‘There are these black [for one terrible moment we both think she's going to say ‘people'] bins up the road you're supposed to put them in,' she says, but I'm not going up there at night.' L looks at her and asks, ‘so you're just going to leave that there, are you?' ‘Well, what am I supposed to do?' she asks, looking simultaneously embarrassed, arrogant and slightly resentful in the way that posh people in London often do, and we walk on, laughing.

Just over twenty fours hours later we're in the Tandoori Centre, where a woman with similarly expensively-educated vowels is on a drunken loop, repeating questions to the very patient takeaway staff, asking them where they're from. She says it's nice that countries like India have their own beer. ‘Ten years I've been living here, just around the corner. Nearly ten years,' she says again and again until she gets her takeway and leaves.

A longstanding effort to replace a church with a mosque in Kenya's northern town of Garissa culminated in an attack by 50 Muslim youths this month that left the worship building in ruins, reports MNN.

Compass Direct reports the gang stormed the building of Redeemed Gospel Church and pelted the congregation with stones, sending many Christians fleeing while others became embroiled in fistfights. Ten Christians received hospital treatment for minor injuries and were released.

Jonathan Racho with International Christian Concern says anti-Christian violence is growing in Northern Kenya. "It's a part of Kenya where Muslims make up the majority, so there is a growing hostility against Christians in these parts, and this is partly because of the growth and influence of Islam elements inside Somalia."

Most of the people there are ethnic Somalis.

Tensions between Christians and the Muslim-majority population in the semi-desert town of 20,000 people began simmering after Muslims built a mosque next to the church in June 2007. Purchasing its land on Nov. 1, 1999, the church had begun worshipping there by early 2001, eventually growing to 400 members.

Church leaders complained to the district commissioner in June 2007 that the new mosque was built too close to the church -- only three meters separate the two structures -- and that it was blocking the church entryway.

The government is striving to avert further incidents by preventing the Christians from returning to the ruined structure, according to a Provincial Police official identified only as Chelimo. With tensions expected to rise during the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, he said police were taking precautionary measures to ensure that the congregation never returned to their property.

"To allow this would be suicidal," Chelimo told Compass. "We have deployed five security guards every day to make sure that the members of the church will not enter its structure."

Racho says Christians are turning to authorities, but "no one in the administration is protecting them. The Christians are not being protected. The people who attacked them are free on the streets. They are not in prison. This is really disappointing."

Christians are concerned the more violence is coming, says Racho. "The Muslims in Garrisa are openly saying that they are going to destroy other churches, too. So there is no reason why they won't implement what they are saying."

Report from the Christian Telegraph

Well well well, we live in a small world. Every other person I know on the internet is connected to someone else I don't know, who is actually a friend of someone I know. I find old schoolmates, long forgotten ones, ones whom I had admired, ones whom I avoided or was avoided by! I am often tempted to leave a message for them, a casual message, but then the clock (hangs like Damocles' sword!) keeps ticking, reminding me how little time there is, and how many chores there are to do.

Like doing the dishes for example. The kitchen sink is sparkling clean in the morning. Then a spoon falls in (Ting!), followed by a plate or a cup (Clang!). Then a few mugs (Dang!) that once contained strong coffee (not filter, I'm too lazy for that!). By noon, the sink still looks quite empty. In a couple of hours, more utensils (Ting! Clang!), more plates (Clang! Clang!), more cups (Dang! Dang!!), and somehow, by nightfall, there's a little mountain out there. Mums would be horrified, and MILs would be vindicated ;-) They always knew this girl didn't know a thing! And I don't care, I mean, about the pile of dishes. Because I am having far too much fun Ryzing. Until.... Clang! Ting! Clang! Dang! Crash....ooops, looks like there's been a landslide in the kitchen sink!

Cheerio! (Or, Chore-io!)

The accident involved a student walking on the outside ring who was struck by another student on a bicycle traveling fast enough to knock the pedestrian to the ground. The victim struck his head and ultimately suffered brain damage. He had to leave school and faced years of rehabilitation. I believe that, at the time, there was some question as to whether or not he would ever regain full functioning.

It would be a tragedy if it took an incident like that, or worse, for our university to pay attention to the hazard on our campus.

The recent death of another bicyclist in the south bay area, this time near Morgan Hill, points out again the vulnerability of people using human powered transportation. I am a bicyclist myself and I encourage the use of human powered transportation. Due to personal experience, having crashed myself and suffering life-long consequences of that crash, I know it is not a danger to be taken lightly. Operation of human powered vehicles is serious business and must be done prudently. The university, in my opinion, by not taking its role seriously, by not mandating safe operating practices, by not mandating the use of safety equipment (like helmets) is increasing the risk to both operators of human powered vehicles and pedestrians. We should be doing all we can to mitigate risk and the dangers associated with the use of human powered transportation.

According to the Morgan Hill Times [Link to story.]

Bruce Finch, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Finch was riding southbound at 9:45 a.m. when the front of his bike struck the front left side of the Honda, according to a CHP news release.

I hope it does not take a death for the university to take the situation here seriously. I think right now our university's administration is being irresponsible.

1. had a last minute shopping on last sunday - baju raya hunting. soo desperate i tell yeww, drag all my brothers along with hubs to midvalley. after few times tawaffing the mall, I almost gave up dah cos i was searching for something that can fit my bloating belly, n haruss look great in tapi tak jumpaa satu pun. tak main laa baju mandom2, nama raya kan? mula2 ingat nak beli kurung with pareo - from kriteria but looking at the price tags MAK AIIII 500 and above ! mahalnye! yg 1K pun ada! gila lah. im not spending THAT amount of money for a baju ok. lagi rela simpan beli breast pump. heheh i almost merajuk for not finding one that suit my taste (n pocket) n was sulking all the way while the brothers shopping sakan. hubby was patient enough to bear with my mood at that time ( THATS WHYla I HEART YOU SO MUCH BABY! mmwahhs) n when i was about to give up, luckyly we found a very cun yellow chiffon beaded kurung that was FABuLOUS! at MJ. sgt puas hati! it fitted nicely on my pregnant body n im 100% sure it will look as good once the baby is out. trust me , takde nampak gebeh punya. just nice. mmg worth every ringgit spent! so our tema for this raya was decided there n then . YELLOW!

