought debarring of candidates and deregistration of parties which misuse religion for electoral gain. The bench allowed the plea to be listed for hearing on Wednesday before an appropriate bench. Upadhyay, also a lawyer, alleged that Haasan "deliberately" made the statement in the presence of a Muslim majority crowd for electoral gain. The petition contends that this was "clearly a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1951. Haasan, the president of Makkal Needhi Maiam, had in an election rally speech termed Mahatma Gandhi's .
Australian political leaders agree gays don't go to hell
The leaders of both of Australia's major political parties agreed on Tuesday that gays don't go to hell because of their sexual orientation, as Christian beliefs rose to extraordinary prominence in the final days of an election campaign. Prime Minister Scott Morrison opposed gay marriage while opposition leader Bill Shorten argued for marriage equality ahead of a national vote in 2017 that led to Australia legally recognizing same-sex unions. Morrison, a Pentecostal Christian, accused Shorten, a Catholic before converting to his second wife's Anglican faith, of a "desperate, cheap shot" ahead of elections on Saturday by challenging the prime minister to say whether he believed gays went to hell. Morrison said he did not believe gays went to hell, after failing to directly answer the same question from a journalist a day earlier. "I'm not running for pope, I'm running for prime minister," Morrison told reporters. "So ... theological questions, you can leave at the door." Australian ...
Modi's appeal to voters in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday made an emotional appeal to the people of Varanasi in a video posted on his website, calling himself a 'Kashi vaasi and outlining his personal and emotional association with Kashi and its people.
Ramzan is "very special": says Trump, condemns New Zealand, Sri Lanka terror attacks
Ramzan is a "very special" month during which people seek tolerance and peace, US President Donald Trump has said as he hosted an iftaar party at the White House and expressed grief over the gruesome terrorist attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Ramzan is a holy month for Muslims here in the US and all across the world, Trump said as he hosted his second Iftaar as President for eminent Muslim members from his administration and top diplomats from various countries on Monday night. "Ramadan is a time of charity, of giving, and service to our fellow citizens. Ramadan is a very special time. It's a time to draw closer as families, neighbours and communities," Trump said. "Ramadan is a time when people join forces in pursuit of hope, tolerance and peace. It is in this spirit that we come together tonight for Iftaar, the traditional Ramadan meal that breaks the daily fast," he said in his brief address in the State Dinning Room of the White House. During Ramzan, Muslims fast from sunrise
Trump hosts second iftar dinner at White House
US President Donald Trump has hosted his second annual iftar dinner at the White House and said it's "been a very rough time" for Muslims around the world.
Ramadan is when people join forces in pursuit of hope, tolerance, peace: Trump
Ramadan is a time when people join forces in pursuit of hope, tolerance and peace, US President Donald Trump said Monday. Trump hosted an Iftaar dinner for eminent Muslim members from his administration and top diplomats from various countries at the White House on Monday night. Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims here in the US and all across the world, he said. During this month of worship, Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown and focus on prayer and spiritual life to deepen their devotion to god. "Ramadan is a time of charity, of giving, and service to our fellow citizens. Ramadan is a very special time. It's a time to draw closer as families, neighbours and communities," Trump said. "And Ramadan is a time when people join forces in pursuit of hope, tolerance and peace. It is in this spirit that we come together tonight for Iftaar, the traditional Ramadan meal that breaks the daily fast," he said in his brief address in the State Dinning Room of the White House. "This evening, our .
Modi washed feet of sanitation workers like Lord Krishna washed Sudama's: Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he washed the feet of sanitation workers just like Lord Krishna washed the feet of his friend Sudama.Addressing four election rallies, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, said: "In Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, Modi ji washed the feet of sanitation workers just like Lord Krishna washed the feet of Sudama."Listing the work under the reign of Prime Minister Modi, Adityanath said, "Whatever welfare scheme we have implemented so far, we did not discriminate people in the name of caste and religion. These were implemented in the interest of the poor."Mocking Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath asked, "Will you elect those who stole water taps?"Taking a jibe at grand-alliance of SP, BSP and RLD, Adityanath said, "The elephant is riding on the bicycle, its tyres would get punctured."Appealing for votes in favour of BJP candidate from Gorakhpur, Ravi Kishan, the UP ...
