MESSAGE
| DATE | 2016-12-12 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [Hangout-NYLXS] islam is your friend VI
|
On Sun, Dec 11, 2016 at 11:35:52PM -0800, Rick Moen wrote:
> Quoting Ruben Safir (ruben-at-mrbrklyn.com):
>
> > 'Honor Killings' Are A Global Problem
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> [...]
> > While there may be more honor killings in the Middle East and
> > Southeast Asia than in other parts of the world, there is no single
> > ethnic, cultural or religious indicator of honor-based violence,
> > reports the Honor Based Violence Awareness Network, a digital resource
> > center that studies honor killings.
>
> So, why does noted person-who-seldom-really-reads-things Ruben Safir
> think this topic is anything like a Muslim monopoly?
>
> He's never heard of Shinto, Hindu, or Christian 'honor' killings?
>
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/12/11/world/middleeast/ap-ml-egypt.html
Bomb Kills 25 at Egypt's Main Coptic Christian Cathedral
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSDEC. 11, 2016, 2:24 P.M. E.S.T.
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CAIRO — Sunday morning Mass was drawing to a close at the chapel next to
St. Mark's Cathedral, the seat of Egypt's ancient Coptic Orthodox
Church, when Magdy Ramzy said there suddenly was a "shattering explosion
like nothing I had ever heard before."
A bomb ripped through the chapel in the cathedral complex in central
Cairo, killing 25 people and wounding another 49, mostly women and
children, one of the deadliest attacks on the country's Christian
minority in recent memory.
"It felt like the world has turned upside-down," said the 59-year-old
Ramzy, who was wounded behind the ear by shrapnel. He frantically
searched the wrecked chapel, and then outside, for his wife, Sabah
Wadie, Only later did he learn that she was killed, and his
daughter-in-law and three of his grandchildren were wounded.
Ramzy sobbed uncontrollably at the hospital as he leaned on relatives
for support.
"This is one of the acts of terror that we used to watch on television.
Now, we saw it with our own eyes," he told The Associated Press.
The bombing of the Boutrossyia chapel — and another one Friday that
killed six police — were grim reminders of Egypt's struggle to restore
security and stability after nearly six years of turmoil.
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Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by Islamic militants since 2013, when
the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi, a freely elected leader
and a senior Muslim Brotherhood official. Many of his supporters blamed
Christians for supporting his ouster, and scores of churches and other
Christian-owned properties in southern Egypt were ransacked that year.
Since 2013, authorities have waged a sweeping crackdown, outlawing the
Muslim Brotherhood, jailing thousands of mostly Islamist dissidents and
killing hundreds in street clashes.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack.
One of the worst previous attacks against Christians by Islamic
militants was a 2011 bombing at a church in the Mediterranean city of
Alexandria that killed 21.
The Islamic State group also has targeted Christians in the Sinai
Peninsula, where it primarily goes after security forces. Most IS
attacks in Egypt have been confined to security personnel and judicial
officials.
Friday's police bombing was claimed by a group that authorities say is
linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. That group — called "Hasm," or
"Decisiveness" — distanced itself from Sunday's attack in a statement
that said it does not as a principle kill women, children, the elderly
or worshippers. The Brotherhood, in a separate statement, condemned the
attack.
The bombings are almost certain to undermine the modest recovery in
recent months by the vital tourism sector after years of slumping that
followed the 2011 popular uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
They also could bolster the argument used by the government of President
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi that stability and security are top priorities if
Egypt is to prosper economically and avoid sliding into the kind of
chaos and violence now seen in countries like Libya, Syria and Yemen.
Sunday's bombing was condemned by government and religious leaders, and
drew calls for unity between Egypt's Muslim majority and Christians, who
account for about 10 percent of the country's 92 million people.
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Witnesses said the blast probably was caused by a bomb planted in the
chapel. Bishop Moussa, a senior cleric, said there were unconfirmed
reports of a woman posing as a worshipper leaving a bag in the women's
section before slipping out.
AP reporters who went in the chapel noted that the side where women are
routinely seated suffered the worst damage. Pews were smeared with blood
and stained glass windows and wooden cabinets were blown out. A broken
pair of glasses lay next to a girl's boots with leopard spots and a pink
ribbon. A chandelier dangled precariously and a wall clock was stopped
at 9:57 a.m.
"I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a
horrible scene," said church worker Attiya Mahrous, who rushed to the
chapel after the blast. His clothes and hands were stained with blood
and his hair was matted with dust.
Men and women wailed and cried outside.
"I saw a headless woman being carried away," Mariam Shenouda said as she
pounded her chest in grief. "Everyone was in a state of shock."
"There were children," she added. "What have they done to deserve this?
I wish I had died with them instead of seeing these scenes."
Pope Tawadros II, spiritual leader of Egypt's Orthodox Christians, cut
short a visit to Greece to return home.
State TV broadcast appeals by hospitals for blood donations, and
el-Sissi declared three days of mourning.
"The pain felt by Egyptians now will not go to waste, but will instead
result in an uncompromising decisiveness to hunt down and bring to trial
whoever helped — through inciting, facilitating, participating or
executing — in this heinous crime," a presidential statement quoted him
as saying.
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Several hundred angry people gathered outside the cathedral, chanting
anti-government slogans and calling for the firing of the interior
minister, who is in charge of security.
"We sacrifice our soul and blood for the cross," some chanted. Others
sang hymns and, raising their hands, shouted, "Lord, have mercy."
Scuffles broke out when protesters tried to push police lines to move
closer to the cathedral, but there were no immediate reports of arrests.
Police in full riot gear arrived later.
Egypt's Christians have long complained of discrimination, saying they
are denied top jobs in many fields, including academia and security
forces.
The church and many Christians have rallied behind el-Sissi, although
there have been growing voices of dissent in the community. They say
little has changed under his rule, with authorities failing to halt
attacks on their churches and property.
"This government must resign, and if the president insists on keeping
it, then he'd better resign as well," said Gerges Wadie, the brother of
Ramzy's wife. He said he initially supported el-Sissi but now sees him
as a "failure."
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