tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6055529641471242832024-03-12T20:23:53.407-07:00Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen DsouzaResearch studies in development and peace with special emphasis on the rights of religious minorities and indigenous peopleLeonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-68685254005513574972013-10-14T11:28:00.001-07:002013-10-14T11:28:21.598-07:00MALALA YOUSAFZAI NOT THE ONLY ONE<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: white;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="260" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QS2f6i88OD8/Ulw03Nk50OI/AAAAAAAAALQ/Wh78GrL5uqQ/s400/art_leo1.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j1r7ySqR8mg/Ulw0-VJqTsI/AAAAAAAAALY/FykNCyA_Cms/s1600/art_leo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j1r7ySqR8mg/Ulw0-VJqTsI/AAAAAAAAALY/FykNCyA_Cms/s400/art_leo2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: white; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MALALA YOUSAFZAI NOT THE ONLY ONE</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If the pen is mightier than the sword then tongue is sharper and the
injury of sword can be hailed but the injury of the tongue never hails and in
the wars tongue is more destructive than any weapon</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is impossible
not to sympathize with Malala, a young girl. It is shocking that a young girl
would be targeted for simply wanting to go to school to acquire education,
which is her birth right as it is of millions of other young girls in Pakistan as
indeed elsewhere in the world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of more concern to
me is this. I don’t understand why the United States and British
Governments, and International Human rights organizations are promoting and
highlighting Malala Yousafza so much. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is one other
dimension worthy of attention and that is what the former British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown has done. He has launched a United Nations petition using
the slogan “I am Malala” demanding that all children in the world should be in
school by 2015. Brown’s activities on behalf of Malala and indeed other
children would sound nobler were it not for the fact he heads the “global
campaign for charter, for-profit school systems.” Hollywood
actress Angelina Jolie suggested Malala should be nominated for the Nobel Peace
Prize while Madonna put Malala’s name on her bare back! There
are more terrible facts which need to be identified by Human Rights
Organization, American Media and British Media as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">July 12, 2013</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> was
Malala’s 16th birthday. To celebrate Malala Day, the global community came together
to highlight the leading role that youth can play in enabling all children to
get an education. In support of the UN Secretary-General’s Global Education
First Initiative, international youth leaders convened at the United Nations
and in cities around the world in support of reaching the goal of having all
children, especially girls, in school and learning by 2015.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am wondering why
such a day is not assigned to Omaya Almas, <span style="letter-spacing: .3pt;">a
nine year old Christian girl burned alive in 2009 in Gojra by extremists</span>?
Rimsha Masih, Pakistani-Christian girl who was accused of burning pages of the
Qur’an and jailed, faced the death penalty under the country’s infamous
blasphemy laws? Samuel Yaqoob, an 11 years old Christian boy was discovered
with his lips and nose cut off, his stomach removed and his legs mutilated,
according to police the body was later burned? A young Hindu girl brutally
tortured and gang raped by police in Pakistan? Shia Hazaras young girls
who were killed by Taliban in Quetta?
Why such a day is not assigned to a 12 year old Christian girl, Shazia Masih,
employed by a leading lawyer named Mohammad Naeem, as a house maid for a
slave-like pittance of a few hundred rupees, was murdered after apparently
being raped? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">On 22<sup>nd</sup>
of September 2013, a twin suicide bombing at All Saints Church in Peshawar in
northern Pakistan has claimed the lives of 85 people and injured over 100 more.
Among the dead, several children who attended Sunday School and members of the
Church choir. A wing of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for
the attack, saying in a statement “They are the enemies of Islam, therefore we
target them. We will continue our attacks on non-Muslims on Pakistan land”.
Hundreds of Pakistani Christian children are under threats, they fear to go to
school in different areas in Pakistan, they feared to attend their religious
ceremonies. After the attack on All Saint Church Peshawar children in Lady
Reading hospital's wards, if they retain their faith, will at some point lose
out on jobs because of their religion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gazing up at the shrapnel-pocked walls of the church in
which she and her family had grown up, Sunita Iqbal, 25, a teacher, said she
had come to pray for her two older sisters who had died in explosions and cry
for the one new life created from the tragedy. Her youngest sister had been six
months pregnant and doctors safely delivered her baby three hours before she
died. "The baby was born alive during her treatment and I've not stopped
crying since," she said.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">They
may be accused under Pakistan's discriminatory blasphemy laws under which
Christians can be jailed, or like Aasiya Bibi, a farm worker, sentenced to
death after co-workers said she had insulted the Prophet Mohammad. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt;">There is so much bias that incidents like Shanti Nagar,
Sangla Hill, Bahawalpur, Texila, Toba Tek Singh, Islamabad, Sukur, Multan,
Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Charsada etc take place where churches, Holy
Bibles and houses are turned to ash with dynamite. Religious Minorities are
segregated and treated as untouchables. They are harassed, threatened,
kidnapped. Fake cases are registered against them and sometimes they are put to
death illegally. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I did research
studies on development and peace with special emphasis on the rights of
religious monitories and indigenous people in Pakistan from 1993 – 2010. In
2008 I visited different areas of Pakistan including NWFP remote areas, I was
conducting interviews for a research based study funded by Church of Sweden <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Rise of Fundamentalism and Its Impact on
Non Muslims</b>” and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">State
Accountability and Education Rights of Minorities in Pakistan. </b>While
religious fundamentalism in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon, it has strong
roots and a historical backdrop. Slowly and gradually it has become a powerful
and dangerous force in Pakistan. To start with the very key questions: why has
fundamentalism strangled Pakistani Society? What are the reasons behind the
rise in intolerance and fundamentalism? What are the forces behind this new
wave of suicide bombs, target killings, kidnapping of Christian and Hindu
girls, rape cases against minorities woman and young girls, torture and some
other serious cases like blasphemy against minorities?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pakistan is partner
of the US in war on terror. The ongoing proxy war on terror has triggered a
strong backlash against minorities in Pakistan, including ethnic and religious
groups, where minorities continue to be repressed. Pakistan’s status as the
frontline state for worldwide jihad is central to its governmental institutions
and their absolute command over society. The role of the establishment
injecting religious fanaticism and hatred is a classical case. The overt and
covert roots of fundamentalism in Pakistan are leading toward intolerance and
terrorism and its deadly impact on the minorities in Pakistan and beyond.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pakistan has a very
poor track record of protecting its minorities against social injustice.
Ironically, the State, instead of safeguarding the rights of minorities, has
enacted laws, which are patently discriminatory. No other law has had as grave
social and psychological implications for religious minorities as have the
blasphemy laws. The law enforcement agencies, mainstream electronic and print
media do not cover the issues of religious minorities as they should.