EC finds Congress' Milind Deora's Jain comment 'violative' under MCC
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday found the speech delivered by Mumbai Congress chief and South Mumbai candidate Milind Deora as "violative" under the guidelines of Model Code of Conduct (MCC)."In a matter concerning violation of MCC in a speech delivered by Milind Deora, a candidate of Indian National Congress, April 2, Commission after considering his reply found it violative of para1 and para3 of MCC," the ECI said.The Commission censured and warned him to be more careful in the future.The ECI's action came after Deora while addressing an event at Zhaveri Bazar, had accused Shiv Sena of hurting religious sentiments of Jain followers. The Mumbai Congress president urged the Jain community to teach them a lesson by not voting for the party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections."Shiv Sena has been against the minorities. A few years ago, the party insulted the Jain religion by cooking meat outside Jain temples during Paryushana festival. Remember, you have to teach them a .
SP's bicycle will 'puncture' under weight of BSP's elephant: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a swipe at the opposition alliance in the state on Monday, saying the Samajwadi Party's 'bicycle' will "puncture" under the weight of the Bahujan Samaj Party's 'elephant'. The chief minister addressed four rallies in Maharajganj, Fazilnagar, Pipraich and Jaitpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where polling for the Lok Sabha election will be held on the seventh and last phase on May 19. "The 'bicycle' will puncture as the elephant is riding it," he said, referring to the poll symbols of the two parties. The SP's poll symbol is bicycle and the BSP's elephant. Listing the "good work" done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath said, "Whatever welfare schemes we have implemented so far, we did not discriminate people in the name of caste and religion. These were implemented in the interest of the poor." "In Kumbh Mela, Modi ji washed the feet of sanitation workers like Lord Krishna washed the feet of Sudama," he said. Appealing for votes ..
Top cardinal says 'many questions' remain despite Vatican thaw with China
A top cardinal has said "many questions" remain despite the Vatican's diplomatic thaw with China, and that a deal paving the way to rapprochement was "only a starting point". Cardinal Pietro Parolin's remarks -- in an interview with China's state-run Global Times, published Monday -- follow the signing in September last year of a historic bilateral agreement on the thorny issue of the appointment of bishops. That deal came after decades of mistrust between Beijing and the Vatican. China's estimated 10 million Catholics are split between an underground church that swears allegiance only to the pope and a state-supervised body -- the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. The September agreement allowed both sides to have a say on the appointment of bishops, and paved the way for a rapprochement between the Vatican and Beijing, which broke diplomatic ties in 1951. Parolin -- the Vatican's number two -- called the deal "a starting point" and that there were "elements which demonstrate .
Gunmen kill six in Burkina Faso Catholic Church: sources
Gunmen killed a priest and five other people during mass Sunday in an attack on a Catholic Church in Dablo, northern Burkina Faso, security sources and local official said. "Towards 9.00 am, during mass, armed individuals burst into the Catholic Church," the mayor of Dablo, Ousmane Zongo, told AFP. "They started firing as the congregation tried to flee.
Germany debates 'mosque tax' to replace foreign funding
Support is growing in Germany for a "mosque tax" to make Islamic institutions less dependent on potentially anti-democratic or "radical" foreign funding sources, a media report said Sunday. The federal government sees it as "a possible path", according to an answer to a parliamentary query, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported. Several of Germany's 16 states had also signalled support in principle for the idea which would mirror Germany's voluntary Christian "church tax", the newspaper said. Concern has grown in Germany about the influence of foreign funding sources on mosques for the country's estimated five million Muslims, who hail mostly from Turkey and Arab countries. Some 900 mosques in Germany are run by the Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (Ditib), under the authority of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. Its imams are paid by the Turkish state, and the group has come under scrutiny with some of its members suspected of spying on Turkish ...