tapi nak di jadikan cerita, on our way back ..i had a leg cramp at VINCCI while trying on one of the shoes! (padahal mmg tak nak beli pun) gila ah sakit nak mampus. hubby was panicking coz i went crazily half jerit sakit!sakit! sambil menangis in the crowd kat tengah2 hallway between shops tuh. sgt drama ok. this was his first time seeing me in great pain so i guess, mmg patutla kot dia panic. luckily my superhero brothers were there so these sportsman tachi knew exactly what to do . so there was me surrounded by 4 men ( bidadara) massaging my foot while menangis kesakitan. NIGHTMARE. org lalu lalang tgk je. ingat persembahan apa lah. hahah. this wasn my 1st time having leg cramps. dah banyak kali kena masa shopping n i had one while going out with afiq last year, so mmg dia tak panic langsunglah. thank you dear . I LOVE U very much! its a good experience tho for hubster so that lenkali kalau jadi lagi u'll know what to do ye dear! jgn pk nak dukung bawak pegi hospital sahaja. n we wont be having afiq around everytime, betul tak? hehehe

ok sambung later..

btw shout out to a blogger friend wafaa n aishah who just had safely delivered their baby boy few days ago. CONGRATULATIONS! n happy coochiecooing!

A new life at a new place. It was something he was waiting for from so long. He would make friends and even more importantly, he would be in another city, enjoying, away from all the mistakes he did in his past. But he knew being away from home would be difficult but the excitement overpowered the sadness. So, he was ready for the new world.

He made friends quickly. He was liking  the place. It was what he thought about before coming. Kind of a SMALL dream come true. No one to interfere, no one to blame. Just when he thought he would have a better life, he came to a standstill.

He saw her 'once upon a time classmate' sitting in his class. She wasn't his classmate but they were good friends then. They haven't met during past 7 years. The faces had changed, but still some traces of the personality remained. And also some memories.

He was confused about the situation. Even she didn't show as if she knew him. He remembered everything now. Every moment passing by him was turning to be embarrassing. He remembered himself standing in school uniform with two of his classmates and talking with them.

"What man. Don't embarras me." , he said.

"Oh yeah!! you MO*********R, then why is the need to be friends with a girl?"

"If I am friends witha girl girl that doesn't needits about sex. Do you get it? And if you don't get it she isn't like that. I am nota low standard guy. My standard is higher than her."

Speaking this was what he considered his biggest mistake when he saw her standing next to himself.

Life goes circles they say, and here he was, remembering old memories and thinking about the upcoming days. Confused about talking to her or not he spent his night thinking. What if she doesn't talk? What if she does and says something which he wouldn't like?
Varoius thoughts came into his mind, but he decided that he would take the initiative.

Next day at college he would go and try his luck. Rest depends on her.

....................................................................................................................  

He woke up and glanced at the timetable.

"LAB!!", his eyes sparkled.

Lab was an oppurtunity for him to talk to her. He was still nervous whether it would be worth it or not.

The time he was waiting for had come. She was there and he thought he had the oppurtunity. They were sitting facing each other. But both kept ignoring each other as if they had seen each other first time. The urge of talking to her was increasing. He was about to start the mission. He opened his mouth but with great timing the lab assistant announced his name.

" You are in the first batch. come here!"

It seemed oppurtunities many a times are not meant for us,that we are always on the darker side when it matters. He kept on htinking about his bad luck. Thinking of it wouldn't restrain the lab assistant to give him the experiment to write.

So, he was back to his place, writing his experiment and cursing his luck. Thinking, he wouldnot be able to get an oppurtunity like this again.

Thhe bell rang and he almost finished writing his experiment, just when he heard a voice.

"Excuse me?"

He was astonished to see the girl behind her. God had different plans. The one he wanted to talk to came to him. He somehow managed to utter some words which sounded like "yes?"

"Are you Rahul?"

"yeah"

"Didn't you recognise me ?"

"yeah. Priya right?" , he knew he was damn right.

"yup. How are you?"

And they went on to be better friends.

PS: Finally got some time to write.

PS: Didn't get a better ending of this story.

PS: Indore is good and i m loving the colg.

PS: only negative is the unavailability of internet :(

PS: rock on!!!

In talking with PPD Detectives, the following information they would like me to pass along to my citizens so they can make their neighbors/friends aware of some recent trends in our city.  There have been garage burglaries during the past week or so where the burglars cut the hasps on the garage door with bolt cutters.  Bicycles have been stolen in several of the burglaries.  

Other unsecured garages have been burglarized and taken were items ranging from miscellaneous tools to more bicycles and a golf club carryall.  

There have also been thefts of delivered items left on porches around town, and this is also occurring in neighboring communities such as Sierra Madre and Arcadia.

Of particular note, please help your older neighbors stay safe.  There are suspicious individuals coming into the city.  In one example, two subjects knock on an elderly resident’s front door and try to sell him a product.  One of the sellers asks for a pen, glass of water, etc. When the elderly resident walks away from the door, these "salespeople" enter the home and start looking around.  

Luckily, in the above described incident, a neighbor saw these people enter the home, knew something was not right, and went over to the elderly neighbor’s house, at which time the two “salespersons” left in a hurry.

We mentioned before to be sure and secure your doors and windows, especially when retiring for the night.  Case in point: an older lady went to sleep one night and forgot to lock her door.  She woke up to find an intruder going through change on her dresser.  She screamed and he ran away, so luckily she was unhurt, but this could have ended very badly.

Our friendly and helpful Auto Burglary detective is pleased to inform folks that burglaries in the areas of the Rose Bowl and Eaton Canyon Nature Center have decreased 25% to 30%, possibly due to the apprehension of a couple of suspects.  To assist in this trend, remember to remove everything from your vehicle and keep it locked even if it is parked in your driveway or in front of your home.  

Pass this along to your kids, as sometimes when they arrive home from school, they forget and leave things like laptops in the vehicle.  One thing that the Detective is starting to see is fuel theft from vehicles.  The thieves burglarize the vehicle so they can open the gas door and siphon the fuel.

Citizens may want to give consideration to having a key locking gas cap as a deterrent.  Burglary of vehicles parked in underground garages is apparently random and more likely a crime of opportunity. Video cameras can be effective of these areas.

