Ted Cruz Booed Over Pro-Israel Comments At Middle Eastern Christian Conference

Senator Ted Cruz was speaking at a solidarity dinner for In Defense of Christians (IDC) as part of a conference for Middle Eastern Christians when he was heckled and eventually booed off stage for the following comments:

"Tonight, we are all united in defense of Christians. Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews. Tonight, we are all united in defense of people of good faith, who are standing together against those who would persecute and murder those who dare disagree with their religious teachings.”

“Religious bigotry is a cancer with many manifestations. ISIS, al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Hamas, state sponsors like Syria and Iran, are all engaged in a vicious genocidal campaign to destroy religious minorities in the Middle East. Sometimes we are told not to loop these groups together, that we have to understand their so called nuances and differences. But we shouldn’t try to parse different manifestations of evil that are on a murderous rampage through the region. Hate is hate, and murder is murder. Our purpose here tonight is to highlight a terrible injustice, a humanitarian crisis.”

Apparently, they took most umbrage when Cruz said:

 "Christians have no greater ally than Israel." 

Per NewsMax, as Cruz was being heckled, he went on to say:

"Those who hate Israel hate America. Those who hate Jews hate Christians."

As the jeers filled the venue, Cruz declared: "I am saddened to see that some here, not everyone, but some here are so consumed with hate." He was interrupted by shouts of "all of us!" and "leave the stage," and one audience member shouted "you speak for yourself."

As the president of  IDC Toufic Baaklini tried to calm things down, Cruz finally gave up and left the stage, but not before he told the crowd:

"If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless." 

One would think that persecuted Christians could relate and understand the plight of persecuted Jews in the region, but I guess not. Supposedly there were Christians who support Hezbollah and Syria there, some of whom were also speakers at the conference.

Among them were Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai, who has defended Hezbollah's right to attack Israel and expressed his willingness to meet with the terrorist group's leader.

Another speaker, Syriac Orthodox Church Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, has disclosed that he had a recent meeting with a "high-level delegation from Hezbollah."

Church of Antioch Patriarch Gregory III Laham, who also spoke, has blamed terrorist attacks against Iraqi Christians on a "Zionist conspiracy against Islam" designed to give "a bad image of Islam."

A Zionist conspiracy against Islam? Wow.

Cruz told the Free Beacon:

 "I've certainly encountered audiences that disagreed with a particular point of view. But this virulent display of hatred and bigotry was remarkable, and considerably different from anything I've previously encountered.

"The division and anti-Semitism expressed tonight by some of the crowd is not reflective of the teachings of Christ, and is in fact directly contrary to the tenets of Christianity."

But not everyone is outraged about the anti-Semitism Cruz encountered. Even some on the right, and plenty on the left have criticized Cruz for his pro-Israel comments, claiming it was politics.  Some even believe the audience was booing the politics not the comment itself, like Matt Lewis on The Daily Caller.  But if one of the speakers believes in a Zionist conspiracy against Islam, it's quite obvious the reasons behind all of the booing. There are Christian anti-Semites- take Jimmy Carter, for instance.

Video of right before Cruz left the stage can be seen on Daily Caller.

Persecuted Baha'is Banned From Education in Iran and Egypt

Considered apostates of Islam the Baha'is are severely persecuted and discriminated against in Iran, the country where it originated. Founded in the mid 1800s- with roots in Shia Islam- in Persia (as Iran was called at the time), believers are often jailed, and denied access to higher education. Those who have formed underground universities to educate their young have been arrested and imprisoned. Some even liken the treatment of Baha'is to apartheid in South Africa. Ironic that liberals around the world call Israel an apartheid state, which it is clearly not, but remain literally mum on the horrific treatment of the Baha'is in Iran. Their treatment is so bad, the U.S. House even passed a resolution condemning the persecution, not that the Iranian government cares.

But it's not just Iran that persecutes the Baha'is,  Egypt is ramping up its efforts to discriminate against them, as well.  Education Minister  Ibrahim Ghoneim  has said that Baha'is are not allowed to enroll in public schools in that country:

“The Constitution only recognizes the three Abrahamic religions,” Ibrahim Ghoneim told Akbar Al-Youm newspaper Saturday. “And as religion is a subject taught in schools, they do not meet the requirements for enrollment.”

Ghoneim had told Al-Sabah newspaper the same statement in November, when he was asked, “What is the position of the ministry concerning the children of Bahais? Do they have the right to enroll in a [ministry-affiliated] school?”

The minister responded by saying, “The state only recognizes three religions, and the Bahai faith is not among them. Thus their children do not have the right to register in government schools.”

But education isn't the only battle they are fighting in Egypt. According to Egypt Independent, they were also being denied birth certificates and ID cards, which are necessary for all citizens 16 and older.

These cards indicate religion, and are a must for any other formal transaction, such as applying for a driver’s license or a birth certificate, or opening a bank account.

In 2008, an Egyptian court granted Bahais the right to obtain ID cards without mentioning their religion, thereby ending four years of debate over that issue.

But tensions between Bahais and the state predate the ID card issue.

