“The ecumenical delegation’s acceptance of President Ahmadinejad’s soothing assurances about peace and good will was absurd.” — Mark Tooley, IRD Director of UMAction
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /Christian Newswire/ — A coalition of liberal religious leaders just returned on Sunday from a week long “bridge-building” trip to Iran. They met with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the hopes of averting U.S. military action against Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The Iranian president, who has denied the Holocaust and threatened to incinerate Israel, assured the trusting church officials that he is against nuclear weapons. Organizers of the trip were the Mennonite Central Committee and American Friends Service Committee. Ahmadinejad invited the religious officials to Iran after having met with many of them in New York last September. The delegation included representatives of the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, and the National Council of Churches, among others.
IRD UMAction Director Mark Tooley commented:
“The ecumenical delegation’s acceptance of President Ahmadinejad’s soothing assurances about peace and good will was absurd. The Iranian dictator, who presides over a vicious Shiite theocracy, has publicly prophesied for an apocalypse that concludes with the destruction of non-believers. Presumably he did not discuss his genocidal plans with the church officials, and presumably they did not bother to ask.
“Supposedly Ahmadinejad told the 13-member delegation his government ‘Iran has no intention to acquire or use nuclear weapons’ yet his foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki has reiterated that his country would never suspend uranium enrichment. (AP)
“The ecumenical statement released included, ‘We believe it is possible for further dialogue and that there can be a new day in U.S. – Iranian relations.’ Perhaps the ecumenical delegation should have sung Kumbaya with the Iranian president. For over 30 years, officials from these church groups have never failed to meet an anti-American dictator they could not trust and even admire. If they made any impression on Ahmadinejad at all, these church officials must have only confirmed his stereotypes about naïve and gullible Americans.”
The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches’ social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.
CAA Appeals for International Intervention
MIDLAND, Texas, Mar. 1 /Christian Newswire/ — CAA learned that a severely persecuted house church leader from Xi’an, Shangxi province was denied protection by the United Nations High Commissioner Office in Thailand. Elder Lei Wensen and his family members were severely persecuted by the Chinese security for their leadership in the house church movement in China. CAA president Bob Fu received a letter for help from elder Lei Wensen on January 26, 2007. After a thorough investigation, CAA has verified elder Lei’s claim that he and his family indeed had been persecuted for their independent Christian faith as House Church leaders in China. We believe elder Lei Wensen and his family members will face harsh persecution from the Chinese government if they are forced to return to China from Thailand. We have been able to communicate with Rev. Larry Pan of Los Angeles who was the applicant Mr. Lei Wensen’s pastor in China.
In an open letter to UNHCR, Rev. Bob Fu asked the UN body to act quickly before elder Lei’s situation gets worse. “We urge you to reconsider your previous decision and grant elder Lei and family members in Thailand refugee status so that they can be protected by UNHCR before they resettle in the USA.”
China Aid Association, Inc. was established in Pennsylvania in 2002 and is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. In addition to collecting documents and materials related to Chinese law and government policy toward religion in China, CAA also issues news releases on cases of religious persecution in China and carries out other advocacy on behalf of persecuted religious believers in China, and provides humanitarian relief and supplies, including Christian materials, to persecuted members of underground Protestant churches in China. CAA supports the broad principle of freedom of religion for all believers in China, and aspires to conduct activities which protect the civil rights of believers from all religions.
Letters of concern can be sent to:
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
Branch office for Thailand
Telephone: 2801716/2811671/2829161
Fax: +66 2 280 0555
Email: thaba@unhcr.ch
P.O Box: 2.121, Rajamnam
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Chuck Norris Writes Exclusive on Slavery
March 2, 2007
In his latest exclusive column, A Petition to Free 27 Million Slaves, in WorldNetDaily TODAY, Chuck Norris talks about how we can solve this worldwide problem.
“A few years ago, National Geographic reported that there are 27 million slaves in the world today — more than any other time in human history. What can be done to free them? Be a ‘Wilberforce’ or ‘Newton’!” Norris says.
Norris has starred in more than 20 films and the long-running TV series, “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He has written for WorldNetDaily on a number of hot-button topics, including: abortion, his old friend — and opponent — Bruce Lee, Bob Dylan’s true hero, the biggest threat to America, and Pearl Harbor. Norris writes a weekly column exclusive to WorldNetDaily.
While the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the UK will soon be celebrated around the world, slavery has mushroomed, as there are now over 27 million people in bondage worldwide.
See: http://WorldNetDaily.com
WorldNetDaily is an independent news company. Founded by Joseph and Elizabeth Farah in May 1997, it is now a leading Internet news site in both traffic and influence and has launched popular columns by Bill O’Reilly, David Limbaugh and others into national syndication.
New Resources for 200th anniversary of Abolition of U.K. and U.S. Slave Trade
NEW YORK, Feb. 26 /Standard Newswire/ — The Wilberforce Project — a partner with Bristol Bay Productions whose motion picture Amazing Grace starring Ioan Gruffud as William Wilberforce and Albert Finney as John Newton was released on Friday (February 23)– is developing a new documentary for television, THE BETTER HOUR and other creative resources to satisfy new interest in this hero of history, William Wilberforce, and the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade in 1807, whose 200th anniversary is this year.