With the situation of the economy, continued vigilance and awareness of our surroundings cannot be emphasized enough.  Like our Detective says, reporting of suspicious activity and just paying attention to your surroundings can do a lot towards keeping our citizens safe.    

Cynthia Murphy

Police Specialist IV

Pasadena Police Department

Community Services Section

(626)744-7657

Cycling and skateboarding safety at SJSU

I have been a long standing advocate for the safe use of non-motorized vehicles on and around SJSU. I have taken a position against what I see as unsafe use; not because I am an old man standing on my porch yelling at kids running across my lawn. I have taken this position because I have seen far too many people hurt and am aware of the risks involved to both cyclists and pedestrians in an accident.

I am an avid cyclist. Just in the last couple of months one friend of mine broke her hip in a cycling accident and another friend suffered a fractured femur when he was involved in a separate cycling accident. Yes, I have other friends who have died in cycling accidents, one after being struck by a pickup truck.

Most bike riders and skateboarders at SJSU ride on streets to get to SJSU and to leave.

We need to remember; most of the folks we see riding bicycles and skateboards on our campus also ride them on the streets around our campus. Most bicyclists and skateboarders around SJSU do not wear helmets or practice safe operation of their non-motorized vehicles. When these same folks get off campus they often ignore basic traffic laws.

This accident was a block north of SJSU. I took this photo with my camera phone while walking to Starbucks. I think I recognize this cyclist as one I have seen on campus.

"BEWARE GUYS…..If you have a car…..!!!!!! AND BE SAFE AS ALWAYS.!!!

Just last weekend on Friday night we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker on the rear window of the car. When I took it off after I got home, it was a receipt for gas. Luckily my friend told me not to stop as it could be someone waiting for me to get out of the car. Then we received this email yesterday:

'WARNING FROM POLICE - BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE--NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)' Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating. .. You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car; that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED. If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and family, especially to women. A purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents, and you certainly do NOT want this to fall into the wrong hands. Please keep this going

This might happen to you, to your friends colleagues and any one you know = take care!!!

So I bounced this off with a few of my friends and apparently there were reports of something like this in the newspapers a few days back.  There are no two pov's here - this is downright disgusting

However, better safe than sorry . . . so just spread the word around if you want to . . .

The assault on Lebanon was premeditated - the soldiers' capture simply provided the excuse. It was also unnecessary

Tuesday August 8 2006

Whatever we think of Israel's assault on Lebanon, all of us seem to agree about one fact: that it was a response, however disproportionate, to an unprovoked attack by Hizbullah. I repeated this "fact" in my last column, when I wrote that "Hizbullah fired the first shots". This being so, the Israeli government's supporters ask peaceniks like me, what would you have done? It's an important question. But its premise, I have now discovered, is flawed.

• Since Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, there have been hundreds of violations of the "blue line" between the two countries.
• The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) reports that
• Israeli aircraft crossed the line "on an almost daily basis" between 2001 and 2003, and
• "persistently" until 2006.
• These incursions "caused great concern to the civilian population, particularly low-altitude flights that break the sound barrier over populated areas".
• On some occasions, Hizbullah tried to shoot them down with anti-aircraft guns.

• In October 2000, the Israel Defence Forces shot at unarmed Palestinian demonstrators on the border, killing three and wounding 20.
• In response, Hizbullah crossed the line and kidnapped three Israeli soldiers.
• On several occasions, Hizbullah fired missiles and mortar rounds at IDF positions, and the IDF responded with heavy artillery and sometimes aerial bombardment.
• Incidents like this killed three Israelis and three Lebanese in 2003;
• one Israeli soldier and two Hizbullah fighters in 2005;
• and two Lebanese people and three Israeli soldiers in February 2006.
• Rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel several times in 2004, 2005 and 2006, on some occasions by Hizbullah.
• But, the UN records, "none of the incidents resulted in a military escalation".

• On May 26 this year, two officials of Islamic Jihad - Nidal and Mahmoud Majzoub - were killed by a car bomb in the Lebanese city of Sidon. This was widely assumed in Lebanon and Israel to be the work of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency.
• In June, a man named Mahmoud Rafeh confessed to the killings and admitted that he had been working for Mossad since 1994.
• Militants in southern Lebanon responded, on the day of the bombing, by launching eight rockets into Israel. One soldier was lightly wounded. There was a major bust-up on the border, during which one member of Hizbullah was killed and several wounded, and one Israeli soldier wounded. But while the border region "remained tense and volatile", Unifil says it was "generally quiet" until July 12.

There has been a heated debate on the internet about whether the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah that day were captured in Israel or in Lebanon, but it now seems pretty clear that they were seized in Israel. This is what the UN says, and even Hizbullah seems to have forgotten that they were supposed to have been found sneaking around the outskirts of the Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab. Now it simply states that "the Islamic resistance captured two Israeli soldiers at the border with occupied Palestine". Three other Israeli soldiers were killed by the militants. There is also some dispute about when, on July 12, Hizbullah first fired its rockets; but Unifil makes it clear that the firing took place at the same time as the raid - 9am. Its purpose seems to have been to create a diversion. No one was hit.

But there is no serious debate about why the two soldiers were captured:

• Hizbullah was seeking to exchange them for the 15 prisoners of war taken by the Israelis during the occupation of Lebanon and (in breach of article 118 of the third Geneva convention) never released. It seems clear that if Israel had handed over the prisoners, it would - without the spillage of any more blood - have retrieved its men and reduced the likelihood of further kidnappings.
• But the Israeli government refused to negotiate. Instead - well, we all know what happened instead.
• Almost 1,000 Lebanese and 33 Israeli civilians have been killed so far, and a million Lebanese displaced from their homes.

On July 12, in other words, Hizbullah fired the first shots. But that act of aggression was simply one instance in a long sequence of small incursions and attacks over the past six years by both sides. So why was the Israeli response so different from all that preceded it? The answer is that it was not a reaction to the events of that day. The assault had been planned for months.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that

"more than a year ago, a senior Israeli army officer began giving PowerPoint presentations, on an off-the-record basis, to US and other diplomats, journalists and thinktanks, setting out the plan for the current operation in revealing detail".

The attack, he said, would last for three weeks. It would begin with bombing and culminate in a ground invasion. Gerald Steinberg, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University, told the paper that

"of all of Israel's wars since 1948, this was the one for which Israel was most prepared ... By 2004, the military campaign scheduled to last about three weeks that we're seeing now had already been blocked out and, in the last year or two, it's been simulated and rehearsed across the board".