Minorities have few opportunities in other walks of life, such as education,
jobs and other socio-political development of the country.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I am fully agreed with Malala to promote education but what
kind of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">EDUCATION SYSTEM</b>? In the
view of the increasing incidence of violence in the Pakistan, are you looking
to change and promote an environment of great tolerance? Study material on the
rights of minorities and the need for tolerance for other faiths should be
included in school curriculum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ms Malala and many
others support and encourage you with all that you are saying, but how is it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">possible for the Pakistani people to educate their people and bring progress
without separating religion from its state affairs, and from the education
system? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Pakistan
textbooks have often served as a tool in the hands of successive governments,
for propagating their biased outlook towards history, politics, society, and
religion, in order to shape a certain national identity. Authoritarian
governments and the gatekeepers of ideology have always ensured the deliverance
of carefully sifted contents to the students, in order to mould them in favour
of an orthodox and reactionary system. Over the years the textbooks in every
national classroom, with a markedly communal attitude, have produced a generation
that is prejudiced and intolerant. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pakistani education
has failed to create national integrity and social harmony. Education Policies
have produced extremists, warriors and suicide bombers instead of intellectuals
and scientists. Teachings on hatred bias, sectarianism, religious intolerance
and extremism have been placed in the textbooks. Students have become
intolerant, extremists, prejudiced and biased against humanity in general after
reading these textbooks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let me explain it
with examples from the text books taught in Pakistani schools "Followers
of other religions are often busy in garrulous manners on their
festivals," "They do not express their relation or devotion with
Allah. On the contrary, on one hand these two festivals of Islam provide an opportunity
of entertainment and joy to Muslims and on the other hand they become a source
to meet one another and to help the needy."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is
propagation, disinformation and attacks on the faiths of other religions.
Students of other faiths are openly invited to convert to Islam through
textbooks. There is a preaching of Islam in the subjects of social and physical
sciences. Due to this, students of other faiths have to suffer and go through
mental and physical persecution. Their innocent minds are often confused when
they are forcibly taught teachings of Islam. Teaching and imposing another
religion is the violation of fundamental Human Rights.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
There is bias against the other faiths in the textbooks, electronic media and
print media. This Culture of intolerance is at its peak and the Ministry of
Education is responsible for this all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The attitude of the
academic staff is mostly biased against the students and employees of other
faiths. There is preaching of Islam in almost all the subjects. Dignity of Islam
and Muslim heroes is expressed in the lessons while there is negation,
degradation and attacks on the other faiths and the heroes of those faiths.
Sometimes derogatory language is used against other faiths in the textbooks.
Here are some examples:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sabir is a student of the sixth grade and studies at a government school
in Lahore. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sabir said that he
was treated harshly by the teacher at the government-run primary school he
previously attended. His teacher used abusive language towards him, calling him
“dirty” and “dirty Christian” (<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Choorhay
Easi</span>). He also used to beat him more than any other student in his
class. In his current school, there are several students who ask Sabir to
convert to Islam and say that if he becomes Muslim, they will provide him with
money and care. He refused by saying that his elders take care of him already.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sabir said he wants to learn about
Christianity, not Islam, in school. His teacher said everyone should study
Islamic Studies, but he was given a choice between Arabic and Computer Science
(he opted for the latter). In primary school, he did not want to study Arabic,
but was forced to by his teacher. Sabir wishes to be treated as a human being
equal to everyone else and not discriminated against for not being Muslim. He
also wants teachers and students to stop hurting his feelings or trying to
convert him to Islam. <b>Source: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pakistan
Minorities Teachers’ Association</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A Christian girl,
Qandeel, secured A+ and A grades in every class and secured 79.79% marks in the
final selection. Instead, admissions were offered to students who secured 73.51%
including 20 extra marks for being a Hafiz-e-Quran (learning the Quran by
heart). </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">Another Christian girl, Christina Philip told that she will never forget
an incident in school during a physical education class when, as I was passing
the volley ball to a Muslim girl, her eyes suddenly shot daggers at me and she
screeched:</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">Why do you wear that cross with an idol on it?</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">“This is my prophet…Jesus”, I said in a hoarse whisper because mother
had always told me never to argue with people about religion.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">“Just like you wear that Allah around your neck, I wear the cross.”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">“Idol worshipping is </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">haraam</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">,
and the Prophet hated idol worshippers. You are a </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">kafir
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">(disbeliever)”</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 37.3pt; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;">The word </span></i><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">kafir</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial;"> has
resonated within me forever.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 1.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 1.3pt 0.0001pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">There may be thousands examples of students in Pakistan who are being
discriminated against because of this unjust and discriminatory ordinance which
it seems is a continuous process of Islamising the state and makes non-Muslims
2<sup>nd</sup> class citizens of the country. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Students of other
faith have been so much brain washed that they fear to appear in the subject of
Ethics or Civics due to bias against them by the Muslim examiners. That is why
they give priority to appear in the subject of Islamic Studies and have to hide
their faiths. There is biased and intolerant material against the other faiths
in the subject of Islamic Studies. Muslim students are provoked against the
other faiths. Such words and terms are used that create disharmony among human
beings. The antonym of ‘Muslim’ is ‘Kafir’ (non-believer). Textbooks are
playing the role of clerics and are busy in preaching Islam to non-Muslims by
all means. This can be simply observed from the following sentence which is
taken from the book of Islamic studies, Grade 7, page 29 and line 12, “Write a
letter to any of your non-Muslim friend conveying him/her the invitation of
Islam”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
There is the use of Islamic terms in the subjects of Social Sciences and
languages. There are lessons of Arabic and Islamic teachings in the subjects of
Urdu Languages especially and students belonging to other faiths are forced to
study them. Students of other faiths other than Islam have to face biased and
discriminatory attitude of the teachers in the practical of Home Economics,
Muslim teachers mostly do not taste the cooking of these students and menial
establishment is asked to taste their cooking and to the report the teacher/s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">There is
discrimination with the students of other faiths in the assembly in the public
educational institutions. There is recitation from the Quran, Naat (a poem in
Praise of Prophet Mohammad), and sermon delivered from the teachings of Islam.
Students of other faiths are forced to attend the assembly that is held for the
Muslim Students. Students and teachers of other faiths face problem to
pronounce the exact names of Islamic terms which are mostly in Arabic. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Students of other
faiths are deliberately ignored in the classes. They are treated as
untouchables and are segregated. They cannot use utensils in which Muslim
students eat or drink. There is inhuman treatment with them. They are called as
“Choora” (Untouchables)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There is
discrimination of 20 marks with the students of other faith in NAZRA (reciting
the Quran by heart). This discrimination entirely goes against the student of
other faiths in Pakistan and it becomes very difficult for them to get
admission in higher education.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My Dear Malala, you are not the only one shot by Pakistani
Taliban. Now I come to the main point that is EDUCATION, it is amazing that you
are shouting for education. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you and the UNO pretending that you were shot due to
education when that is not the reason? Be honest. There is a big question mark
here, both for you and all your supporters, who never seem to take any steps
when they hear of the many horror stories of abduction, rape, false blasphemy
accusations and murders that Pakistani Christians suffer. Are you and your
supporters really willing to change the education system in Pakistan, which is
creating religious intolerance in Pakistan? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Are you willing to launch an effective advocacy campaign in
order to challenge the current fundamentalist religious political interests
that have become a formidable barrier in the way of education reform in
Pakistan? Non-Muslims and other vulnerable groups have made enormous
contributions in every sphere of our life. Ironically, even then they cannot
become good citizens as the proponents of the theocratic approach seek to
promote an agenda for an Islamic chauvinistic state that defines good
citizenship through a religious framework. In their view, only an orthodox
Muslim is a good citizen. Here it can be said that acquisition of religious
knowledge is neither necessary nor sufficient for preparing good citizens. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The textbooks continue to refer to the “ideology of
Pakistan,” stressing that Pakistan was created for Islam hence a good citizen
is a person who follows Islamic teachings and seeks to strengthen the Muslim
Ummah or community. By creating a compliant Muslim citizenry, the textbooks
seek to create a monolithic Islamic state, a mission that is conceptually at
odds with the notion of the modern nation-state. Conversely, a good citizen is
a person who lives by democratic ideals such as religious freedom and equality.
