Somalia: the most pitiful Arab country in fatal collapse

Foreign Policy magazine has an long article about the shape Somalia is in. No Arab country is in such a bad shape. It is a state governed only by anarchy. A graveyard of foreign-policy failures, it has known just six months of peace in the past two decades. Now, as the country’s endless chaos threatens to engulf an entire region, the world again simply watches it burn. Have a read HERE.

EU strongly opposes Muslim states' view of racism

European Union countries Tuesday stepped up their opposition to Muslim attempts to shield Islam from criticism and attack Israel through a U.N. conference on race. EU members were unusually outspoken in appearances before the U.N. Human Rights Council, saying they were worried about preparations for a global racism conference to be held next month because attention was being diverted from the real problems of racial discrimination.

"I am deeply disturbed by the turn this event is taking," Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen (picture) said. "The thematic world conference is used by some to try to force their concept of defamation of religions and their focus on one regional conflict on all of us," Verhagen told the 47-member council. References to Israel and protection of religion in the current draft conclusion being negotiated for the so-called Durban II conference are unacceptable, Verhagen said.

"We cannot accept any text, which would put religion above individuals, not condemn discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, condone anti-Semitism or single out Israel," he said. Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Italy voiced similar concerns.

Islamic countries, still angry over cartoons and films attacking Muslims, have been campaigning for wording that would equate criticism of a religious faith with a violation of human rights. The informal negotiations have proven difficult with many issues that marred the first U.N. conference on racism in 2001 re-emerging — such as criticism of Israel.

The April 20-25 meeting is designed to review progress in fighting racism since the global body's first such conference eight years ago in Durban, South Africa. That 2001 meeting was dominated by clashes over the Middle East and the legacy of slavery, and particularly marred by attacks on Israel and anti-Israel demonstrations at a parallel conference of non-governmental organizations.

By ELIANE ENGELER of AP

Christians in England and their views of Islam: clash of opinions

The following statement is issued by
Sam Soloman, Patrick Sookhdeo and Dennis Wrigley

3 March 2009
A number of accusations have been circulating in the media about Sam Soloman, Patrick Sookhdeo and the Maranatha Community, the movement which Dennis Wrigley heads.

Some of the accusations apparently have arisen in regard to discussions held at a closed meeting convened last July, which, among other issues, discussed a perceived growth of fear of Islam and Muslims felt among Christians in the UK. Some attributed this fear to aggressive teaching by Christians concerning negative aspects of Islam and advocated promoting an alternative approach. The majority of those who attended the meeting advocated maintaining a variety of approaches, which included ones that are openly critical of Islam. We would like to state clearly that we recognize that any individuals that were advocating limiting criticism of Islam were speaking their own opinions and were not following any official policy of CRIB (Christian Responses to Islam in Britain) or of Global Connections.

We are living in a context of growing polarization of the Christian community in the UK. Even figures such as Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali and Baroness Caroline Cox are now considered by some Christians to be extremists because of their frank statements on Islam. We are living in a context of increasing hostility towards Christians both from secular society and from Islam. A key evangelist was threatened in public by a Muslim with a gun a week ago. A Christian leader who speaks out on Islam in Britain has received death threats. Another who writes widely on Islam had his offices burgled, apparently by Muslim extremists. In the light of this we would like to state the following:

All Christians are called to love Muslim people and to relate to them in a gracious and loving manner.
Yet Christians should still address the issue of Islam as a faith and ideology.
While most Muslims in the UK are decent individuals, the issue of political Islam nevertheless poses serious and urgent challenges to British society as well as the Church in the UK and her mission.
We want to alert non-Muslims to the aspects of Islam which pose such a challenge to our Judaeo-Christian heritage and to the Church today, both in the UK and around the world.
We recognize that there are a variety of methodologies amongst Christians for responding to Islam.
All of us making this statement have been involved in peace-making efforts with Muslims.
We believe it is essential that Muslims hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and come to a saving knowledge of Him.

We pray for peace and unity within the Body of Christ in these difficult days, with the Church facing so many challenges and potential dangers that could damage vital and important Christian work at home and overseas.

This statement is also endorsed by Keith Small who attended the closed meeting, and Jay Smith a member of the National and London CRIB committees.

Saud al-Faisal: Arabs must have common strategy against nuclear Iran

The great fear in the Arab World is Iran, because of that country's support for every radical brand of Islam among the Arabs, and because of its nuclear development.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal called on Tuesday for a joint Arab strategy to deal with the "Iranian challenge" at a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Egyptian capital. "In order to cement Arab reconciliation we need a common vision for issues that concern Arab security and deal with the Iranian challenge," including its nuclear drive, he said.

Al-Faisal detailed the "challenge" as Iran's nuclear program, that effects the security of all the Gulf states, and Iran's continued involvement in Iraqi, Lebanese and Palestinian affairs. The Saudi prince urged Arabs to overcome their difference and said there has been a significant improvement in Arab ties recently, including Saudi-Syrian relations.