A "senior Israeli official" told the Washington Post that the raid by Hizbullah provided Israel with a "unique moment" for wiping out the organisation. The New Statesman's editor, John Kampfner, says he was told by more than one official source that the US government knew in advance of Israel's intention to take military action in Lebanon. The Bush administration told the British government.

• Israel's assault, then, was premeditated: it was simply waiting for an appropriate excuse. It was also unnecessary.
• It is true that Hizbullah had been building up munitions close to the border, as its current rocket attacks show.
• But so had Israel. Just as Israel could assert that it was seeking to deter incursions by Hizbullah, Hizbullah could claim - also with justification - that it was trying to deter incursions by Israel.
• The Lebanese army is certainly incapable of doing so.
• Yes, Hizbullah should have been pulled back from the Israeli border by the Lebanese government and disarmed.
• Yes, the raid and the rocket attack on July 12 were unjustified, stupid and provocative, like just about everything that has taken place around the border for the past six years.
• But the suggestion that Hizbullah could launch an invasion of Israel or that it constitutes an existential threat to the state is preposterous.
• Since the occupation ended, all its acts of war have been minor ones, and nearly all of them reactive.

So it is not hard to answer the question of what we would have done.

• First, stop recruiting enemies, by withdrawing from the occupied territories in Palestine and Syria.
• Second, stop provoking the armed groups in Lebanon with violations of the blue line - in particular the persistent flights across the border.
• Third, release the prisoners of war who remain unlawfully incarcerated in Israel.
• Fourth, continue to defend the border, while maintaining the diplomatic pressure on Lebanon to disarm Hizbullah (as anyone can see, this would be much more feasible if the occupations were to end).

Here then is my challenge to the supporters of the Israeli government: do you dare to contend that this programme would have caused more death and destruction than the current adventure has done?

George Monbiot

www.monbiot.com

My Tags:-

*9 Israel withdraw 2000 Lebanon Unifil report aircraft incidents Hizbollah fire missiles border demonstrations civilians death IDF military :Guardian 2006 war disproportionate death army aggression assault Mossad Syria Palestine POW

article 118 of the third Geneva convention

This weekend I can say is the best weekend I ever had after coming here....I was not well...but still its was a lovely weekend....I felt soooo much at home this weekend...loneliness did not bother me at all this time......

Saturday:

We went for a small outing to see around chester.....Its certainly is a beautiful Place to live :).....I would like to share an incident with you.... When we went to the riverside.....there were some programs......since it was weekend.....there were 3 groups of old ladies....who were sooo enthusiatic to give us all a show.......First thing I learned..... They are sooo energetic even in their late 60s.....I love their attitude....so independent....they do what they like and enjoy....This I realised today is really what it means when someone says "Live Life to the fullest"....Hats off to them!!!!

Here, I witnessed something very divine....It is about a little girl....who came along with her granny...I am lucky to be there beside them and overhear their conversation!!! It went like this :
I kept the kid's name Pinky....Mind you she must be only about 4-5yrs!

Pinky : Grand ma....why are you not there this time??
Granny : Ohh Dear...granny came to see this time...She is not well enough to dance...(rather sadly)
Pinky : Uhh-oh....You want to dance??
Granny : I would Love to...(smile on her wrinkled but graceful face)...
Pinky : ohh....I could dance for You....give me the hat.....
then she took the hat and joined the dancing team....she was the only kid amongst these big kids!!

I really Love her for what she did!!! And mind you....she was perfect in following the steps!! God Bless Her...and Her granny is sooo lucky!!! She was in tears..........
This I call what is called "Innocent Love" or rather "unconditional Love".....No wonder Kids are God's reflections!!!!

This was what I wrote in Jan before even starting the blog may be....Today, I felt like posting it here!!! What say You about this??

25th Jan 2008

Today I am so immensely happy…॥

Ahhhh……Happiness is just in you!!!There is no particular reason why am I so happy….not any really!! I am just Happy!! Happy in the sense, some light feeling in the heart….like a feather floating in the air unaware of its path or destination just swaying in the direction of the gentle breeze!! I just remembered what a dear friend of mine said to me the other day….the conversation goes;

" He : Don’t try to hold air in your palms…..Its just escapes through the finest gap it finds!! (he was relating it to me trying to get hold of him)

Me: (to my own and his surprise) : I am not trying to hold air , I am breathing it through….it cant escape then……its within me, a part of me!!! (Translate it to Hindi its too good!!) "

Happiness is also just like this…..something when you try to hold by all means which never stay with you ……..the day you perceive it is something within you, That’s it!! You are there!

GARISSA, Kenya, September 29 (Compass Direct News) – A longstanding effort to replace a church with a mosque in Kenya’s northern town of Garissa culminated in an attack by 50 Muslim youths this month that left the worship building in ruins.

The gang stormed the building of Redeemed Gospel Church on Sept. 14 and pelted the congregation with stones, sending many Christians fleeing while others became embroiled in fistfights. Ten Christians received hospital treatment for minor injuries and were released.

Church leaders said the Muslim mob also destroyed pews, damaged the church building’s walls of corrugated iron, smashed the glass-mounted pulpit and burned the church banner with its stand.

“We had just started the Sunday service when, without warning, a rowdy group of about 50 Muslim youths invaded the church, pelting stones at us and destroying our structures,” said the church youth chairman, identified only as Suma.

Local media reported that the 10 church members were hospitalized, but a district nurse at the hospital told Compass that no one was admitted due to the violence. A church elder at East Africa Pentecostal Church in Garissa, about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Nairobi, confirmed that the church members were treated at the hospital and allowed to go home.

Tensions between Christians and the Muslim-majority population in the semi-desert town of 20,000 people began simmering after Muslims built a mosque next to the church plot at No. 21 Windsor in June 2007. Purchasing its land on Nov. 1, 1999, the church had begun worshipping there by early 2001, eventually growing to 400 members.

Church leaders complained to the district commissioner in June 2007 that the new mosque was built too close to the church – only three meters separate the two structures – and that it was blocking the church entryway.