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: white; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: white; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-16387969799364369062013-07-20T04:52:00.000-07:002013-07-20T04:52:31.143-07:00Leonard Dsouza Significant Achievement Awards<span class="userContent">Significant Achievement Awards - Contribution in the Community - Falkirk Council<br /> Statement from Falkirk Council:</span><br />
<span class="userContent"><br /> "Since arriving in the Falkirk area Leonard has involved himself in the communities he has stayed in. Leonard is a man of many <span class="text_exposed_show">skills
which he has used to support service providers and community groups to
develop their marketing and website developments. Leonard has done this
through volunteering wherever & whenever possible and by providing a
professionally recognised service.</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzHmcproRRg/Uep5efejudI/AAAAAAAAAKo/xQEBui2-9Pc/s1600/award.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qzHmcproRRg/Uep5efejudI/AAAAAAAAAKo/xQEBui2-9Pc/s320/award.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonard Dsouza Significant Achievement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CbMbkXHCGVU/Uep5l2K8oOI/AAAAAAAAAKw/6U56H0pPXoY/s1600/picty2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CbMbkXHCGVU/Uep5l2K8oOI/AAAAAAAAAKw/6U56H0pPXoY/s320/picty2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonard Dsouza</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMh-AGHnniw/Uep5pfuT1iI/AAAAAAAAAK4/OFewKvvEjag/s1600/pcit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RMh-AGHnniw/Uep5pfuT1iI/AAAAAAAAAK4/OFewKvvEjag/s320/pcit.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leonard Dsouza</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> </span></span>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-50198084906646335482013-03-10T14:46:00.002-07:002013-03-10T14:46:47.110-07:00Christians protest Joseph Colony massive mob raid – The News International<div class="mod-timesofindiaarticletext mod-articletext" id="mod-a-body-first-para" style="margin-right: 280px;">
LAHORE:
A mob went on the rampage in a Christian-dominated neighbourhood in
this eastern Pakistani city on Saturday following reports that a
Christian man had committed blasphemy, burning scores of houses and
driving out about 150 families.<br />
The trouble began on Friday, when
over 2,000 enraged Muslims gathered around Joseph Colony at Noor Road
and pelted stones at the homes of 150 Christian families.<br />
<br />
<div class="mod-timesofindiaarticletextwithadcpc mod-timesofindiaarticletext mod-articletext" id="mod-a-body-after-first-para">
The mob was led by one Shafiq Ahmed, who claimed he was looking for a
Christian named Savan Masih as he had allegedly committed blasphemy.<br />
Though the mob could not trace Masih, some men found his 65-year-old
father Chaman Masih and assaulted him. They then burnt Masih's home.<br />
Late in the evening, the mob dispersed after a large police contingent
was posted in the area and officials said they had registered an FIR
against Masih under the blasphemy law.<br />
On Saturday morning, a mob
of over 3,000 people stormed Joseph Colony, driving out all the
Christian families. Members of the mob then vandalized and burnt scores
of homes.<br />
Witnesses and local residents said policemen did
nothing to stop them. Footage on television showed houses and cars on
fire at Joseph Colony.<br />
Smoke billowed out of the ruins of several houses as members of the mob stood watching on the streets.<br />
The mob dispersed late in the afternoon after the cleric of a nearby
mosque assured them that action would be taken against the alleged
blasphemer.<br />
Police officials said they had arrested 26-year-old Savan Masih on a charge of blasphemy.<br />
Pervaiz Rashid, a spokesman for the PML(N) that rules Punjab province, said chief minister <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Shahbaz-Sharif">Shahbaz Sharif</a> had ordered an inquiry into the incident.<br />
He said stern action will be taken against those responsible for taking
the law into their hands and storming the Christian neighbourhood.</div>
</div>
Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-16615053324146312142012-01-16T03:48:00.001-08:002012-01-16T03:48:15.279-08:00Imran Khan’s Political InningsImran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have spent many years in Pakistan’s political wilderness. Despite his platform for change and condemnation of the incessantly corrupt Pakistani political culture, PTI has had very little to show for itself in Pakistan’s political system since it was founded in 1996. So it came as a total surprise to many to observe Imran Khan reverse his political fortunes by leading a massive rally in Lahore recently. Estimates vary from 70,000 to over 200,000 people at the rally, depending upon who you talk to. Whatever the number it is poignant to note that Khan’s rally build up was given generous televised support in advance by parts of the media which without objection from Pakistan’s ever powerful establishment seems inconceivable.<br />
.. This is proven and further complicated by the fact that Khan himself is beginning to accept old politicians from the established parties such as Mian Muhammad Azhar, Abdul Aleem Khan, Iftikhar Jhagra, and Shahid Akram Bhinder with many other PML-Q and PPP deserters looking to climb aboard the PTI ship. The biggest heavyweight arrival so far though with equally proportionate baggage is that of former PPP Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who has quite spectacularly been installed as PTI’s ‘Vice Chairman’. Qureshi is the man who oversaw the subservient foreign policy for much of the PPP led government’s tenure including the secret pact with the US for the drone strikes which PTI has continuously denounced. Moreover the choice and addition of the notorious former Intelligence Bureau Chief and PPP legislator Masood Sharif Khattak can only strengthen claims of PTI becoming close to the establishment. (Excerpts from Atif Salahuddin’s article from View Point Online, Dec. 9, 2011 – Image: Dec.2)<br />
Backdoor diplomacy: PTI ‘comfortable’ working with the US: Sloganeering and public rhetoric aside, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would be willing to partner with the United States, party leaders say. Party Chairman Imran Khan, at a recent meeting with the US ambassador, indicated that his party would be ‘absolutely comfortable’ working with the US on all issues, including the war on terror, since both countries have strong mutual interests. (TET, Dec. 12)Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-49065184947072028162012-01-16T03:45:00.001-08:002012-01-16T03:45:40.344-08:00Christian Receives Death Threats After Speaking OutA Pakistan Christian has received death threats for blasphemy after speaking out against the assassination of a government minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, himself killed for opposing the blasphemy laws. Arif Ferguson, 36, and his entire family have had to go into hiding, following death threats by the Pakistan Taliban and others. (Inspire, Dec. 9, 2011)Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-10663559350676421392012-01-16T03:44:00.001-08:002012-01-16T03:44:10.983-08:00Muslim Terrorists Killed Shahbaz Bhatti, Interior Minister Says (Leonard Blog)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Author>Family</o:Author> <o:Version>11.9999</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">Those who murdered Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, belong to Sipah-e-Sahaba, a Muslim terrorist organisation, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said during a Christmas event in Islamabad. In cooperation with Interpol, Pakistani authorities are making all possible efforts to bring them back to Pakistan after they fled to Dubai. <i>(Asia News, Dec. 27, 2011)</i></span></div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-19244559342677450382012-01-16T03:29:00.001-08:002012-01-16T03:29:49.736-08:00A Pakistani Christian High School Teacher along with family have faced death threats from extremist Islamic organization and Radical Muslim Families<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Peshawar – Pakistan</span></u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">-- A Pakistani Christian couple Raheel Arif & Humaira Yousaf along with two children Rhea Raheel, & Roshaan Arif have faced life threatening death threats from the extremists Islamic organization and Radical Muslim families.