Pope gives church 19 new priests in Vatican ceremony
Pope Francis has given the church 19 new priests, ordaining the men in an elaborate ceremony Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica, as the credibility of the Vatican and many of its clergy is threatened by widespread scandals of pedophile priests and systematic efforts at cover-ups. Fifteen of the seminarians ordained by Francis are Italian; the others are from Croatia, Peru, Haiti and Japan. The seminarians' ages range from mid-20s to 46. Wearing white robes, the seminarians stood in three rows before the central altar after replying, "Here I am," as their names were called one by one. Francis, reciting a ritual formula, asked if they were worthy to become priests. Later in the ceremony, the seminarians prostrated themselves in a sign of obedience to church authority and to God, on a carpet in front of the altar. During his homily, Francis instructed them to never "tire of being merciful" toward the faithful who confess sins. "Aware of having been chosen among men and appointed in their ...
Pope: It's OK to organize pilgrimages to Bosnian shrine
Pope Francis has given his OK to pilgrimages to a Bosnian shrine where young people said the Virgin Mary appeared to them, but the Vatican cautioned on Sunday that the Church still hasn't ruled on the authenticity of the phenomenon, which has drawn millions of Catholic believers and the curious to the site. Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti said in a written statement that "the Holy Father has ruled that it's possible to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje." The decision, which could further boost tourism, was announced also by the Vatican's envoy to the local parish and by the papal nuncio in Sarajevo. The shrine is 120 kilometers south of Sarajevo, the capital of predominantly Muslim Bosnia. In 1981, during the papacy of the first pope from Eastern Europe, John Paul II, six youths said they witnessed apparitions of Mary. Gisotti stressed that "care be taken to avoid interpreting these pilgrimages as authentication of the noted events, which still require examination by the ...
Meditation not pleasant for everyone: Study
Meditation -- which is widely believed to be an antidote to mental health issues -- may not always be a pleasant experience for everyone, according to scientists who advocate more research into such practices. The research, led by scientists from University College London (UCL) in the UK, found that over a quarter of people who regularly meditate have had a 'particularly unpleasant' psychological experience related to the practice, including feelings of fear and distorted emotions. Published in the journal PLOS ONE, the study also found those who had attended a meditation retreat, those who only practiced deconstructive types of meditation, such as Vipassana (insight) and Koan practice (used in Zen Buddhism), and those with higher levels of repetitive negative thinking, were more likely to report a 'particularly unpleasant' meditation-related experience. However, the study, which comprised an international online survey of 1,232 people who had at least two months' meditation ...
Amazon staff 'mistakenly' took down religious ads
Employees from e-commerce giant Amazon have been "mistakenly" taking down ads with religious content that has negatively affected the sale of products from some small sellers.
Proponents of ideologies of hate need to be 'constructively engaged': Naidu
Voicing concern over the growing menace of terrorism, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday that the proponents of ideologies of hate need to be "constructively engaged" to avoid mindless death and destruction. In his keynote address at the 16th UN Day of Vesak here, Naidu said the genesis of conflict among nations has roots in the idea of hate and violence originating from an individual's mind-space. "The growing menace of terrorism in the world is a manifestation of this destructive emotion. The proponents of ideologies of hate need to be constructively engaged to avoid mindless death and destruction," Naidu said at the event attended by Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Myanmar President Win Myint and Nepal Premier K P Sharma Oli among others. Naidu said Lord Buddha's message of peace and compassion provides an ideology and effective answer to overcome sectarian and ideology-driven violence all over the world. "The global leadership more than ever needs to work ...
Cross-border faith brings warring countries on common ground (IANS Special Series)
Over 70 years after they became separate countries and have largely witnessed at best strained to downright hostile ties, India and Pakistan have been brought on common ground by a religious monument of faith - the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara.