“Prior to that, the owner of that land had promised to use half of it and sell the other half to the church,” the church leaders reported to the district commissioner in June 2007. “But in 2007, she changed her mind and gave it to the sheikhs to build the mosque. We reported the matter to the DC’s office that it would not go well with the church.”

Officials had ruled that no further permanent structures were to be set up on the land by either party until a later date to be determined by the district commissioner.

“The church faithfully obeyed, but the Muslims defied the orders and began immediately to put up a permanent structure,” according to the letter church leaders wrote to the district commissioner. The building of the mosque was allegedly sponsored by M.K. Roble, a wealthy Muslim in Garissa, according to the letter.

“The problems between the church and the Muslims began and have escalated since then,” it states.

Government security intelligence had reported that Muslims planned to destroy the church if it continued to operate within the residential area, District Commissioner (DC) Alois Okango told Compass. The administration had proposed a new site for the church to worship, Jamhuri Club, but two days before the attack church leaders wrote two letters to Okango saying they would remain worshipping in their building.

“We would like to notify you that our church members have decided to have our Sunday service at our usual place on September 14 and not at the new site of Jamhuri Club,” they wrote in one of the letters, “because we have come to realize that the new site is only temporary, and we will only move out of our premise if we are guaranteed a permanent place of worship.”

Okango told Compass that to avert a crisis, the administration has decided that the church should relocate temporarily to a site near an agricultural showground. The government also advised the church to sell its property near the mosque and buy another piece of land, preferably outside Garissa town center.

This suggestion, Okango told Compass, did not augur well with church members, who felt they had already established the church at the site and that it was the mosque that should be moving.

“The Christians threatened to go and worship in the ruined premises if no action was taken,” Okango said. “They said they were ready to die for the sake of their faith.”

The government is striving to avert further incidents by preventing the Christians from returning to the ruined structure, according to a Provincial Police official identified only as Chelimo. With tensions expected to rise during the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, he said police were taking precautionary measures to ensure that the congregation never returned to their property.

“To allow this would be suicidal,” Chelimo told Compass. “We have deployed five security guards every day to make sure that the members of the church will not enter its structure.”

Elusive Justice

Wondering why those who attacked the church had not been arrested and charged in court, Redeemed Gospel Church pastor David Matolo said the government should punish the assailants.

“The church has the right to be protected by the government – allowing the minority Christians to suffer is quite wrong,” Pastor Matolo told Compass. “Why should the Muslims interfere with the church’s worship? I as their pastor cannot shy away when my members are ill-treated. We are ready to pay the price, but we want justice to be done.”

He said church leaders had agreed on an alternative site only to have the district commissioner suddenly revoke it.

“The DC had promised to locate us to the provincial residential area, and we had cleared the said site, only to be stopped without prior notice,” Pastor Matolo said. “Now we have no place to worship.”

A missionary from Tanzania who works in the area informed Compass that Muslims have distributed leaflets threatening to destroy all churches in Garissa. They have also threatened to burn Garissa’s open-air market operated by Christians from “down Kenya,” that is, non-Muslims, he said.

The missionary said the safety of the more than 2,000 Christians in Garissa is in jeopardy, and he appealed to the government to protect the right of worship of all people.

“It is quite unfair that the Redeemed Gospel Church has been displaced and is now praying under a tree in an open space with no amenities,” he said.

District Commissioner Okango said that the administration must protect Muslims from the noise of worship emanating from church at night that has disturbed residents, as well as prevent clashes. In both the mosque and church, loud speakers had been set up facing each other with confrontational messages blaring from each.

“The government is sensitive to the feelings of the people,” Okango said. “We cannot allow disorder to reign in North Eastern Province in the name of religious patriotism.”

Land issues alone have not been responsible for tensions in the area. The Rev. Ibrahim Kamwaro, chairman of the Pastors’ Fellowship in Garissa, said Pastor Matolo had offended Muslims when he preached to a lame Muslim man.

Muslims were said to be upset that the pastor persuaded the disabled man to stop going to the mosque and instead join his church. Pastor Matolo’s alleged promise to the disabled man of a better life offended area Muslims, Rev. Kamwaro said.

Muslims restrict churches in Garissa in various ways: Christians are not allowed conduct prayers, sing or use musical instruments in rented homes owned by Muslims. No teaching of Christian Religious Education in schools is allowed; only Islamic Religious Knowledge is taught.

Garissa has more than 15 Christian denominations, the main ones being the East Africa Pentecostal Church, the Redeemed Gospel Church, the Anglican Church, Deliverance Church, the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya, the Africa Inland Church and African Christian Churches and schools.

Report from Compass Direct News

As for the stranger smells that I like, petrol is definitely one of them. When we stop to fill the tank (of course in the pre-Lehman-collapse days), I simply love to inhale-exhale-inhale-exhale, for the smell of petrol charges my senses!

I also love the fragranced baby-wipes. Have the mums and dads here tried it? Mmmmm  ...  they (the wipes) smell so wonderful, that cleaning up your baby becomes a pleasurable experience. Except, when you have just finished wiping the silky-soft bottoms, and a tiny hand reaches out to yank the tissue paper. And before you can say “Jack Robinson” (I would rather say “Jack Nicholson” – for his very apt line: “You can’t handle the truth!”), the entire room is covered with some brown stuff, which is far from being fragrant. It smells, indeed!

I wonder how some people (at work, mostly) always manage to smell good. They walk into a room, well-shaven and fresh, and a wonderfully strong male fragrance hypnotises you! So also with women. They walk past you, and the lovely smell lingers on, forcing you to take your eyes off the computer (or your colleague's legs underneath). Always makes me wonder… haven’t they bathed today?

Another thing that I find pleasantly elegant – are the fragrant facial wipes. I used to keep a pack in my handbag. It was just the other day, when a group of friends and I were enjoying a late-night walk. It got a little sweaty as we panted uphill. So the "new and elite me" opened my bag and reached for the small packet of fragrant tissue papers. Darn! I couldn’t find it. I dug deeper into the bag, but all I found were some old grocery bills, and even older sweet-wrappers. Then someone helped me with a flashlight. While I stood there perspiring, the tissue-papers finally emerged. Pretty as can be. A very light shade of cream, with lovely pink flowers, and subtle green leaves. The fragrance spread over to the entire group of friends. One of two of them turned around. I smiled a victorious smile.