</span></div><div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">According to the information Raheel Arif was being involved in the preaching of Christianity among Muslim students and colleague. Since then Raheel Arif is receiving death threats from the extremist Islamic Organizations and radical Muslim families. They also attempted for the abduction of their little girl Rhea to teach them a lesson, this action completely shattered them. Raheel and their family have managed to escape for safe place but finally found that there is no safe place as radical Muslim families has strong connection within Pakistan. Meanwhile they also tried to burn their house. When the family attempted to submit a complaint to the police, the concerned authorities rejected to file their FIR and forcefully told them to make peace with their attackers. The inhuman behaviour of the corrupt police system in Pakistan always discourages them to report the police as they were unable to face another challenge.</span></div><div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Raheel Arif has also been repeatedly mistreated by Muslim teachers and administration in the School for many years. Raheel also suffered an unjustified demotion from his position as vice principal, during a change in the administration of the school. In view of this injustice, Raheel tried to complain to the school authorities and to ask for a proper inquiry to be conducted into this discrimination. However, no one among the school administration would listen to him or accept his complaint. Raheel was very badly treated by the Principal and the school authorities and that he was systematically discriminated against because he was the only Christian in that institution. He is moreover concerned for his students, who are left with incompetent teachers, preaching religious hatred and intolerance.</span></div><div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1700598195msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt;">Raheel and his family have now abandoned their home due to continued pressure from Islamic extremist organization and radical Muslim colleagues and due to the fear of another deadly attack on him and his family.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-15556457424619911962012-01-02T14:56:00.000-08:002012-01-02T14:56:13.103-08:00Leonard Dsouza Nosheen Dsouza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnnbVuYlu1I/TwI2Axv1W2I/AAAAAAAAAJM/ouO22nQKOno/s1600/295712_1909908390061_1312400960_31701422_3680768_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnnbVuYlu1I/TwI2Axv1W2I/AAAAAAAAAJM/ouO22nQKOno/s320/295712_1909908390061_1312400960_31701422_3680768_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-91348457298355018862012-01-02T14:55:00.001-08:002012-01-02T14:55:30.139-08:00Leonard Dsouza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee-ru7J1XT0/TwI12wMWc0I/AAAAAAAAAJA/2waS3nGc6wc/s1600/296493_1909880989376_1312400960_31701411_4382657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ee-ru7J1XT0/TwI12wMWc0I/AAAAAAAAAJA/2waS3nGc6wc/s320/296493_1909880989376_1312400960_31701411_4382657_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-67674380122326256542012-01-02T14:54:00.000-08:002012-01-02T14:54:36.385-08:00Nosheen Dsouza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fysZKLWvN8/TwI1m53q4uI/AAAAAAAAAI0/a3zx5AqVBeI/s1600/297428_1909857108779_1312400960_31701405_4564303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9fysZKLWvN8/TwI1m53q4uI/AAAAAAAAAI0/a3zx5AqVBeI/s320/297428_1909857108779_1312400960_31701405_4564303_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-5336381811938997722012-01-02T14:51:00.001-08:002012-01-02T14:51:45.423-08:00Nosheen Dsouza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc8UaKCZNXk/TwI09VFbEoI/AAAAAAAAAIc/2q04Gko1RYg/s1600/231063_1146667869525_1312400960_30376199_1589119_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc8UaKCZNXk/TwI09VFbEoI/AAAAAAAAAIc/2q04Gko1RYg/s320/231063_1146667869525_1312400960_30376199_1589119_n.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-22250732884461915592012-01-02T14:09:00.000-08:002012-01-02T14:15:42.617-08:00We have no Hope from Imran Khan - Leonard Dsouza (A vocie of Pakistani Minorities)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3yIIq5E8xO4/TwIsVfg93cI/AAAAAAAAAHA/0xiLEcLp6jA/s1600/imrankhan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3yIIq5E8xO4/TwIsVfg93cI/AAAAAAAAAHA/0xiLEcLp6jA/s200/imrankhan.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>On public gathering in Lahore Imran Khan said in his speech that rights of minorities will be fully protected while addressing public meeting in Lahore but not commented on controversial blasphemy law, election system for minorities on reserved seats in National Assembly of Pakistan, Senate of Pakistan and Provincial Assemblies. He nor assured minorities to raise their reserved seats in parliament not mentioned Quota for Christian students in professional colleges and higher academic institutions and due share in job opportunities. <br />
<br />
We the minorities expecting Imran Khan to talk in detail for minority rights.<br />
<br />
Imran Khan might be a good cricketer but cannot be a successful politician in Pakistan weather establishment is conspiring to bring new actor in political arena to press upon Western countries.<br />
<br />
Who will protect the rights of Minorities....We have no hope with Imran Khan....Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-41371756337577339422011-12-02T14:17:00.001-08:002011-12-02T14:17:34.599-08:00South Asian Research and Resource CentrePlease visit our website <a href="http://sarrc.weebly.com/">http://sarrc.weebly.com/</a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #efe8dc; color: #273b4a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">The South Asian Research and Resource Center (SARRC) is a registered, non-partisan, non-profit and non-government organization for research studies on development and peace with special emphasis on the rights of religious minorities and indigenous people. It has also pioneered resource and documentation services in Pakistani non-profit sector.</span><br style="background-color: #efe8dc; color: #273b4a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: #efe8dc; color: #273b4a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #efe8dc; color: #273b4a; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;">Our resource centre covers a wide range of subjects including politics, human rights, minorities, development issues, environmental issues, culture, literature and labour. The Centre caters to the needs of international and national research scholars, university students, research and professional organizations, politicians, investigative journalists, social workers, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. </span>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-20027749106655108322011-08-15T03:16:00.000-07:002011-08-15T03:16:54.548-07:00Leonard Dsouza - Koran burning is not the right way to confront radical IslamBy Nasir Saeed - Pakistan Christian TV<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;"></span><br />
Protests against the burning of a Koran by Terry Jones last month continue in Pakistan. Condemnation of his actions by President Barack Obama and the United Nations did not appease Muslim sentiments, particularly those of Pakistani Muslims, and emotions are running very high as their resentment towards the USA continues to grow. The reaction of Pakistani Muslims towards the Danish cartoons, fitna and now Terry Jones and his Koran burning demonstrate just how easily agitated they can become if they feel their religion has not been given proper respect.<br />
<br />
Naturally, insulting cartoons and foolish acts like burning a Koran are incredibly hurtful to them. Muslims in Pakistan are a people who greatly revere their religion, the Koran and the Prophet Mohammed. These are things they value more than their own lives. Indeed, Pakistani Muslims in general are not afraid to sacrifice their own lives for their religion and, in the same way, many would have no hang ups about taking the life of anyone who insults the Koran or the Prophet Mohammed.<br />
Such a killing is not considered a crime by Muslims in Pakistan, but rather a religious duty, and the killer is treated as a hero. Malik Qadri, the personal bodyguard who killed Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, is one such example. Rather than shame or regret over his actions, Qadri boasted that he had killed Taseer because of his support for change to the blasphemy laws. In many parts of Pakistan, there was nothing but adulation for him.<br />