In 1960, the government confiscated their assets, including land on the banks of the Nile intended for building a house of worship, and sold them in a public auction. At that time, the government accused the Bahais of being loyal to Israel, which hosts the faith’s main place of worship.

An interesting note, the Baha'is are now headquartered in Haifa, Israel.

Persecuted Jews forced to leave Yemen

There are few Jews left in Yemen, and they're running scared. Not that there are many Jews in any Muslim-majority country, in spite of the fact that they pre-date Muslims in the Middle East. Of course, if the Palestinians and Ahmadinejad and the evil Mullahs have their way regarding Israel, there won't be any left in the Middle East at all.

According to historians Yemeni Jews are considered to be one of the oldest communities in the Arab world. It is thought that they wound up in Yemen some 2,500 years ago, pre-Islam, trading for King Solomon.  For the most part they have lived peacefully in Yemen for centuries, until 1947 when dozens of Jews were killed and their homes and shops were destroyed as a backlash to the creation of the state of Israel. So, from 1949 to 1950 most of the Yemeni Jewish population (over 49,000) were sent to Israel to escape the violence. Some 2,000 opted to remain, understandably so, since this had been their home for centuries. Then again in the early 1990s another 1,200 or so left, mostly to Israel, after decades of not being allowed to leave the country. Several hundred stayed behind, by choice.

Fast forward to 2004- persecution of Jews by a rebel Shiite group (Al Houthis) increased in Saada, one of the 2 remote areas of Yemen where Jews lived. In 2007 they were actually threatened by the Houthis,

"We warn you to leave the area immediately... [W]e give you a period of 10 days, or you will regret it," read a letter signed by a Al Houthi representative cited in a Reuters article.

So all 60 of the Jews from Saada fled to the capital where former President Ali Abdullah Saleh took care of them. Meanwhile, the Jews in Raida (the last Jewish enclave) lived in relative peace until December 2008 when a retired air force pilot (Abdul-Aziz al-Abdi) shot a prominent Jew, Moshe Nahari, because he refused to convert to Islam. The violence against Jews escalated when Israel mounted their offensive in Gaza towards the end of December 2008, with men and children being beaten and pelted with rocks. And even though these were not Israelis or Zionists, these were Jews who wanted to remain in Yemen, they were still harassed and persecuted until they were forced to leave. What I find interesting is that the Jews in Raida lived very similar pious, religious lives as their Muslim neighbours. In fact, Jewish women, like their Muslim sisters, rarely appeared in public and when they did they wore the Niqab (the black robes that cover the whole body except the eyes). If you look at the photo above, you can't even tell the women are Jewish.

Then in October 2009, as a result of continued anti-Semitism, the U.S. state department mounted a clandestine mission to save the Jews of Yemen. Some were brought to the U.S, some were to travel to Israel, and some remained under the guardianship of the Yemeni government.

Now, with a total Jewish population of only 450 or so, and Saleh (their protector) gone, the Jews of Yemen are very frightened. 

Community leader Rabbi Yahia Youssef Mussa told Bikyamasr.com that Saleh had over his three decades in power and had always been “kind and compassionate” towards the community, adding that now that he was leaving he feared that “groups” would target his people.

“We were living under President Saleh’s protection so far and I am now worried that the next government will ignore our plight. We don’t have the ability to push back the Shia militants if they attack us. What will become of us?” asked the Rabbi.

According to the Rabbi, the escalating trouble between Israel and Iran could mean increased trouble for them.

“Al-Houthis are financed and groomed by Iran, therefore the Jewish community in Yemen has become their target … they have already pillaged our village and stole all our belongings."

They are already noticing the difference in treatment since Saleh's departure.  Some families who had been provided with  housing after their village was raided have been asked to move.

“We were living under President Saleh’s protection so far and I am now worried that the next government will ignore our plight. We don’t have the ability to push back the Shia militants if they attack us. What will become of us?” asked the rabbi.

It looks like after all these centuries, there might not be any Jews left in Yemen.

After Christmas Day Bombings Boko Haram Tells Nigerian Christians They Have 3 Days To Get Out

Boko Haram- those oh-so enlightened and civilized Islamic extremists in Nigeria- after bombing several churches and killing about 40 on Christmas day, have told the southern Christians  living in the predominantly Islamic north to get the heck out in 3 days or else. 

As a result of those church bombings and escalating violence elsewhere, Nigeria's Christian President Goodluck Jonathan declared  a state of emergency in parts of the north where the "cancerous" (as he put it) Boko Haram killed almost 500 people last year.

"(Boko Haram) started as a harmless group . . . they have now grown cancerous," Mr Jonathan said.  "And Nigeria, being the body, they want to kill it. But nobody will allow them to do that."

Besides giving the Christians a 3 day ultimatum, they also threatened soldiers. During a conference call with journalists by Abul Qaqa, a spokesman for Boko Haram, he said

“We find it pertinent to state that soldiers will only kill innocent Muslims in the local government areas where the state of emergency was declared. We would confront them squarely to protect our brothers.”