“Move along, buddy!! Do you want to stay here all night?!” they screamed. “The boors” I cursed. “Wait till you see this!”, I thought. I pulled out two sheets from the packet, and dabbed my face and neck with it. Oh! The smell was absolutely feminine...almost divine! “Now they’ll know!” I thought, as I victoriously marched ahead of the pack. “Hey, wait!” someone called. I turned around elegantly. “Hee..hee…heee…ha…ha…ohhh…huh…ohhh…” came the giggles and guffaws. “Why are the boors laughing?!" I wondered. My boyfriend quickly pulled me aside. “What’s on your face, Pavi?” he asked. And quickly wiped the bits and pieces of tissue-paper off my face and neck.

Since that day, I always carry a handkerchief (p.s – they do sell decent handkerchief perfumes, if you are interested!).

----

So come on now, enough reading. Share your favourite smells on this post.

Uttar Pradesh, September 26 (Compass Direct News) – Police on Sept. 21 arrested pastor Sunil Rana in Gonda district on an anonymous tip that “forcible conversion activities” were taking place at his church’s Sunday worship. A representative of the Evangelical Fellowship of India told Compass that at around 12:30 p.m. police came to the Believers Church to make the arrest. Pastor Rana was charged for “forceful conversion” and released on bail on Sept. 23.

Karnataka – Police on Sept. 20 arrested a pastor and others in Siddapur, Uttara Kannada district on false charges of “forcible conversion.” The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that the independent pastor identified only as Biju and five evangelists were speaking with children in Guya Palakere village when a local Hindu extremist identified only as Halappa angrily questioned them and falsely accused them of forcible conversions. Halappa telephoned other local extremists, and soon a mob of nearly 25 intolerant Hindus surrounded the Christians and took them to the Siddapur police station. They were charged with “hurting religious sentiments,” statements conducive to public mischief and unlawful assembly. With GCIC intervention they were released on bail on Sept. 22.

Karnataka – Police on Sept. 19 sealed Bethel Church in Mysore city and detained pastor Samuel Channaiah. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that at around 10:30 a.m. three policemen led by a senior official identified only as Shivaram came to the rented church and questioned Channaiah about the prayer services. Shivaram falsely accused Channaiah of forcible conversions, sealed the church and took the pastor with them to the Vijayanagar police station. With GCIC intervention, Channaiah was released at around 5 p.m. without being charged. “No Sunday worship was held on Sept. 21, and the landlord has asked Channaiah to vacate the premises,” a GCIC representative told Compass.

Karnataka – Police on Sept. 17 stopped a pastor’s training program in Arsikere, Hassan district. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that independent pastor Hoysala Raj was attending a four-day training at St. Thomas Church on Sept. 16-19 and staying at the Vijayalakshmi Lodge. As he was returning to the lodge after a session, a policeman identified only as Nemiraju recognized Raj, whom he had previously arrested. At around 11 p.m. Nemiraju and two other police officers came to the lodge and began beating and cursing Raj. Nemiraju then took Raj to the police station, angrily questioning him about the training program and the pastors who were attending. With GCIC intervention, Raj was released Sept. 17 at 8 p.m., and he received treatment at a private clinic for internal injuries. On Sept. 17 at around 9 a.m., police went to St. Thomas Church and forced the organizers to close down the training program.

Madhya Pradesh – Three suspected Hindu extremists vandalized and set fire to St. Peter and Paul Cathedral at Pentinaka, Sadar, Jabalpur at 8 p.m. on Sept. 18. Father Anthony Rocky said the attackers broke into the building unnoticed and broke window panes, desecrated the altar, destroyed a cross and statues and burned Bibles. “They carried kerosene oil packed in polythene bags and spread it in the entire church,” Fr. Rocky said. “Setting it aflame, they absconded.” Father Davis George, principal of the adjoining St. Aloysius College, said that bystanders informed him about the fire in the cathedral. “There is no doubt that the Dharma Sena, led by Yogesh Agarwal has done this,” Fr. George said. He told Compass that the Hindu extremist group threatened church leaders some 10 days prior, saying, “We will turn the face of the church within a week’s time, as done in Orissa.” The Dharma Sena and Agarwal have been involved in many cases of intimidation and attacks on the Christian community of Jabalpur. Father Anand Muttungal, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, said Madhya Pradesh has seen more than 110 cases of violence against Christians since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in December 2003. “In spite of clear evidence, the authorities have failed to take any action against the culprits,” Fr. Muttungal told Compass. “As the elections are at hand, the authorities don’t want to annoy the majorities.”

Andhra Pradesh – Hindu extremists on Sept. 7 stormed a prayer meeting in Ayodhya Nagar, near Madanapally in Chittoor district. Dr. Sajan K. George, national president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), said independent pastor T. Peter was blessing the new house of a widowed Christian with about 25 others present. As the prayer service was in progress, nearly 20 Hindu extremists led by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad state leader, B.R. Narendra, barged into the house shouting curses at the believers. They slapped Pastor Peter and made false allegations of forcible conversion, beating and chasing away the participants. A GCIC representative told Compass that Ravindra Babu attempted to shield Pastor Peter and the Hindu extremists repeatedly slapped and punched him, breaking two teeth. The intolerant Hindus returned to the house at around 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 and warned the widowed homeowner that her house would be bombed if prayer meetings continued there. Pastor Peter filed a complaint against the Hindu extremists at Madanapally police station, and the attackers concocted a complaint against the pastor for “forceful conversion.”  

Report from Compass Direct News

It's been a long rest, and I'm almost, just almost, ecstatic to get out of the house..

I went out for a walk on my own yesterday.
(and somehow ended up spending $120 at the Watson's store..)

My speech and physical movements have picked up,
as it was previously a slight slur. I can type just a little bit faster than previously when I was first hit.
The headache's improved by not pounding as incessantly as before. That mentioned, my medication has finished and I hope that somehow I'd be able to get it off the counter without having to meet the doctor again.. The waiting time is a bitch..

I'm still easily breathless if I get surprised or shocked;
my colleagues can vouch for that.

Was at work the other day when someone decided to surprise me from behind, at 4 bloody am..
I managed take a seat before I realised my whole body started shaking so badly, I looked like I was having spasms. I wanted to take a breather by going to the balcony just along the corridor of the office, but when I stood up and took a few steps, my sight started to fill with flashes and the next thing I know my manager and colleague were rushing to me, asking me to lie down, for fear that I might faint and hit my head on the ground..