The TWC Films television documentary, The Better Hour: William Wilberforce, A Man of Character Who Changed The World ( www.thebetterhour.com) co- sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation and The Wilberforce Project is targeted for Fall 2007 broadcast in the U.S. and U.K. The film will focus on the character and legacy of British Parliamentarian William Wilberforce. (DVD available next November.)
A book for faith communities entitled Creating The Better Hour with its built-in study guide provides information on the life and legacy of William Wilberforce in concert with the lessons they provide for working for social change today. The book contains reflections and conversations to support each of its twenty-two chapters as well as a recipe for Better- Hour gatherings. (Available in September.)
A study book for schools entitled The British Abolitionists and Their Influence provides an overview of the British abolition movement and how it affected other movements, especially those in the United States. The book contains excerpts from original documents never before located in one resource. (Available in September).
Available now: An audio CD entitled Engaging The Culture–Changing The World: Lessons from William Wilberforce is a series of four 27 minute talks on the following topics: (a) the change from the self-indulgent world of the late eighteenth century to the seeds of Victorian England, (b) the ten ways that Wilberforce achieved change with issue campaigning, (c) Wilberforce’s spiritual discipline, (d) and how to be a contemporary Wilberforce. Available now under Resources at www.thebetterhour.com.
William Wilberforce, as a Member of Parliament, was directly responsible not only for the legislation abolishing the British Slave Trade two centuries ago, but he also influenced similar legislation in the U.S. In the view of many, Wilberforce was the father of the modern human rights movement, of the women’s suffrage movement, of universal education for the poor, of the first child labor laws, of prison reform, of a more humane penal code, as well as a founder or participant in sixty-nine philanthropic societies in late eighteenth and early nineteenth century England.
“William Wilberforce’s political career merits attention and imitation,” said Chuck Stetson, chairman of the Wilberforce Project. “Although Wilberforce’s name may be virtually unknown today, in 1858, Abraham Lincoln acknowledged that his was a name known by ‘every school boy in America.’”
The abolitionist and civil rights hero, Frederick Douglass saluted the energy of Wilberforce as the factor “that finally thawed the British heart into sympathy for the slave, and moved the strong arm of government in mercy to put an end to this bondage. Let no American, especially no colored American, withhold generous recognition of this stupendous achievement—a triumph of right over wrong, of good over evil, and a victory for the whole human race.”
“In 1833 when Wilberforce died, the free Blacks in America were urged by their leaders to wear black armbands for thirty days as a sign of mourning,” added Stetson. “In 1856, America’s first historically black university located near Dayton, Ohio was named Wilberforce University.”
The theatrical movie and these new creative resources bring the lessons and legacy of William Wilberforce into sharp focus, and they show how strong motivation and community action can bring about “a better hour” for all human kind.
Wilberforce Central is a private, non-profit alliance established to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British and the U.S. slave trade (1807- 2007) with an examination of the legacy of William Wilberforce and the Clapham Group, and how we can learn from them lessons which relate to modern issues and the making of “The Better Hour” in our world today.
“Today Islam is responsible for almost all of the human sufferings from war, persecution, and poverty, particularly in the country of Sudan.” — Former Sultan Ali El-Shariff
MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 26 /Christian Newswire/ — Former Sultan Ali El-Shariff and Pastor George Saieg, founder of Arabic Christian Perspective, will be available for interviews on Saturday March 3rd, 10:00am – 12:00pm at a to-be- announced location, call 866-533-6659 for details.
Former Sultan Ali El-Shariff comments on Islam and Sudan:
“Today Islam is responsible for almost all of the human sufferings from war, persecution, and poverty, particularly in the country of Sudan.
“Since the 1983 start of the civil war in the southern Sudan more than 4 million people have been displaced, and an estimated over 2 million have been killed because Islam has declared the Holy War (Jihad) (Qur’an 9:5) against the non-Muslim black indigenous people. Islam is responsible for more than 100,000 children either killed or sold as slaves in Muslim homes. Islam is responsible for raping and kidnapping more than 50,000 women during the war (Qur’an 4:3). Islam is responsible for cutting hands and feet of hundreds of innocent people because Islamic laws were applied; bringing shame and infirmity to many families for the rest of their lives. Islam is responsible of abusing millions of women every day through beating, atrocious treatment and emotional deprivation because of the Islamic teaching (Qur’an 4:34).
“It is a shame for any African American to embrace Islam which makes them a participant in these disgraceful acts. It is a shame to embrace Islam to enforce the practice of slavery, abuse of women and children and to humiliate human kind through persecution, poverty and destruction. Unfortunately, Islam always has two faces. The Islamic missionaries always present the peaceful, respectful and the nice face of Islam. The fact is, there is a real violent face of Islam that Muslims in North America try to hide. It is a shame for anyone who embraces Islam without thinking, asking questions or reading about the true face of Islam. Islam is responsible today for the destruction of lives and cultures. Sudan is a vivid example. Why would you want to be a Muslim and participate in their wicked ways?”
