South Asia

Benedict XVI recalls the trials faced by Christians in the Holy Land and the Middle East, even to the sacrifice of life. Every division is "an offense to Christ." This requires a process of conversion of the Church. Appointments for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: the meeting of the Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Ancient Oriental Churches, Vespers in the basilica of St. Paul, on 25 January.

The women are victims of daily humiliation and social rejection. Considered a symbol of bad luck, they have difficulty finding work despite many having studied. Often they cannot support their children. In a meeting with Llrc, a Catholic priest has urged the government to recognize them.

In 1999, in Orissa, the Hindu extremists burnt the Australian missionary and his two sons alive. Staines’ wife had forgiven the perpetrators sentenced to death in 2003, for their horrible crimes. Sajan K. George: "We are against the death penalty, but we hope that Dara Singh serves his sentence in prison until the end of his days."

Behind the decision to freeze dialogue with the Holy See, the rejection of the presence in the Vatican delegation of an expert in Islam of Jordanian nationality, a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. But also political expediency. Al-Azahr condemned the suicide of the Tunisian that sparked the popular revolt and fall of Ben Ali.

On average 47 farmers killed themselves in 2009, a 7 per cent increase over the previous year. Debt is the main reason. In a society devoid of meaning, people are alone in a crowd. Yet someone is praying for them.

Guidelines will be first measure to affect Hindus since the fall of the monarchy. The goal is to avoid fundraising for radical groups and the illegal collection of money for alleged social causes.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, a major Muslim scholar, accuses radical Muslims of “telling lies to the people.” Fr Joseph Habib highlights the close ties between the military and religious extremists. As long as the blasphemy law exists, Pakistan will be trapped in an ever-growing cycle of violence.

The representative of the exiled government is against the idea of removing the U.S. and the EU embargo on the dictatorship. Increased trade and investment, would only serve to enrich those in power. ASEAN launches appeal for the lifting of the sanctions, never defends the oppressed people.

Two years since the murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga, yet no one has been arrested. Journalists, opposition politicians and representatives of civil society point the finger at the government: "The State protects the guilty."

NCJP executive secretary complains about government inaction, which is causing suffering to people. Human rights and full religious freedom are necessary conditions to “guarantee peace in the country”. Prime minister says he will not change blasphemy law. PML-Q leader says government policies are like those of dictator Zia-ul-Haq.

The young Hindu, who stole a locket from one of the two men, accused them of trying to convert him in order to defend himself. Police arrested the two Christians without evidence. For the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, the event is a clear example of the ongoing persecution of Christians by police and Hindus.

The radical Islamists target education institutions, especially female ones. The Diocese of Peshawar to AsiaNews: "Our society is heading towards darkness, education is a ray of hope. We urge the government to ensure that the ray of hope spreads across Pakistan. "