I have a CT brain scan due at the Singapore General Hospital, having asked to be transferred from Raffles Hospital as Raffles is considered to be one of those 'nifty', private hospitals, there I'm sure the price tag will be 'nifty' as well.
Besides, I rather be in a place where I know it's fully equipped and for that I thank my stars that I was born in Singapore..

To date, I still have not gone for my brain scan, and neither have I told my parents about it. As it is, my mother started sobbing uncontrollably when I went to Raffles Hospital for the mild stroke incident..
My stepdad somehow suspects that it's too good to be true that I was only asked to rest at home after all that hullabaloo..

I know that it's payable by Medisave if I'm admitted into the hospital prior to the scan or afterward, for a day. But if I don't then I'd have to pay everything in cash..

And Aidilfitri is coming..
I don't want to eat my cookies and cakes in a hospital..

I want to run around (okay, so now it's shuffling around) with my cousins, nieces and nephews during house visits..

And what's the Mr got to say on all that, you say?
Well I don't know.
I never asked.

Let's try get some sleep before tonight, shall we?

P/S: Thank you Sam for bothering to smuggle in food during my stay. I would have died if it wasn't for sane pieces of tuna croissant. It made a difference to me. Thanks.

NEW DELHI, September 24 (Compass Direct News) – The unprecedented wave of anti-Christian attacks that began a month ago continued in the past week with more incidents of murder, rape and arson, mostly in the eastern state of Orissa and southern state of Karnataka. Two Christians were also found murdered in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

“The atmosphere in the Kandhamal district of Orissa is still volatile,” an attorney visiting Kandhamal with a team to provide legal aid to victims told Compass. “Yesterday afternoon, we were going to the Raikia area, but as we were about to reach there, we were informed that a mob had attacked a police station and the police had to open fire. We had to flee Kandhamal right away.”

According to The Indian Express, around 2,000 people, including women, surrounded the Raikia police station yesterday to demand the release of two fellow villagers from Masakadia village who had been arrested on charges of arson and rioting.

Security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a federal agency, opened fire to prevent the mob from entering the police station. The security personnel resorted to fire after failing to control the mob with persuasion and the use of batons, added the daily. One person died and two were critically injured from the gunfire.

The attorney also said Hindu extremists had destroyed all communication links in Kandhamal, including mobile phone networks, and blocked some roads with trees and stones.

Rape, Murder, Arson in Orissa

Attacks on Christians continued in the Kandhamal district. While a young woman was reportedly gang-raped by unidentified rioters on Sunday night (Sept. 21), a man went missing and was allegedly killed on Friday (Sept. 19).

Father Ajay Singh of the Catholic Archdiocese of Bhubaneswar, Orissa’s capital, told Compass that a local Oriya-language newspaper, Dharitri, reported that a 20-year-old woman was raped by about 15 men in an area under Tikabali police jurisdiction in Kandhamal late on Sept. 21.

The victim, who was living in a relief camp and believed to be Christian, had gone back to her house to see her grandmother. A group of men stormed the house and took her to a nearby jungle and raped her, Singh said, adding that the police had confirmed the incident.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that Iswar Digal, who had taken refuge at Ghumusar Udayagiri relief camp and was believed to be Christian, went missing after he went to meet his ailing father in Gatingia village on Friday (Sept. 19). Digal’s wife, Runima Digal, filed a police complaint stating that Hindu extremists killed her husband after he had gone to the village along with her to visit his father.

She said the extremists had warned them not to return to the village if they did not convert from Christianity to Hinduism. Police, however, have registered only a case of kidnapping, added PTI.

The news agency also reported that at least 10 houses, believed to be that of Christians, were burned in Gochhapada area on Saturday (Sept. 20). An Orissa state official told The Times of India, “It is difficult to guard all the remote areas. But we are trying our best.”

The violence in Kandhamal began following the assassination of a leader of the Hindu extremist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP), Laxmanananda Saraswati, and four of his associates on Aug. 23. Although Maoists claimed responsibility for the murder, the VHP put the blame on local Christians, saying they killed him because he was resisting conversion of Hindus to Christianity.

According to the All India Christian Council (AICC), at least 14 districts witnessed violence with Kandhamal as the epicenter, and at least 50,000 people from 300 villages have been affected by the violence, with hundreds still hiding in forests. Some 4,000 houses and 115 churches have been burned or destroyed, and the AICC reported 45 Christians were confirmed dead with five others still missing.

Killing in Uttarakhand

Amid persistent tensions in various parts of the country following the violence in Orissa, two Catholics, including a woman, were found murdered on Monday (Sept. 22) in the Dehra Dun district of the northern state of Uttarakhand (formerly known as Uttaranchal).

A 56-year-old Catholic preacher, Sadhu Astey, and his disciple, identified only as Mercy, 32, were found strangled to death at their prayer center, called Samarpanalaya, in Chotta Rampur village near Herbertpur area in Vikasnagar Block, reported The Tribune.

Police said local residents grew suspicious when there was no movement at the center the past two days and informed officers. The center was found ransacked.

“We are investigating these murders to know whether it was done by dacoits [bandits] with an intention to loot, or there is something else,” Police Inspector Harish Verma told media. Dr. Sajan K. George of the Global Council of Indian Christians said he suspected Hindu extremists were behind the killing.

The Tribune said it was the fourth attack on Christians in the Dehra Dun district in the past few months.

“Sangh Parivar [family of Hindu nationalist groups led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS] activists had attacked Christian missionaries on Aug. 15 when they were distributing their leaflets,” the daily reported. “They were brought to the police station and beaten up. Interestingly, instead of taking action against the attackers, the police detained five of the Christian leaders for nine hours.”

Christians were also attacked in the area on June 4 and June 22, it added.

Uttarakhand is ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Attacks in Karnataka, Kerala

Suspected Hindu extremists attacked at least three more churches in the southern state of Karnataka, where violence against Christians rose to new heights after tensions began in Orissa.

On Sunday (Sept. 21), two churches were vandalized in the state capital, Bangalore, and another church was attacked in the Kodagu district, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Bangalore.

In Bangalore, extremists desecrated the St. James Church in Mariammanapalya near Hebbal area and the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Rajarajeshwarinagar area, reported The Times of India. Police told the daily that they had detained seven people and suspended a constable for negligence in protecting the churches.

