http://www.alliancealert.org news from the frontlines of the culture war Thu, 24 May 2012 23:12:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/24/us-cuts-33-million-in-aid-to-pakistan-over-osama-bin-laden-doctor-sentence/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/24/us-cuts-33-million-in-aid-to-pakistan-over-osama-bin-laden-doctor-sentence/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 19:45:14 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=134635 Telegraph: Congressmen on the powerful Senate appropriations committee voted to cut $1 million from the $800 million annual budget for each of the 33 years that Dr Shakeel Afridi has been told he must serve in jail for working with a foreign intelligence agency. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/24/us-cuts-33-million-in-aid-to-pakistan-over-osama-bin-laden-doctor-sentence/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/23/pakistanis-life-terms-for-blasphemy-dropped/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/23/pakistanis-life-terms-for-blasphemy-dropped/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 22:21:55 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=134532 Baptist Press: A court has acquitted a Christian couple of blasphemy charges, overturning their life sentences. The couple's lawyer, Chaudhry Naeem Shakir, told Compass Direct News that Justice Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi of the Lahore High Court accepted the couple's appeal May 17 because prosecutors failed to prove allegations that 32-year-old Munir Masih and his wife Ruqayya defiled the Quran or insulted Muhammad on Dec. 8, 2008. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/23/pakistanis-life-terms-for-blasphemy-dropped/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/23/pakistan-doctor-who-helped-us-in-search-for-osama-bin-laden-jailed-for-33-years/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/23/pakistan-doctor-who-helped-us-in-search-for-osama-bin-laden-jailed-for-33-years/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 19:30:55 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=134492 The Guardian: On Wednesday a representative of the country's main spy agency said Afridi had got what he deserved when he was sentenced to 33 years in prison for conspiring against the state, for his role in trying to help the CIA track Osama bin Laden to his hideout in the garrison town of Abbottabad. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/23/pakistan-doctor-who-helped-us-in-search-for-osama-bin-laden-jailed-for-33-years/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/02/christian-activist-slain-in-pakistan/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/02/christian-activist-slain-in-pakistan/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 22:12:39 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=132766 Catholic Culture: Chaudhry Irshad Younas, a Pakistani Christian involved in politics, was murdered in Lahore on April 27. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/05/02/christian-activist-slain-in-pakistan/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/30/pakistan-kidnapped-british-red-cross-doctor-found-dead-beheaded/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/30/pakistan-kidnapped-british-red-cross-doctor-found-dead-beheaded/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:49:13 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=132476 Mail & Guardian: The beheaded body of a kidnapped British doctor working for the International Committee of the Red Cross was found dumped by the roadside on Sunday in the southwestern Pakistan city of Quetta, police and Red Cross officials said. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/30/pakistan-kidnapped-british-red-cross-doctor-found-dead-beheaded/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/23/hindus-in-pakistan-accuse-muslims-of-kidnapping-teens-as-wives/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/23/hindus-in-pakistan-accuse-muslims-of-kidnapping-teens-as-wives/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:48:18 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=131812 LA Times: The girls are forced to convert to Islam, rights groups say. In court, a few wives have chosen to stay with their husbands, but families say they were coerced. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/23/hindus-in-pakistan-accuse-muslims-of-kidnapping-teens-as-wives/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/19/uk-struggles-with-rising-number-of-cousin-marriages-and-genetic-defects/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/19/uk-struggles-with-rising-number-of-cousin-marriages-and-genetic-defects/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:00:16 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=131569 BBC: The tradition of marrying a cousin is becoming more entrenched among British-born Pakistanis living in Bradford than it was a generation ago, writes Winifred Robinson. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/19/uk-struggles-with-rising-number-of-cousin-marriages-and-genetic-defects/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/19/pakistan-judge-upholds-women%e2%80%99s-conversions-to-islam/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/19/pakistan-judge-upholds-women%e2%80%99s-conversions-to-islam/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:37:53 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=131565 NY Times: The Supreme Court had intervened in the three cases in recent weeks, “sequestering the women from their parents and their new husbands to consider their future without pressure,” Mr. Masood writes. “The court ruled on Wednesday that all three had freely chosen to remain Muslim.” ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/19/pakistan-judge-upholds-women%e2%80%99s-conversions-to-islam/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/18/pakistani-court-decides-forced-conversion-case/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/18/pakistani-court-decides-forced-conversion-case/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:36 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=131419 AP reports. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/04/18/pakistani-court-decides-forced-conversion-case/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/28/pakistani-girl-begs-court-to-stop-forced-conversion-and-marriage/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/28/pakistani-girl-begs-court-to-stop-forced-conversion-and-marriage/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:52:17 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=129868 Catholic Culture: Rinkel Kumari, who is a Hindu, begged the court not to return her to an Islamic school where she has been detained. “Kill me here, now, in court. But do not send me back,” she pleaded. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/28/pakistani-girl-begs-court-to-stop-forced-conversion-and-marriage/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/27/in-pakistan-hindus-say-woman%e2%80%99s-conversion-to-islam-was-coerced/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/27/in-pakistan-hindus-say-woman%e2%80%99s-conversion-to-islam-was-coerced/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:03:10 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=129707 NY Times: Hours later, she resurfaced 12 miles away, at the home of a prominent Muslim cleric who phoned her parents with news that distressed them: Their daughter wished to convert to Islam, he said. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/27/in-pakistan-hindus-say-woman%e2%80%99s-conversion-to-islam-was-coerced/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/27/forced-conversions-hike-pakistan-minorities-fears/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/27/forced-conversions-hike-pakistan-minorities-fears/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:29:41 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=129637 AP: It was barely 4 a.m. when 19-year-old Rinkal Kumari disappeared from her home in a small village in Pakistan's southern Sindh province. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/27/forced-conversions-hike-pakistan-minorities-fears/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/19/pakistani-police-officer-gets-life-in-prison-for-blasphemy/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/19/pakistani-police-officer-gets-life-in-prison-for-blasphemy/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:42:15 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=129008 Pakistan Today reports that on Friday a court in the Pakistani city of Kasur imposed a life sentence and a fine equivalent to $2200 (US) for blasphemy on Police Station House Officer Manzarul Haq Shah Jahan. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/19/pakistani-police-officer-gets-life-in-prison-for-blasphemy/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/13/petition-free-pakistani-christian-woman-set-for-execution/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/13/petition-free-pakistani-christian-woman-set-for-execution/#comments Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:14:14 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=128534 CNN: Activists presented a petition Tuesday to the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on Pakistan to free a Christian mother of five from being put to death on the charge of blasphemy. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/13/petition-free-pakistani-christian-woman-set-for-execution/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/02/pakistan-arrests-men-who-assaulted-woman-charged-with-apostasy/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/02/pakistan-arrests-men-who-assaulted-woman-charged-with-apostasy/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:53:55 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=127490 Religion Clause Blog: Sana had converted from Christianity to Islam six months ago and had moved to the village with her two sons. However villagers accused her of still seeing her Christian husband. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/03/02/pakistan-arrests-men-who-assaulted-woman-charged-with-apostasy/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/19/pakistani-government-bows-to-top-courts-demand/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/19/pakistani-government-bows-to-top-courts-demand/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:20:18 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=123455 News from The Associated Press: Pakistan's government on Thursday bowed to a long-standing Supreme Court demand to debate whether the president enjoys immunity from a past corruption case, a concession that could help defuse a crisis threatening the U.S.-backed administration. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/19/pakistani-government-bows-to-top-courts-demand/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/16/pakistan-supreme-court-starts-down-the-road-toward-a-constitutional-coup/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/16/pakistan-supreme-court-starts-down-the-road-toward-a-constitutional-coup/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:50:49 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=123146 Telegraph: Pakistan's Supreme Court began contempt proceedings against the prime minister for failing to re-open a corruption case against the president in a step towards a much feared constitutional coup. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/16/pakistan-supreme-court-starts-down-the-road-toward-a-constitutional-coup/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/10/pakistani-court-warns-premier-over-graft-probe/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/10/pakistani-court-warns-premier-over-graft-probe/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:24:25 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=122479 News from The Associated Press: Pakistan's top court said Tuesday it could dismiss the prime minister unless he begins corruption proceedings against the president, opening another front against a government already under pressure from the army ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2012/01/10/pakistani-court-warns-premier-over-graft-probe/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/23/third-christmas-behind-bars-for-death-row-christians-asia-bibi-and-youcef-nadarkhani/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/23/third-christmas-behind-bars-for-death-row-christians-asia-bibi-and-youcef-nadarkhani/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:19:13 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=121712 CNSnews.com: As Christians celebrate their savior’s birth on Sunday, they are being urged to remember persecuted fellow believers unable to enjoy the day with their families, including death row prisoners Asia Bibi of Pakistan and Youcef Nadarkhani of Iran, both of whom will be spending their third Christmas behind bars. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/23/third-christmas-behind-bars-for-death-row-christians-asia-bibi-and-youcef-nadarkhani/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/21/british-judges-uk-has-4-weeks-to-free-us-held-pakistani/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/21/british-judges-uk-has-4-weeks-to-free-us-held-pakistani/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:09:28 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=121421 News from The Associated Press: British judges Wednesday gave the government four weeks to obtain the release of a Pakistani man held in U.S. custody in Afghanistan - a ruling that could make for prickly discussions between Britain and the U.S. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/21/british-judges-uk-has-4-weeks-to-free-us-held-pakistani/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/14/canadian-parliament-urges-release-of-asia-bibi-sentenced-to-death-in-pakistan-for-blasphemy/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/14/canadian-parliament-urges-release-of-asia-bibi-sentenced-to-death-in-pakistan-for-blasphemy/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:44:29 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=120896 British Pakistani Christian Association: The leader of the Central Council of Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) has praised a resolution from the Canadian Parliament urging the Pakistani Government to release Asia Bibi. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/14/canadian-parliament-urges-release-of-asia-bibi-sentenced-to-death-in-pakistan-for-blasphemy/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/07/release-warns-of-increasing-persecution-in-pakistan/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/07/release-warns-of-increasing-persecution-in-pakistan/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:02:52 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=120262 Christian Today: Death threats against yet another Christian in Pakistan are a sign that persecution is only growing, Release International has warned. Lab technician Arif Ferguson, 36, has been forced into hiding after receiving death threats for speaking out against the murder of a government minister. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/12/07/release-warns-of-increasing-persecution-in-pakistan/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/21/don%e2%80%99t-text-jesus-in-pakistan-possible-ban-list-contains-more-than-1000-words/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/21/don%e2%80%99t-text-jesus-in-pakistan-possible-ban-list-contains-more-than-1000-words/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:31:21 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=119189 The Washington Post: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) compiled a list of over 1,000 words, the majority in English, that they deem “pornographic or offensive to Islam,” Newsweek Pakistan reported. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/21/don%e2%80%99t-text-jesus-in-pakistan-possible-ban-list-contains-more-than-1000-words/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/18/pakistan-christians-suffer-discrimination-in-prisons/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/18/pakistan-christians-suffer-discrimination-in-prisons/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:05:17 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=118995 Church in Need: Mr. Bhatti said that Christians are marginalized and disadvantaged throughout Pakistani society, but the situation in prisons is “particularly precarious.” ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/18/pakistan-christians-suffer-discrimination-in-prisons/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/16/pakistan-passes-law-to-stop-anti-women-practices/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/16/pakistan-passes-law-to-stop-anti-women-practices/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:17:54 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=118763 TrustLaw: Pakistan's parliament has passed a landmark law aimed at strengthening protection for women facing economic and social discrimination through practices such as forced marriage, the Express Tribune reported on Wednesday. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/16/pakistan-passes-law-to-stop-anti-women-practices/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/09/us-commission-pakistan-schools-teach-hindu-hatred/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/09/us-commission-pakistan-schools-teach-hindu-hatred/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:11:29 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=118152 News from The Associated Press: Text books in Pakistani schools foster prejudice and intolerance of Hindus and other religious minorities, while most teachers view non-Muslims as "enemies of Islam," according to a study by a U.S. government commission released Wednesday. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/09/us-commission-pakistan-schools-teach-hindu-hatred/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/04/us-general-booted-for-afghan-remarks/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/04/us-general-booted-for-afghan-remarks/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:45:29 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=117840 MSNBC.com: A top U.S. general in Afghanistan was relieved of duty Friday for "inappropriate public comments" after calling the Afghan government "isolated from reality" and President Hamid Karzai "erratic." ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/11/04/us-general-booted-for-afghan-remarks/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/28/unesco-to-vote-on-palestinian-membership-monday/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/28/unesco-to-vote-on-palestinian-membership-monday/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:18:51 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=117119 News from The Associated Press: The Palestinian request for full membership in the U.N. Cultural Agency goes to a vote on Monday. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/28/unesco-to-vote-on-palestinian-membership-monday/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/26/kevin-theriot-defamation-of-religion-laws-persecution/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/26/kevin-theriot-defamation-of-religion-laws-persecution/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:05:46 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=116883 Kevin Theriot at Religion Clause Blog (10/21): This is just one more example of how efforts to censor speech because it is critical of other religions is a danger to freedom. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/26/kevin-theriot-defamation-of-religion-laws-persecution/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/25/human-rights-group-condemns-rape-and-forced-conversion-in-pakistan/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/25/human-rights-group-condemns-rape-and-forced-conversion-in-pakistan/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:50:26 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=116743 Religion Clause: The Asian Human Rights Commission today issued a news release condemning the growing number of instances in Pakistan in which women from minority religious groups (Hindus and Christians) are raped and forced to covert to Islam . . . ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/25/human-rights-group-condemns-rape-and-forced-conversion-in-pakistan/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/21/sen-levin-us-should-threaten-to-cut-ties-with-pakistan-over-terrorism/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/21/sen-levin-us-should-threaten-to-cut-ties-with-pakistan-over-terrorism/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:20:52 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=116525 TheHill.com: Pakistan should be warned that the U.S. will cut ties with Islamabad if it continues to support an extremist group linked to attacks on U.S. troops, a key Democratic lawmaker said Friday. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/21/sen-levin-us-should-threaten-to-cut-ties-with-pakistan-over-terrorism/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/12/muslim-mob-attacks-christians-in-pakistan-leaving-1-dead-20-injured/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/12/muslim-mob-attacks-christians-in-pakistan-leaving-1-dead-20-injured/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:43:21 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=115961 Catholic Culture: Amid a conflict over disputed land, mob of 50 armed Muslims attacked Christians near the east-central Pakistani city of Khanewal, leaving one dead and 20 injured. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/12/muslim-mob-attacks-christians-in-pakistan-leaving-1-dead-20-injured/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/12/pakistan-divorce-remains-sticking-point-in-hindu-marriage-act/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/12/pakistan-divorce-remains-sticking-point-in-hindu-marriage-act/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:19:53 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=115943 The Express Tribune: The government and the Hindu community were unable to break their deadlock on Tuesday over the divorce clause in the Hindu Marriage Act. The clause has proved contentious since the bill was drafted in 2008, with the government defying Hindu leaders who believe divorce is not part of their religion’s culture. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/12/pakistan-divorce-remains-sticking-point-in-hindu-marriage-act/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/06/pakistan-christian-village-under-siege-near-mian-channu-sabir-masih-rip-gunned-to-death/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/06/pakistan-christian-village-under-siege-near-mian-channu-sabir-masih-rip-gunned-to-death/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:23:15 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=115653 British Pakistani Christian Association: We have received news of the tragic killing of a young man Sabir Masih yesterday morning, in District Khanewal in the Punjab province. Our correspondent Khalid Gill from APMA reported on the incident and will be providing a full update tomorrow. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/06/pakistan-christian-village-under-siege-near-mian-channu-sabir-masih-rip-gunned-to-death/feed/ 0 http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/06/pakistani-doctor-who-helped-u-s-get-bin-laden-could-be-accused-of-treason/ http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/06/pakistani-doctor-who-helped-u-s-get-bin-laden-could-be-accused-of-treason/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:02:23 +0000 ADF Alliance Alert http://www.alliancealert.org/?p=115638 The Guardian: Doctor accused of helping CIA find Osama bin Laden should be charged with high treason, says Pakistani state commission. ]]> http://www.alliancealert.org/2011/10/06/pakistani-doctor-who-helped-u-s-get-bin-laden-could-be-accused-of-treason/feed/ 0