<br />
Pakistan has blasphemy laws to prevent any kind of insult against Islam or the Prophet and these days, even talking about or suggesting a change to the laws is dangerous. The government has bowed down to pressure from Islamic groups in the parliament and abandoned any effort to change the blasphemy laws.<br />
<br />
After the murders of Salman Taseer and Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, and with Sherry Rehman having withdrawn her Bill proposing reform of the blasphemy laws, it is going to be increasingly difficult for the Pakistani government and campaigners to change the laws that are behind so much of the suffering of Christians. Terry Jones may not be aware of it, but his actions have done Christians no favours. Instead he has put Christians even more in harm’s way and will only add to the suffering they experience living in Muslim countries.<br />
<br />
In Pakistan, desecrating the Koran carries a life sentence under Section 295B of the Pakistani Penal Code. In the US, there is no such punishment for burning the Koran. One thing I can be sure of is that Terry Jones is only alive because is an American citizen living in America and protected by American laws. One bishop in Pakistan asked for Jones’ arrest but this is highly unlikely.<br />
<br />
Sadly, even threats to Jones’ own life and the deaths of US soldiers and others seem to be little deterrence to him. The pastor said in a recent interview that he would rather die than stop preaching about Islam. Perhaps, but now others are having to pay for his inflammatory actions with their lives. The lives of many Christians around the world have been put at even greater risk. In Pakistan, they were already living under constant fear for their lives just for being Christians. Now they face retaliation for Jones' actions – actions which will not be forgotten quickly.<br />
<br />
If anything, we can be thankful that not more people have been killed, as could so easily have happened. Still, churches have been attacked and lives have been needlessly lost, and the result is not to make hardline Muslims reconsider their unreasonable attitudes towards Christians, but rather to radicalise them even further. The situation is so volatile that it could, at any time, get much worse.<br />
Akhtar Hussein burned a Bible outside a church in Lahore in retaliation for the Koran burning. He has been charged under Section 295A of the Pakistani Penal Code which criminalises “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs”. It remains to be seen whether or not he is convicted. The charge carries up to 10 years in prison and a fine, but seeing as almost every policeman in Pakistan is a Muslim and they have a tendency to protect their own, it is unlikely he will be handed such a punishment.<br />
<br />
Many Muslims have probably considered burning a Bible in response to Terry Jones’ Koran burning but I really hope that this does not become a popular trend as it could create dangerous tensions in Pakistani communities and destroy what peaceful relations there are. The international community must take this matter seriously, and particularly the situation of countries where Christians are already vulnerable and suffering for their faith. It may not be a crime in many countries, but needlessly insulting the religious sentiments of any faith community in the name of freedom of expression and free speech is nonetheless unacceptable. Acts of aggression cannot be the way in which we express our grievances about another faith or the behaviour of its followers. Muslim leaders also need to do their part to calm tensions by holding individuals to account for their actions against innocent people, clearly condemning the murder of Christians or attacks on their buildings, and by teaching their followers to respect other religions and religious communities. Human life must be respected.<br />
This one incident has done enormous damage to Christian-Muslim relations in majority-Muslim countries but that does not mean relations need to break down altogether. Efforts towards a deeper understanding and the emergence of a respectful common ground between Muslims and Christians can and must continue for the sake of world peace.<br />
Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-80463075617332242702011-08-09T02:10:00.000-07:002011-08-09T02:11:55.628-07:00Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam calls for ban on Holy Bible<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>Lahore: June 01, 2011, (PCTV Newsdesk)</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span> A press conference was organized by<strong> Jamiat-Ulema-e- Islam (<a href="http://www.senate.gov.pk/ShowMemberDetail.asp?MemberCode=429&CatCode=0&CatName=">Samiul Haq</a>) </strong>in Masjid-e-Khizra, demanding the Bible to be <a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=50016&Cat=2&dt=5/31/2011">banned</a>.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></p></div><div><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: medium; "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ez0xBQYHSVc/TeZKGr2YMvI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/lYU_Jbt0mgk/s1600/Malik.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ez0xBQYHSVc/TeZKGr2YMvI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/lYU_Jbt0mgk/s200/Malik.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="137" height="200" style="cursor: move; " /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: medium; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; "><strong><a href="http://www.dol.com.pk/Bishop%20of%20lahore.htm">Dr. Alexander John Malik</a>, Bishop of Lahore</strong></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; ">, condemned to the demand to ban the Bible. Bishop Malik, said agreeing to such a demand would be interfering in the religious matters of the Christian religion and violation of religious freedom fully guaranteed by the constitution.</span></span></p></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>The Bishop further stated that the demand would sow seeds of discord among different. The bishop also said that the Christians all over the world including the global heads of the Churches i.e. the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, condemned the heinous act of burning the Holy Quran by a maniac in the US. (<a href="http://www.google.ae/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTerry_Jones&ei=P0rmTankA4HtrAffpOGJCA&usg=AFQjCNHS7P3XGzAqhp--AHGR9klEsjgxRA">Pastor Terry Jones</a>)</span></span></p></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>John Bhatti, a Pakistani Christian residing in Kuwait asked "<em>What if Muslims were put in a same situation? Christians in Pakistan have great respect for Islam and it's Holy book but why not vice versa?"</em></span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span><strong>Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi </strong>and others <a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=50016&Cat=2&dt=5/31/2011">appealed</a> to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the “blasphemous” materials in the Bible otherwise they would move the court for banning the book, for which a team of lawyers was already working. </span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>Farooqi said his team wanted to pay the blasphemers in the same coin but they would not follow in the footsteps of Terry Jones, and would not burn the holy book. However, they added, they would devise some other mode of punishment to pre-empt future desecrations. </span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>Farooqi cited a number of scriptures from the Bible, saying such “insertions” strongly offend the Muslims, who hold all prophets and holy books in high esteem, as part of religious belief and never even think of committing any blasphemy against them. He rejected the possibility of a clash between the two religions, saying that as long as the courts are functioning according to the law, there were no chances of any clash between the two religions. </span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>Muslims refer to the Christian Bible as the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_%28Islam%29"> 'Injeel" </a>claiming parts of the Bible were added later and the original contents has been changed.</span></span></p></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></p></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>JUI is working continuously to convert the law of country according to their terminology of Islam and implementation of the Shari'ah law in Pakistan.
