Australian Senate Passes Motion on Assyrians of Iraq

On Thursday 29 November 2012, the notice of motion that was raised in the Senate, regarding the plight of Assyrian Christians in Iraq, by Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, was passed successfully with minor changes pursuant to standing order 77. Senator Fierravanti-Wells has called upon the Australian Federal Government to press the Iraqi Government to guarantee the rights of Christian Assyrians and other minorities.

A similar notice of motion was raised by The Hon. Philip Ruddock MP, Federal Member for Berowra, New South Wales in the House of Representatives on 28 November 2012 .

Senator Fierravanti-Wells moved the following motion on Wednesday 28 November 2012;

1072 Senator Fierravanti-Wells: moved--that the Senate--

(a) recognises that:

(i) Christian Assyrians, a minority religious and racial group in Iraq, are subject to ongoing violence, intimidation, harassment and discrimination on religious and ethnic grounds at the hands of extremists,

(ii) on 31 October 2010, 58 Christian Assyrians were killed in an attack on a church in Baghdad in an act of violent extremism targeting this minority group,

(iii) since 2003, 600 000 Christian Assyrians have left Iraq, including many thousands to Australia, and

(iv) despite the rights guaranteed to minorities in Iraq, including Assyrians, there are still cases of harassment, intimidation and discrimination;

(b) condemns violence, intimidation, harassment and discrimination on religious and ethnic grounds wherever it may be found, including in Iraq;

(c) welcomes the stated commitment of the Government of Iraq to the protection of the rights of Christians and other minorities enshrined in Iraq's constitution, and the steps taken by the Government of Iraq to address violence and discrimination, including:

(i) the formation of a Christian Police Force of around 500 to protect Christians and churches, in the wake of the 2010 bombing attacks on churches, and

(ii) moves to establish an Independent High Commission for Human Rights; and

(d) calls on the Government to continue to press the Iraqi Government to guarantee the rights of Christian Assyrians and other minorities.

Assyrian Universal Alliance

French Cardinal: "The Christians are Afraid" - Priest Spat on in Metro Because He Wore Cross

French society is "dying of spiritual thirst" and "an incredible expectation" was apparent in the youth, said Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon and Primate of the Gauls, yesterday in the Vatican. The cardinal made a sombre assessment of the faith of Catholics, of whom 4% - 5% are practising. He referred to information "that there are three times more young Muslims in the mosque on Friday than Catholics at mass on Sunday". He urged Catholics to be "humble, passionate, intrepid" in their faith.

"Why does our society react furiously to the words of a bishop," he also asked, referring to himself, criticised for an interview implying that homosexual marriage could open the path to polygamy and incest. According to him, antisemitism and islamophobia are growing along with hostility to Christianity:
"In some districts, the Christians are afraid . A priest was spat on in the metro because of the crucifix he was wearing," he revealed.

Source: LeProgres.fr

H/T  Cheradenine

UN chief: Crises show need for interfaith amity

VIENNA, Nov 27 — The violent crises in Syria, Gaza and Mali show how important it is for different religions to work together to promote understanding rather than sow hatred, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said yesterday. ...

More apostasy and unequal yoking at The Malaysian Insider

Muslims threaten churches in W. Sumatra

A mob numbering in the hundreds and grouped under the banner of the Islamic Organizations Communication Forum (FKOI) descended on two churches on Tuesday: Stasi Mahakarya and GPSI

(Gereja Pentakosta Sion Indonesia).

More churchophobia at The Jakarta Post

Merkel criticised over Christianity comments

Opposition MPs have criticised the Chancellor, Angela Merkel, for claiming that Christianity is the most persecuted religion worldwide

 The comments by Ms Merkel, who is the daughter of a pastor, came at a meeting of the German Protestant Church on Monday in which she emphasised Germany's need to protect Christian minorities as part of its foreign policy.

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