Iraqi Christian Tariq Aziz acquited of crimes against humanity

The Catholic archbishop of Kirkuk on Monday hailed a decision by an Iraqi court to acquit Tareq Aziz, the Christian former Iraqi deputy premier under the Saddam Hussein regime, of crimes against humanity. Msgr Louis Sako said that Monday's ruling was just because Aziz ''lived in a time and in a regime when he could not have acted any differently''.

''Aziz and other men in Saddam Hussein's regime were working under an absolute, ruthless, totalitarian dictatorship in which anyone who opposed the leader was killed,'' said Sako, describing Aziz as ''a very educated man and a diplomat of great worth''.

''Tareq Aziz could not do any differently and now it is right that he is judged without the spirit of vendetta,'' Sako said, calling for other Christians who collaborated with Saddam and who are awaiting justice should receive the same treatment.

Sako said Pope Benedict XVI ''should be cheered'' by the news of Aziz's acquittal and called for an end to the death penalty in a democratic Iraq. Aziz had been on trial along with 13 others for their roles in the killing and displacing of Shi'ite Muslims in Baghdad and the holy city of Najaf in 1999.

The Iraqi military was ordered to quash uprisings in the cities following the assassination of Shi'ite cleric Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr. Three of the men on trial, including Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as Chemical Ali, were sentenced to death and four others received life imprisonment. Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told ANSA that Aziz's acquittal showed ''the full independence'' of the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which was set up to deal with genocide and war crimes committed between 1968 and 2003.

Aziz, 72, met Pope John Paul II in Rome in February 2003 in a peace-brokering mission, weeks before an American-led military strike toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein. He turned himself in to American soldiers the following April. A Chaldean Catholic, Aziz was considered a protector of the Christian minority in Iraq and the only 'presentable' face of Saddam's regime.

He is currently involved in two other trials. In March, a ruling is expected on his role in the execution of 42 merchants and businessmen accused of manipulating food prices in Baghdad in 1992 when Iraq qas under United Nations sanctions. On Monday, another trial began in which Aziz is accused of having a role in the killing and deportation of thousands of Shi'ite Kurds in 1983.

This report comes from www.Ansa.it

Bookfair Cairo: Arabs want to read the Bible

The Bible Society in Egypt reports about the annual Bookfair of Cairo, where each year in February they have a large booth:

One lady came into the booth and asked 3 Questions concerning the Bible: "Am I allowed to hold this?" "Am I allowed to read this?" "Will I understand this?" The salesman answered affirmative to the first 2 questions. In answer to the third, he said, "Let's try!" Opening to Bible to Matthew chapter 5, he invited her to read the first few verses. "Did you understand?" he asked her. The lady answered "Yes!" and proceeded to purchase herself a Bible.

There were many others like her, taking the rare opportunity to touch and flip through a Bible, who commented on their surprise and astonishment in finding the Bible to be understandable and comprehensible!

One woman from a neighboring country stated, "I want to know about Jesus the Christ." "What do you want to know?" the salesman asked her. She replied, "I love all that I've heard about Him, but I want to know more." She spent about an hour in the booth, reading Matthew 5-7, stopping in amazement at almost each verse. "Where did Jesus get such things?" she exclaimed in wonder! In the end, the lady left with her wish fulfilled, for she had purchased a Bible.

The Bookfair is not just an opportunity for people unfamiliar with God's Word to obtain a Bible. One young lady studying tourism, finely dressed and well-off, came to the booth asking for two things. She and her friends have a Sunday-School ministry in the far outskirts of Cairo in a very poor district. She purchased boxes and boxes of materials to be used with the 600 children she was caring for. Her second request was that the Bible Society would pray for her.

Another young man who serves with the Orthodox Church, also ministering in the poor areas, purchased several boxes of materials, particularly pocket-Gospels, for both the children and adults. "I get all of my materials from the Bible Society," he said, thankful for the variety and creative resources made available and affordable.

An older man came to buy resources for his ministry as well. It was obvious that he was quite needy himself. But as the bill was paid, and he was to recieve14 pounds ($2.50) back in change, he insisted that the Bible Society keep this as a donation, an amount that could've provided him food for the whole day.

Another poor man came to the booth with an offering, carrying 2 bags. One bag was full of cheese sandwiches, and the other bag was full of tomatoes. As he distributed the small lunch to each worker, he encouraged and blessed each one, thanking them for their ministry and presence at the Bookfair.

We are humbled by the dedication and love we see. We are honored are grateful for the opportunity to present God's Word to seeking souls. I look forward to sharing a few more encouraging glimpses from the Bookfair when I can send the final numbers and reports. While the economic downturn has indeed affected sales, we choose to focus on the significant and everlasting profits. We thank you for praying with us during this strategic time.

Sudan: indictment of Bashir and looming war

The situation in Sudan is very volatile at the moment. The expected indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against president Omar al-Bashir seems to be imminent. At the same time, the peace deal between the North and the South of the country seems to be breaking up.
It is not unlikely that Bashir will try to get the North in his pocket, thus avoiding any chance of being handed over to The Hague, by pointing to the 'enemies within'. A fullblow civil war may be in his advantage in this stage in order to ensure that he stays in place.

See Uncertainty as Sudan awaits president's arrest in the LA Times
See Sudan peace accors breaking down on World War 4 Report