<br /></span></span></p></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI) is a political party in Pakistan. It formed a combined government in national elections in 2002 and 2008. The party has split into two separate parties: one is led by Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and is known as "Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (<a href="http://elections.com.pk/candidatedetails.php?id=2509">Fazlur Rehman</a>)", or "JUI-F", while the other is led by <a href="http://www.senate.gov.pk/ShowMemberDetail.asp?MemberCode=429&CatCode=0&CatName=">Maulana Sami ul Haq</a> and is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JUI-S">"Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami ul Haq)" or "JUI-S"</a>.</span></span></p></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></p></div><p class="separator" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: center; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1KnwlXJ0YM/TeZBjWvP-HI/AAAAAAAAAFE/J6r12XM7k28/s1600/Mullah-Sami.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1KnwlXJ0YM/TeZBjWvP-HI/AAAAAAAAAFE/J6r12XM7k28/s200/Mullah-Sami.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="163" height="200" style="cursor: move; " /></span></a></span></p><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span><strong><a href="http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=4180&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=26&cHash=2feb32fe98">Maulana Sami ul Haq</a> </strong>is a religious leader and a politician. He is known for his close ties to the Taliban and has been referred to as the<strong> "Father of the Taliban"</strong>. He has also served as a member of the Senate of Pakistan.</span></span></p></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>Sami ul Haq is the chancellor of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darul_Uloom_Haqqania">Darul Uloom Haqqania</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deobandi">Deobandi </a>Islamic seminary which is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma_mater">alma mater</a> of several Taliban leaders, termed the "University of Jihad"</span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: medium; "><span>
<br /></span></span></div><div></div></span>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-19589051631743496882011-08-07T07:33:00.001-07:002011-08-07T07:33:26.008-07:00Aurat Foundation's Unfulfilled Promises to Haleema Bhutto Family<div>From Leonard Dsouza - Most of these NGOs are headed by influential, politician, bureaucrats and rich people/elite. These are the people who plunder in the name of "NGOs" and deprive the deserving people of their rights. There are NGO people like Aurat Foundation and others who were riding on bicycles in the past, now own more than one vehicle such as Honda Accord, Honda City and Pajero/Land Cruiser at their home. Those had pennies in their pocket until yesterday now having accounts in millions of dollar, what to say accounts in rupees. The ill-mannered people now have their meals in five star hotels." The deserving people get a very small amount after a thorough probe. While on the other hand, NGOs get huge amounts on the recommendations of Ministers or influential. The proverb for such NGOs is "gold attracts the gold."What these NGOs are doing? Nothing! But plundering money. The amount which is plundered in the name of womens welfare has no comparison in the history. In most of the cases, the head or patrons of these NGOs are women. These are not the ordinary women rather, the wives of rich or elite. The question is, what is the purpose of these NGOs? And, what is the use of funds being received by these NGOs? If these NGOs had implemented the programmes according to their constitutions then unlike today, condition of the poor women was different. The poor women's condition was not so miserable. The society might not be desperate . . What they have done so far for Gujarat riots affected women?</div><div><br /></div><div>See Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNrqRT8FQ0U</div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-30393789747600138682011-07-19T06:45:00.001-07:002011-07-19T06:45:49.360-07:00A TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Why do so few understand its true meaning and so many misunderstand its tremendous importance? In this age of religious division and confusion, do you understand what the testimony of Jesus is and why it should be so vitally important to every Christian?</p>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-37556798189101845232011-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:002011-06-30T14:13:11.589-07:00Mettle of Pakistani Christians<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwSDF0smFa0/TgzmtHPWe_I/AAAAAAAAAGE/y6foos3gT5U/s1600/blog.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwSDF0smFa0/TgzmtHPWe_I/AAAAAAAAAGE/y6foos3gT5U/s320/blog.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624123697390844914" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To be a Martyr for the Lord, to be a martyr for the Lord</div><div>I am willing to die gloriously for the Lord<br /><br />Those apostles who loved the Lord to the end<br />Willingly followed the Lord down the path of suffering<br />John was exiled to the lonely isle of Patmos<br />Stephen was stoned to death by an angry crowd.<br /><br />Mathew was stabbed to death in Persia by a mob<br />Mark died as horses pulled his two legs apart<br />Doctor Luke was cruelly hanged<br />Peter, Philip and Simon were crucified on a cross<br /><br />Bartholomew was skinned alive by the heathen<br />Thomas died in India as five horses pulled his body apart<br />Thje apostle James was beheaded by the King Herod<br />Little James was cut in half by a sharp saw<br /><br />James the brother of the Lord was stoned to death<br />Judas was tied to a pillar and shot by arrows<br />Matthias had his head cut off in Jerusalem<br />Paul was a martyr under Emperor Nero<br /><br />I am willing to take up the cross and go forward<br />To follow the apostles down the road of scacrifice<br />That tens of thousands of precious souls can be saved<br />I am willing to leave all and be a martyr for the Lord<br /></div>Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-60806133679602778542011-06-24T02:35:00.000-07:002011-06-24T02:37:01.004-07:00Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouza Documentary on Shahbaz BhattiThe script for the film was researched, written and narrated by<br />Professor Paul and directed by Leonard and Nosheen D’Souza. Camera<br />editing was by Muhammad Asif and it also included contributions by<br />poets, Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi.<br /><br />The documentary includes protest video clips from the ARY news channel<br />that were filmed in Bhatti’s native village and interviews of Father<br />Pervez Emmanuel, Rao Kashif Raheem Khan, Member of the Provincial<br />Assembly of Punjab and Professor Anjum James Paul.<br /><br />It also included pictures of Mr. Bhatti’s death and funeral and thejavascript:void(0)<br />tribute paid by Professor Paul, written by Michael Ireland, that<br />appeared in ANS on March 6, 2011Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-87756027976886437562011-01-15T04:18:00.000-08:002011-01-15T04:32:11.373-08:00Our Friend Mehboob Sada - Pakistan mourns loss of Poet and Human Rights Mehboob Sada<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TTGTgTHIZJI/AAAAAAAAAFs/PSuUhyDr4Yc/s1600/mehboob.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 118px; height: 183px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TTGTgTHIZJI/AAAAAAAAAFs/PSuUhyDr4Yc/s320/mehboob.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562389197874554002" /></a><br />From Pakistan, Speroforum correspondent Xavier P. William reported that poet Mehboob Sada has passed away. Born on January 18, 1948, he died on January 14 in Rawalpindi. He has now been laid to rest at the Rawalpindi Christian cemetery following a funeral Mass celebrated by retired Bishop Anthony Lobo and Rev. John William.<br /><br />Writing from Pakistan, Xavier William reported, "It is announced with great Grief that Our Lord Jesus has taken our beloved Mr. Mehboob Sada ( Mehboob Francis Sada) for an everlasting life in Heaven."<br /><br />Completing his early education at St. Patrick School, Sada later graduated from Gordon College in Rawalpindi. Having started to write poems and articles from a relatively early age, he wrote under the name 'Sada' in various newspapers and publications.<br /><br />He married Agnes Joseph in August 1975. Their marriage was blessed with the birth of 3 daughters and 2 sons.<br /><br />In 1986, Sada joined the esteemed Ecumenical Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi, which according to William "became a hub of opportunities for different communities." Following his hard labors in the interest of interfaith dialogue, Sada was appointed Director of the Center in 2001. Under his guidance, the Centre became known for promoting human rights and democratic values. According to William, "His services for the promotion and protection of the minorities and human rights are recognized not only by the Christian community, Muslims, Hindus and Sikh admired him for his courage and devotion."Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-7654408745677149032010-12-31T04:14:00.000-08:002010-12-31T04:19:30.358-08:00Shahbaz Bhatti - Shame on You being a Minister of MinoritiesYou have no rights to called yourself Minister of Minorities - Resign from this post. Your international comments that "Minorities are enjoying equal rights in Pakistan", is much for us....Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-74869894479504779102010-07-22T08:40:00.000-07:002010-07-22T08:41:29.896-07:00Letter to Prime Minister of PakistanEDUCATION IN PAKISTAN<br /><br /><br />This White Paper is a document to discuss Religious bias in the educational system and general standard of textbooks. It is expected that the recommended Education Policy will be formulated according to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.<br /><br />The purposed of this White Paper is a draw your kind attention on the biased educational policies in Pakistan. These educational policies are against the teaching of the Father of the Nation, who founded a moderate and democratic state of Pakistan on 14 August 1947. It is a Right of all Pakistanis to receive education for the progress of Pakistan but immediately after his death in 1948 there were some elements that opposed his ideas and weakened the foundations of Pakistan for their selfish motives. They did not even spare education and constantly brought hatred, bias and discrimination in the educational policies especially against the religious minorities in Pakistan.<br /><br />There has been research on 52 textbooks in 7 different subjects. It is sorry to say that the purpose of the Curriculum Wing, Ministry of Education, and Government of Pakistan is to convert books and readers to Islam.<br /><br />It has been observed that there is religious bias and discrimination against the religious minorities in the curriculum. It is obvious from the present National Education Policy 1998 – 2010 where in the aims and objectives of education and Islamic education it expresses, “Education and training should enable the citizens of Pakistan to lead their lives according to the teachings of Islam as laid down in the Qur’an and Sunnah and to educate and train them as a true practicing Muslim. To evolve an integrated system of national education by brining Deeni Madaris and modern schools closer to each stream in curriculum and the contents of education. Nazira Qur’an will be introduced as a compulsory component from Grade I-VIII while at secondary level translation of the selected verses from the Holy Qur’an will be offered”.<br /><br />There is a propagation, disinformation and attacks on the faiths of other religions. Students of other faiths are openly invited to convert to Islam through textbooks. There is a preaching of Islam in the subjects of social and physical sciences. Due to this, students of other faiths have to suffer and go through mental and physical persecution. There innocent minds are often confused when they are forcibly taught teachings of Islam which vary the teachings of their own faith. Teaching and imposing another religion is the violation of fundamental Human Rights.<br /><br />Curriculum Wing, Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan is held responsible which is spreading bias, hatred, disharmony and intolerance against other faiths. Pakistan is cultivating what has been sown by the Ministry of Education in the shape of violence which is on its peak. It has not introduced a value based curriculum. There are partial, biased and narrow minded educationists and policy makers who are problem creators for the entire Pakistani society.<br /><br />Some examples are presented here from the book of Islamic Studies as well as other textbooks which is compulsory for the students of other faiths as well.<br /><br />Class 1<br />Publisher: West Pakistan Textbook Depot, Lahore<br />Page 8, Line 7 “Children! Say the Kalma from the heart and learnt by heart”.<br /><br />Class 2:<br />Publisher: West Pakistan Textbook Depot. Lahore<br />Page 3, Line 2 “Dear children! We are Muslims. There are millions of thanks of Allah that he created us as Muslims. Allah also likes the religion of Islam”.<br />Page 5, Line 4 “Kalma is recited to a non-Muslim to convert to Islam”.<br /><br />Class 3: <br />Publisher: West Pakistan Textbook Depot, Lahore<br />Topics on Islam, Islamic Heroes and Islamic terms: 7<br />Page 29, Line 13 “Jesus Christ was very popular among people. Due to his kindness and truth. King was afraid of to see his popularity and felt that he may not occupy his government one day. So, the king wanted to kill Him by sending soldiers but God ascended Him”.<br /><br />Class 4:<br />Publishing Date: January 2005<br />Edition 3rd, Impression 21<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br />Total Topics 45, Topics on Islam, Islamic Heroes and Islamic terms: 19<br />Page 22 Line 5 “2. Write any of your favorite Naat in your note book taken from any book or magazine”.<br />Page 60, Line 15 “And now, no other religion is popular in the eyes of Allah. Whole humanity is destitute to follow the path of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the teachings of Holy Quran for the welfare of religious and worldly affairs”.<br />Page 93, Line 7 “Understanding well the meaning of these”<br />2. Your law and constitution is Quran<br /><br />Class 5:<br />Code XLIV/AL, Edition 1st , Impression 5th<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br />Page 18, Line 4 “Followers of other religions are often busy in garrulous manners on their festivals. They do not express their relation or devotion with Allah. On the contrary, on one hand these two festivals of Islam provide an opportunity of entertainment and joy to Muslims and on the other hand they become a source to meet one another and to help the needy. Besides this they are a source to have a strong contact and relationship with Allah. That is why Muslims specially arrange for prayer on the day of festival.”<br />Page 20, Line 3 “How do the followers of common religions celebrate their festivals?”.<br /><br />Class 6:<br />Publishing Date: February 2005<br />Edition 2nd, Impression 3rd<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br />Total Topics 47, Topics on Islam, Islamic Heroes and Islamic terms: 29<br /><br />Page 35 Line 19 “Sultan got back mosques from the occupation of the Christians and gave to Muslims. While Christians had changed the shapes of Al-Aqsa and other mosques. Christians have always harmed Muslims and have even killed them. They occupied the territories of Muslims. They bitterly looted and ill-treated with the prisoners”.<br /><br />Page 43, Line 3: “Our dear country Pakistan came into existence in the name of Islam. According to the Quaid-i-Azam, Pakistan is fort of Islam. It is also jihad to sacrifice for its safety and progress. It is a religious obligation of every Pakistani to take part in it.”<br /><br />Class 7: Code No. XLV/AL: Edition 1st: Impression: 23rd<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br />Page 21, Line 14: “Write a letter to any of your non-Muslim friend, conveying him/her the message of Islam”<br /><br />Class 8<br />Date of Publication: January 2006<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br />Page 126, Line 12: “Different non-Muslim nations in the world have been opponent of the Muslims, and have often been cooperating to harm Muslims”.<br /><br />Class 9<br />Date of Publication: June 2002<br />Edition: 1st, Impression: 1st<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br /><br />Note: This book is for the students of Religious Minorities of Pakistan. There are biographies of the founders of different religions and teachings, according to Professor Muhammad Qasim Mazhar, Deputy Educational Advisor, Ministry of Education Islamabad. Biography of Jesus Christ and teachings of Christianity are not part of this book. According to him following are the founders of popular religions in the world.<br /><br />Lesson 21 Page 67 Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH)<br />Lesson 22 Page 71 Hazrat Musa (Moses)<br />Lesson 23 Page 74 Gotam Bodh<br />Lesson 24 Page 79 Zartashat<br />Lesson 25 Page 82 Shri Krishin Ji<br />Lesson 26 Page 87 Guru Nanik<br /><br />Please keep in mind that Christianity is the largest religion in the world and the largest religious minority in Pakistan. More than 80% of Christians live in Punjab but the Founder of Christianity ‘Jesus Christ’ and His teaching have not been included in this book deliberately.<br /><br />Class 10<br />Code: XLV/AL, Edition: 1st , Impression: 7th<br />Publisher: Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore<br />Total Topics: 21<br />Topics on Islam, Islamic Heroes and Islamic terms: 9<br />Page 4, Line 6, “Which is the best book to read and teach?”<br />Note: The answer of this question is the “Holy Quran”<br /> <br />Purpose of this White Paper is to struggle for the formulation of “National Educational Policy” but not the “Islamic Education Policy”<br /><br />RESERVATIONS<br /><br />1. There is Islamization of textbooks as Islamic prayer is written almost on each and every textbook while these books are for all the students regardless of any creed.