The Former Sultan Ali El-Shariff and Pastor George Saieg founder of Arabic Christian Perspective will be available for interview on Saturday March 3rd at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at a to-be-announced location, call (866) 533-6659 for details.
History Haunts Imperial Adventures in the Middle East
March 2, 2007
By Robert Fisk
The Independent, February 27, 2007
Out of the frying pan, into the historical fire. If only
our leaders read history. In 1915, the British swept up
from Basra, believing that the Iraqis would reward them
with flowers and love, only to find themselves surrounded
at Kut Al-Amara, cut down by Turkish shellfire and cholera.
Now we are reinforcing NATO in that tomb of the British
Army, Afghanistan.
Hands up any soldiers who know that another of Britain’s
great military defeats took place in the very sands in
which your colleagues are now fighting the Taleban. Yes,
the Battle of Maiwand – on July 27, 1880 – destroyed an
entire British brigade, overrun by thousands of armed
Afghan tribesmen, some of whom the official enquiry into
the disaster would later describe as “Talibs.” The Brits
had been trying to secure Helmand province.
Sound familiar? Several times already in Helmand, the
British have almost been overwhelmed.
This has not been officially admitted, but the Ministry
of Defense did make a devious allusion to this last year
- it was missed by all the defense correspondents – when
it announced that British troops in Helmand had been
involved in the heaviest combat fighting “since the Korean
War.” The Afghans talk of one British unit which last year
had to call in air strikes, destroying almost the entire
village in which they were holding out. Otherwise, they
would have been overrun.
Gen. Burrows had no close air support on 27 July, 1880,
when he found himself confronting up to 15,000 Afghan
fighters at Maiwand, but he had large numbers of Egyptian
troops with him and a British force in the city of
Kandahar. Already, the British had cruelly suppressed a
dissident Afghan Army – again, sound familiar? – after
the British residency had been sacked and its occupants
murdered. Britain’s reaction at the time was somewhat
different from that followed today.
Britain’s army was run from imperial India where Lord
Lytton, the viceroy, urged his man in Kabul – Gen.
Roberts, later Lord Roberts of Kandahar – to crush the
uprising with the utmost brutality. “Every Afghan brought
to death, I shall regard as one scoundrel the less in a
nest of scoundrelism.”
Roberts embarked on a reign of terror in Kabul, hanging
almost a hundred Afghans.
The commander of the rebellious Afghans was Ayub Khan,
whose brother was forced to abdicate as king after the
Kabul uprising. When Ayub Khan re-emerged from the deserts
of the west – he marched down from that old warlord
territory of Herat toward Kandahar – the luckless Burrows
was sent to confront him. Almost a thousand British and
Indian troops were to be slaughtered in the coming hours
as Ayub Khan’s army fired shells from at least 30 artillery
pieces and then charged at them across the fields and dried-
up river at Maiwand.
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The official British inquiry – it was covered in red cloth
and ran to 734 pages – contains many photographs of the
landscape over which the battle was fought. The hills and
distant mountains, of course, are identical to those that
are now videotaped by “embedded” reporters in the British
Army.
Outgunned and outmaneuvered, the British found themselves
facing a ruthless enemy. Col. Mainwaring of the 30th Bombay
Infantry wrote a chilling report for the authorities in
Delhi. “The whole of the ground… was covered with swarms
of ‘ghazis’ and banner-men. The ‘ghazis’ were actually in
the ranks of the Grenadiers, pulling the men out and hack-
ing them down with their swords.”
The wreckage of the British Army retreated all the way to
Kandahar where they were besieged, until rescued by Gen.
Roberts himself, whose famous march of 10,000 troops from
Kandahar – a distance of 300 miles covered in just 20 days
- is now military legend.
History, it seems, haunts all our adventures in the Middle
East. Who would have believed that after the British
reached Baghdad in a 1917 invasion, they would face an
insurgency which, in speed and ruthlessness, was an almost
exact predecessor to the rebellion which the British and
Americans would confront from 2003? Lloyd George, then
prime minister, stood up in the House of Commons to insist
that the British occupation force had to stay in Iraq.
Otherwise, he warned, the country would be plunged into
civil war.
Sound familiar? One of the greatest defeats of British
forces anywhere in the world had occurred more than four
decades before Maiwand, on the Kabul Gorge in 1842, when
an entire British Army was wiped out by Afghan fighters
in the snow.
The sole survivor, the famous Dr. Brydon, managed to out-
horse two armed Afghans and ride into the British compound
in Jalalabad.
So now the British are to reinforce Afghanistan yet again.
Flying by Chinook to Kandahar will not take as long as
Roberts’s 20 days.
British soldiers are unlikely even to enter Kandahar’s
central square. But if they do, they might care to look
at the few ancient cannon on the main roundabout: all
that is left of Roberts’s artillery.