In Kodagu district, members of the Brethren’s Church in Nellihudikeri area found portions of the front glass facade of the church broken on Sunday morning, reported the daily. The vandalism occurred despite two constables guarding the church.

Karnataka police arrested the state convener of VHP youth wing Bajrang Dal, Mahendra Kumar, on Friday night (Sept. 19) in connection with the spate of attacks on churches and prayer halls in several parts of the state. Bajrang Dal extremists vandalized numerous churches and Christian institutions in various parts of Karnataka earlier this month.

On Monday (Sept. 22), anguished Catholic Archbishop of Bangalore the Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras told Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa that he was ready to “shed blood and give his life for Christ,” reported the Economic Times.

Yeddyurappa had called on the archbishop and senior state officials after an emergency cabinet meeting. Archbishop Moras “greeted the visitors with a grim face without the customary geniality,” the daily reported, “and blurted out his anguish: ‘I am deeply hurt and saddened. This is not a happy occasion to meet the head of the state.’”

The Karnataka chief minister assured the Christian minority community that security at churches and Christian institutions had been increased. He also claimed that the attacks on churches were part of a conspiracy to malign the BJP in Karnataka.

Yeddyurappa said police had arrested three persons including the son of a local Congress Party leader in connection with a violent incident in the Sagar area of Shimoga district, reported the Rediff News on Monday (Sept. 22). “Ravi, another person arrested in connection with the attack, is said to have instigated these youth to desecrate churches by promising to pay 1.5 million Indian rupees [US$32,800],” it reported.

Yeddyurappa had earlier blamed the anti-Christian violence in parts of the state on a booklet reportedly circulated by a Christian organization that allegedly hurt Hindu sentiments.

But a fact-finding team of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), which visited the violence-hit areas of Udupi, Mangalore and Bangalore in Karnataka last week, has indicted the BJP government for “being in league with the Hindu extremist groups. It has failed to check attacks on Christians and churches,” reported the Hindustan Times.

The NCM will submit the report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to The Times of India, two churches were attacked in neighboring Kerala state on Sunday (Sept. 21) near the international airport in Nedumbassery, close to Kochi city.

Some churches were attacked in Kerala last week also.

Ban on Extremism – or on Conversion

In the wake of the ongoing wave of anti-Christian attacks in various parts of India, the NCM is mulling recommending a ban on the Bajrang Dal.

The Hindustan Times said the NCM was working towards a unanimous decision seeking tough measures against the Bajrang Dal, as its involvement in “frequent attacks on the minorities and their places of worship across the country has been established beyond doubt.”

The former prime minister of India and chief of the Karnataka-based Janata Dal (Secular) party, H.D. Deve Gowda, also demanded a ban on the Bajrang Dal during a sit-in protest in Delhi yesterday. Several other political parties have also urged the federal government to ban the Bajrang Dal.

But a senior BJP leader, Venkaiah Naidu, termed conversion as the root cause of violence and social disturbances, saying a strong federal law to prevent religious conversion across the country would be brought if BJP regained power in the general elections expected to be held early next year, reported PTI on Sunday (Sept. 21).

The BJP leader also asked the Orissa state government to strictly implement the existing anti-conversion law in the state.

The VHP’s central governing body is likely to deliberate on ways to further intensify its campaign against religious conversions in Orissa’s Kandhamal district at its two-day “brain- storming session” in Delhi beginning tomorrow, The Statesman daily reported.

The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) will hold a rally tomorrow at Lafayette Square in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. – the day Prime Minister Singh will meet with U.S. President George W. Bush – demanding an end to violence against Christians in India.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has sent a letter to President Bush urging him to raise pressing concerns about religious freedom in India during his meeting with Prime Minister Singh.  

Report from Compass Direct News

ISTANBUL, September 23 (Compass Direct News) – An unknown group of armed men killed a Syrian Catholic in violence-plagued Mosul, Iraq two weeks after his father was kidnapped and murdered.

The gunmen killed Rayan Nafei Jamooa near his home on Sept. 10. Few details have emerged in the murder case, but sources said he and his father were targeted purely for their faith. Nassar Jamooa, the victim’s father, was kidnapped two weeks before his son’s murder; the elder man’s body was found four days later in the city’s western industrial area.

A shrinking minority in Iraq, Christians are frequently kidnapped for a mix of financial and religious reasons, but Nassar Jamooa’s kidnappers did not ask for any ransom. He and his son were targeted strictly for their faith, said a clergyman.

“Nobody asked about money, they just kidnapped and killed him,” said Father Bashar Warda, dean of St. Peter’s Seminary in Ankawa, a small town near Erbil. “The reason [for Nassar Jamooa’s kidnapping] would definitely be a religious one.”

The murder comes amid other attacks against Mosul’s Christian population. In August, Haytham Khadar was killed inside his workshop by unknown armed men, according to Iraqi Christian website Ankawa.com.

In February, armed militants kidnapped Mosul’s Chaldean Archbishop Paulus Faraj Rahho, holding him for a $2.5 million ransom and demanding Christians in Mosul begin attacking U.S. soldiers. The archbishop was found dead on March 13.

Last October, two Syrian Catholic priests were kidnapped in Mosul while heading to St. Fatima Church to celebrate Mass and held for a week at a $1 million ransom. Church leaders did not confirm whether they had paid the ransom.

While the city’s security has improved following Iraqi military operations against Mosul’s militia, criminal and al-Qaeda forces in March and April, the situation for Christians remains tenuous.

Many Christians have fled Iraq from the violence embroiling the country since the toppling of Saddam Hussein. Attacks against non-Muslims are so common that police do not bother to investigate the kidnappings and murders of low-status Mosul residents such as Rayan and Nassar Jamooa.

“There are many incidents going on around Mosul, so nobody is bothering with an investigation,” Fr. Warda said. “Hundreds of incidents occurred like this last year and in Mosul especially.”

According to the U.S. State Department 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom, the Iraqi Christian population in 2003 was between 800,000 and 1.2 million. This year estimates of the Christian population have ranged from 550,000 to 800,000.

Mosul, the ancient biblical city of Nineveh located 250 miles northwest of Baghdad, has the highest proportion of Christians of major Iraqi cities.  

Report from Compass Direct News