Islamic fundamentalism

The French Dominican is in charge of restoration work at the Our Lady of the Hour Church one of the symbolic monuments of the former stronghold of the Islamic State. A reconstruction that not only concerns the buildings, but also involves the social fabric and relations with Muslims. A message for the Holy Land suffering from the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In recent days, a Muslim radical killed a 20-year-old Christian. The attack was based on alleged social media posts by the young man in support of the Jewish state in the war in Gaza. A similar motive had triggered an assault in October, forcing more than a hundred people to flee. Activists call for justice and government intervention.

Msgr Samson Shukardin, bishop of Hyderabad, elected to lead the Bishops' Conference. He tells AsiaNews about the mission's priorities, starting from the defence of a minority that is 'too often the victim of abuse'. Countering the distortions linked to the blasphemy laws and accompanying married couples to counter the escalation of divorces.

As in the days of Isis, the conflict threatens to inflame the squares of Muslim-majority nations. With the exception of Thailand, the countries in the region close to the Palestinians and Gaza; thousands of people in the streets shouting 'Allah Akhbar'. The war in the Strip fought on Tik Tok with fake news and fake profiles.

The cardinal relects on the the tumultuous weeks since the withdrawal of the presidential decree under pressure from self-styled leaders (in the pay of Tehran). A "more subtle" threat hangs over the community, but with the same logic as Isis: drive out Christians. The bitterness at the Pope's meeting (at the end of a general audience) with Rayan the Chaldean, who has been proclaimin in Iraq that Sako is no longer the patriarch. Forced to give up his presence at the meeting of the Mediterranean bishops in Marseilles because of the complaints in the courts, part of this campaign against him.

A journey through the Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon where violence has resumed in the last week with at least 18 dead and over a hundred injured. The fear of the people in an area of just 1.5 square kilometres where over 120,000 people live. The celebrations of the Greek Catholics for today's Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross were also suspended. Fear of the clashes spreading to other camps. The intervention of the Lebanese army has been ruled out for the moment.

The story unfolded in the village of Dhok Syedan coming close to what happened in mid-August in Jaranwala, where 26 churches and over 200 houses were destroyed, when a convert to Islam tried to extort a Christian family. Strong "latent fears" and a widespread feeling of vulnerability prevail among Christians.

After a long illness, the prelate emeritus of Dohuk in Kurdistan passed away yesterday in hospital. His physique was marked by an assassination attempt to which he had fallen victim in 2003, but that had not shaken his vocation for encounter and confrontation. A Muslim family affectionately called him "my uncle bishop." From international school to Isis refugee, a life spent serving the Kurdish community.

The fear after the attacks on churches and homes of Christians for an unlikely accusation of blasphemy. Bishop Rehmat's message from the United States where he was visiting: "Let us pray to God for peace and ask the government of Pakistan for justice". The vicar general Fr. Tanvir: "The arrests and the ban on gatherings come late, the police could have prevented the violence. The blasphemy law should be changed immediately". The president of the Bishops' Conference visited the victims.

In the district of Faisalabad, 21 places of worship and the homes of Christians were devastated by a mob fueled by Islamic extremists. Hundreds of people were forced to flee. The Christian accused of writing outrageous phrases against the Koran is actually an illiterate, The president of the Pakistani bishops Mgr Arsad: "Our people are not safe. A transparent investigation into this violence to re-establish the primacy of law and justice'.

Iranian authorities began to arrest more than two months ago converts from Islam, but also some Iranian-Armenians. At least 10 are still in jail, while those released have had to pay hefty fines worth thousands of dollars or undergo Islamic re-education. The crackdown comes a few weeks before the first anniversary of the death in custody of the young Kurdish woman.

Munarman , who is currently serving a three-year sentence, repeated the ritual words, swearing allegiance to the Indonesian state and Pancasila. In prison he followed a pilot project of deradicalisation, and helped improve it. His group was banned in December 2020 for terrorist and extremist activities.