<br />2. Curriculum in Pakistan has promoted bias, hatred, prejudice, discrimination, disharmony and intolerance against the other faiths except Islam. There is bias against the other faiths in the textbooks, electronic media and print media. Culture of intolerance is on its peak and the Ministry of Education is held responsible for this all. There is so much bias that incidents like Shanti Nagar, Sangla Hill, Bahawalpur, Texila, Toba Tek Singh, Islamabad, Sukur, Multan, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Charsada etc take place where churches, Holy Bibles and houses are turned to ash with dynamites. Religious Minorities are segregated and treated as untouchables. They are harassed, threatened, kidnapped. Fake cases are registered against them and sometimes the yare put to death illegally. It seems the main objective of education in Pakistan is only to preach Islam.<br />3. The attitude of the academic staff is mostly biased against the students and employees of other faiths<br />4. There is preaching of Islam in almost all the subjects. Dignity of Islam and Muslim heroes is expressed in the lessons while there is negation, degradation and attacks on the other faiths and the heroes of those faiths. Sometimes derogatory language is used against other faiths in the textbooks.<br />5. Students of other faith have been so much brain washed that they fear to appear in the subject of Ethics or Civics due to bias against them by the Muslim examiners. That is why they give priority to appear in the subject of Islamic Studies and have to hide their faith/s.<br />6. There is biased and intolerant material against the other faiths in the subject of Islamic Studies. Muslim students are provoked against the other faiths. Such words and terms are used that create disharmony among human beings. The antonym of ‘Muslim’ is ‘Kafir’ (non-believer). Textbooks are playing the role of clerics and are busy in preaching Islam to non-Muslims by all means. This can be simply observed from the following sentence which is taken from the book of Islamic studies, Grade 7, page 29 and line 12, “Write a letter to any of your non-Muslim friend conveying him/her the invitation of Islam”.<br />7. There is the use of Islamic terms in the subjects of Social Sciences and languages. There are lessons of Arabic and Islamic teachings in the subjects of Urdu Languages especially and students belonging to other faiths are forced to study them.<br />8. Students of other faiths other than Islam have to face biased and discriminatory attitude of the teachers in the practical of Home Economics, Muslim teachers mostly do not taste the cooking of these students and menial establishment is asked to taste their cooking and to the report the teacher/s.<br />9. There is discrimination with the students of other faiths in the assembly in the public educational institutions. There is recitation from the Quran, Naat (a poem in Praise of Prophet Mohammad), and sermon delivered from the teachings of Islam. Students of other faiths are forced to attend the assembly that is held for the Muslim Students.<br />10. Students and teachers of other faiths face problem to pronounce or write the exact names of Islamic terms which are mostly in Arabic. There is sometimes hard time for them and Section 295-C of Pakistan Penal Code can be applied against them and they can be put to death either by the court or hardliners. There is no need of any proof for this allegation.<br />11. Students of other faiths are deliberately ignored in the classes. They are treated as untouchables and are segregated. They cannot use utensils in which Muslim students eat or drink. There is inhuman treatment with them. They are called as “Choora” (Untouchables)<br />12. There is discrimination of 20 marks with the students of other faith in NAZRA (reciting the Quran by heart). This discrimination entirely goes against the student of other faiths in Pakistan and its becomes very difficult for them to get admission in higher education<br /><br />RECOMMEDATIONS<br /><br />1. Curriculum must be value based<br />2. The Message of the President of Pakistan General Perez Musharraf and appeal of the Chairman, Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore must be deleted or thoroughly revised. Purpose of the textbooks must be to create the atmosphere of social and interfaith harmony among the student of all faiths and races.<br />3. Besides material against the other faiths in the textbooks must be removed. There should be such a materials that may bring harmony, tolerance, acceptance and universal brotherhood.<br />4. Pronouns like “I, We, Us and Our’ must be used only in the subject of Religion when using in the sense of religion. These pronouns must invite the attention of Muslim students only.<br />5. Teaching and preaching of Islam, Islamic heroes and Islamic ways of life must be only for the Muslim students in the subject of Islamic Studies.<br />6. The subject of “Religion” should be compulsory for the students of all faith as it is in the case of Muslim students or it should be abolished altogether. There should be proper arrangement of the academic staff and subject of “Religion” instead of “Ethics” for the students of other faiths. Recruitment of the academic staff must be from the religious minorities/<br />7. Academic staff and students of Muslim faith must be refrained to invite the people and students of other faiths to convert to Islam. There should be religious freedom to all people at all levels.<br />8. Degradation, propagation, derogatory language and false stories about the other faiths must be removed from the textbooks. As they are written with biased approach, if it is very necessary then they must be written by the educationists and religious scholars of other faiths<br />9. All of the nationalized Missionary schools and colleges be denationalized which were nationalized in 1972 by Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. This was a deliberate conspiracy to deprive religious minorities and especially Christians to receive education.<br />10. 20 extra marks of Nazra (reciting the Quran by heart) must be withdrawn at all levels because these discriminatory marks are a grave hurdle for the students of other faiths to get admission for higher education.<br />11. It has been observed that in the admission forms there is a column of religion in which it is written Muslim/non-Muslim. There must be the names of all religions that exist in Pakistan or simply a column where one can write one’s religion in the column. Non-Muslim is not a religion in any sense. The column of religion must be deleted from the admission form.<br />12. There must be teachings on ethics in the assembly regardless of any religion, sect or creed.Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-51097432634578800192010-07-10T03:29:00.001-07:002010-07-10T03:30:31.985-07:00Senior Christian Artists<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TDhLvULibAI/AAAAAAAAAEc/rpM7cX7JUQ0/s1600/Zahoor_Danis.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TDhLvULibAI/AAAAAAAAAEc/rpM7cX7JUQ0/s320/Zahoor_Danis.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492223021821357058" /></a><br /><br /><br />An interview with Zahoor Sylvester and Danes Isaac, both are prominent personalities of Pakistan. (standing right) In 1959 Zahoor Sylvester who created a new world record by cycling without saddle for 55 hours continuously, no award had been announced being a Christian from Pakistan Government. (standing Left) one of the professional drama write from Peshawar TV, migrated to Canada after the brutal and neglected behavior from PTV PeshawaLeonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-30401333277389480612010-07-10T03:28:00.001-07:002010-07-10T03:29:29.877-07:00Welcome Dinner for SARRC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TDhLcmzYEHI/AAAAAAAAAEU/Hd4hhigiIcI/s1600/SARRC_Welcome.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 177px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TDhLcmzYEHI/AAAAAAAAAEU/Hd4hhigiIcI/s320/SARRC_Welcome.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492222700402774130" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />A welcome dinner from Social Development Organization to appreciate the SARRC and other local organization efforts for Christian rights in PakistanLeonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-605552964147124283.post-10130154199068424022010-07-10T03:26:00.000-07:002010-07-10T03:27:58.569-07:00Trip to Nepal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TDhLJXlv0AI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ZNZ-zoJi7RI/s1600/Noshen_Nepal.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3Pf_k4k1mOI/TDhLJXlv0AI/AAAAAAAAAEM/ZNZ-zoJi7RI/s320/Noshen_Nepal.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492222369901563906" /></a><br /><br /><br />Leonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouza visiting Nepal Pashupati Mandir to explore the HinduismLeonard Dsouza and Nosheen Dsouzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04285974605388755931noreply@blogger.com0