Speaking in the Hausa language common throughout the north, Qaqa said “we also wish to call on our fellow Muslims to come back to the north because we have evidence that they would be attacked.” 

Three days, how generous.

Boko Haram is a Salafi-inspired group that was formed in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf, its educated, Mercedes Benz-owning spiritual leader. Killed in 2009 by Nigerian forces, he believed anything western was un-Islamic and therefore haram (forbidden), hence the loosely translated name for Boko Haram: 'Western education is forbidden'.  But it wasn't until 2009 that it officially turned into a terrorist group, although that was probably always its hidden agenda.  Apparently, Yusuf built a mosque and school with the express goal of training jihadis.  He accomplished this by providing an education for poor people throughout Nigeria and surrounding countries. Although the Nigerian government had been forewarned by at least one military official and various Muslim leaders about Boko Haram's aims, nothing was ever done until 2009, and by then it was too late. This is the problem when governments tolerate these types of groups without keeping tabs on them. They start off as seemingly innocent and "harmless" until the 'cancer' metastasizes and spreads. and then you're done for. 

But it's not just Christians who have been targeted, they have also attacked other Muslims who don't happen to be as backwards as they. And the Christians have retaliated, and leaders claim that next time around they will defend themselves. These latest round of attacks by Boko Haram, especially the Christmas day bombings, have the country fearing an escalation of violence that could spiral out of control, even more so than it has.

This is a good lesson for us all.  Cut out that cancer before it kills us.

Islamic Violence Burns Down 8 Churches In Nigeria and Blows Up Hotel In Philippines

I picked up my local paper this morning and discovered that those harbingers of peace and enlightenment were busy this past weekend, as per usual.

Boko Haram, Islamic extremists-cum-terrorists, had a field day attacking Christians, burning down eight churches, a bank (which they robbed), a police station and several local businesses in Geidam, in northeastern Nigeria.

"The Geidam divisional police headquarters and First Bank were bombed on Saturday evening by Boko Haram and fire was exchanged into the night between police and Boko Haram members," a police spokesman told reporters. "Four policemen were killed, 20 wounded, eight churches and 20 market stalls as well as Geidam council secretariat are completely destroyed."

No-one knows the exact casualty count, yet, but they managed to kill over 100 people during an attack the beginning of November, in the capital of Damaturu. 

Even though southern Nigeria is mostly Christian and the north is predominately Muslim, Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden"  is hell-bent on establishing Shariah Law in all regions of the country.

Then we have the bomb blast that literally blew off the roof of a modest two story hotel in Zamboanga, Philippines. Although not directly linked  to a local Christian wedding that was being hosted there on Monday,  it is being blamed on one of that country's small but deadly Islamic terrorist groups Abu Sayyaf. At least 3 people were killed and over 27 wounded in the blast, two seriously injured. Apparently, Abu Sayyaf had planned two attacks, one in Isabela City where a bomb was defused near a local business. Authorities believe the owner was being extorted and refused to pay. The owner of the hotel in Zamboanga denies any extortion threats. Abu Sayyaf are bucking for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao.

Interesting to note that not only are they religious extremists, they're also common criminals.

All in a weekend's work for the religion of peace.

Religious Intolerance: Hindu Doctors Murdered In Pakistan

Pakistan has no tolerance for those of other religions including their own minority Muslim sects, but that's just part and parcel of a predominately Muslim nation.  Minority religions are persecuted, discriminated against and marginalized. And often they are killed for no apparent reason other than the fact that they don't happen to be Muslim.

Take Dr Ashok, Dr Ajeet Kumar and  Dr Naresh- three Hindu brothers who were attacked and murdered in Sindh province. A fourth doctor, Satya Pal, was injured but survived the attack.

There have been the obligatory condemnations of the attack, but that is small comfort to a mother who lost 3 sons in one fell swoop.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has strongly condemned the killing of Hindu doctors by armed assailants in Pakistan's Sindh province.

Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in a satement [sic] issued by his party's central secretariat, said that the murder of Dr Ashok, Dr Naresh and Dr Ajeet Kumar marked a sad day for Pakistan, as PTI (Paksitan Tehreek-e-Insaf) believed in peaceful and harmonious co-existence of all religious and ethnic groups and an indiscriminate practice of the rule of law, Daily Times reported.

It's nice to know that one political party in Pakistan believes in unity and co-existence, but words are cheap and until words are put into action nothing will change. 

Human rights groups are planning a rally to protest the killings, but that too won't change things. 

Unfortunately, as long as the 'Sharia law', 'non-Muslims are infidels' mentality pervades, and laws are not enacted to protect minority religions in countries like Pakistan, those minorities will continue to targets.

On Thursday, condemning the brutal murder of Hindus in Shikarpur, civil society and human rights organisations announced they would stage "Fill the Besant Hall Road against Religious Intolerance" rally in front of the Theosophical Society's interior Sindh centre in Hyderabad Nov 14.

Stating abdication of governance by the corrupt ruling mafias had resulted in an increase of violence in the society that needed to be checked immediately, Khan condemned the role of the law-enforcement agencies that tended to side with the criminals.