The Wall Street Journal has published an article on Arab anti-Semitism in Malmö, Sweden.
The article rightly notes: "Roughly 20% of Malmö's 290,000 residents are of Muslim, mostly Arab, origin". However, what we must consider is the demographic breakdown of that statistic. As in France, the UK and other parts of Western Europe which have been subject to mass immigration, residents over 50-years of age are virtually all white and native, while those under the age of 40-yrs are around 50 percent Muslim and immigrant and having three times as many babies as native women. Manye of Malmö's housing estates are at least 70 percent Muslim.
In his book Reflections on the Revolution in Europe – immigration, Islam and the West, Christopher Calwell specifically names Malmo as one of Europe's "lawless zones" (p 125).
The Wall Street Journal Reports from Malmö, Sweden (3 March 2010): " Screaming 'Sieg Heil' and 'Hitler, Hitler,' a mostly Muslim mob threw bottles and stones at a small group of Jews peacefully demonstrating for Israel at this town's central square last year. Worshipers on their way to synagogue and Jewish kids in schools are routinely accosted as 'Dirty Jews.' Last year's Davis Cup tennis match against Israel, which pro-Palestinian activists had sought to cancel, was held behind closed doors. The official reason was to avoid disruption by anti-Israeli protesters. But roughly 6,000 of them clashed with the police during the event anyway. Notwithstanding the official explanation, the closed-door match left the impression that Israel is a pariah state that needs to be quarantined. Not surprisingly, Malmö's small Jewish community of roughly 700 is getting smaller as families leave town."
[. . .] "In the streets of Malmö, one can hear 'Kill the Jews,' while at 'peace' rallies in Amsterdam and Berlin, the chanted instructions are somewhat more specific: 'Hamas, Hamas, Jews into the Gas.'
"These are not idle words. Anti-Semitic attacks in Malmö doubled last year to 79 [reported attacks], while in London they hit a record of 924. And as some Swedish Jews are contemplating emigration, thousands of their French co-religionists have already moved to Israel to escape harassment."
Eurabia Is a Place in Sweden
The Continent's post-Christian baptism of Jews: Convert to Israel-bashing and you'll be safe.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704754604575095010449674040.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
English-language Swedish paper The Local reports: "Threats and harassment are becoming increasingly commonplace for Jewish residents in Malmö in southern Sweden, leading many Jews to leave the city out of fear for their safety."
According to The Local, Skånska Dagbladet newspaper highlighted the case of Marcus Eilenberg, a 32-year-old father of two who has decided to move to Israel.
" 'My children aren’t safe here. It’s going to get worse,' he told the newspaper
"Eilenberg’s family on his mother's side has roots in Malmö that date back to the 1800s, while his father's parents came to Sweden in 1945 after surviving Auschwitz.
"He describes for the newspaper how people call him 'damn Jew' (jävla jude) when he walks to synagogue and that his friends are frequently harassed and threatened.
" 'Imagine that my family can't feel safe in fantastic Sweden. It's really terrible,' Eilenberg told Skånskan.
"He blamed part of the problem on passive local politicians who he believes have failed to openly distance themselves from anti-Semitism and refuse to act when members of the Jewish community find themselves under constant threat."
Jews flee Malmö as anti-Semitism grows
27 Jan 2010
http://www.thelocal.se/24632/
In March 2009, the Sweden versus Israel Davis Cup tennis match held in Malmö had to be played in a closed stadium without spectators on account of authorities' inability or unwillingness to guarantee security.
Empty stands greet Israel-Sweden tennis tie - 07 Mar 09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFzaP7gSr4w&feature=related
Sweden: Anti Israel Protest At Tennis Match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo90U3uqKBo&NR=1
(NOTE: the Davis Cup match went ahead and Israel won.)
In February 2009, when pro-Israel supporters demonstrated legally, they were confronted with a violent pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration by dozens of mostly Muslims. The police arrived and dispersed the legal pro-Israel demonstration while protecting the rights of the Muslims to express their opinion.
In Sweden, Middle East Conflict Plays Out in the Town Square
By Rukhl Schaechter. 17 February 2009.
http://www.forward.com/articles/103113/
(includes youtube clip)
For a short 2009 news documentary see:
CBN: Malmö, Sweden: Growing Muslim Influence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRnP-XzB_U0 (5:42)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
UK. Amendment to Equality Bill threatens church's liberty. 3 March 2010
At 11 pm on 2 March 2010, the House of Lords voted 95 to 21 in favour of amending the Equality Bill so that homosexual civil partnerships may be legally performed in churches.
The amendment was moved by openly gay Labour Peer Lord Waheed Alli.
According to the amendment, churches will be allowed, but not compelled, to register homosexual civil partnerships. However, critics fear the change in the law could open the way for litigation under the Equality Bill or Human Rights Act against churches that refuse to register such unions.
The Telegraph quotes Lord Waddington, a former Home Secretary, who warned: "'. . . it would only be a matter of time before it was argued that it was discriminatory for a church incumbent to refuse to allow a civil partnership ceremony to take place when the law allowed it.' And, that a clergyman 'prepared to register marriages but not to register civil partnerships would be accused of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of services and pressure would be brought to bear on him to pocket his principles and do what he believed to be wrong'."
Clergy could be sued if they refuse to carry out ‘gay marriages’, traditionalists fear
By Martin Beckford and Heidi Blake. 3 March 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7361378/Clergy-could-be-sued-if-they-refuse-to-carry-out-gay-marriages-traditionalists-fear.html
Indeed, religious liberty advocates will be watching and waiting for the test case which will set the precedent for the future. It will be case to decide whose "rights" will prevail. It will determine whether churches will retain their right to conscientious objection, or whether Gay Rights lobby groups will win the right to dictate to the church in the name of equality, human rights and non-discrimination.
The amendment was supported by Stonewall, a leading Gay Rights lobby group.
From the Christian Institute:
"Lord Waddington, a former Home Secretary, argued: 'If this amendment were carried, it would only be a matter of time before it was argued that it was discriminatory for a church incumbent to refuse to allow a civil partnership ceremony to take place when the law allowed it.'
"And if legal challenges in the courts failed, Lord Waddington added, 'it would not be long before Stonewall was back, demanding repeal of this permissive provision and for a clear duty to be placed on churches to register civil partnerships.
" 'Is that not the way Stonewall has always worked? And was not Mr Ben Summerskill of Stonewall hinting just that when recently he said that right now faiths should not be forced to hold civil partnerships although in 10 or 20 years time things may change.' "
Homosexual unions allowed in churches
3 March 2010
http://www.christian.org.uk/news/homosexual-unions-allowed-in-churches/
As Pink News commented: the amendment "has yet to be approved by the House of Commons but MPs are unlikely to oppose it".
Lords back religious civil partnerships for gay couples
By Jessica Geen. 3 March 2010
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/03/03/lords-back-religious-civil-partnerships-for-gay-couples/
See also:
House of Lords vote to allow Civil Partnerships to take place in Church
3 March 2010
http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=1006
(Christian Concern for our Nation is a sister organisation to the Christian Legal Centre www.christianlegalcentre.com.)
The amendment was moved by openly gay Labour Peer Lord Waheed Alli.
According to the amendment, churches will be allowed, but not compelled, to register homosexual civil partnerships. However, critics fear the change in the law could open the way for litigation under the Equality Bill or Human Rights Act against churches that refuse to register such unions.
The Telegraph quotes Lord Waddington, a former Home Secretary, who warned: "'. . . it would only be a matter of time before it was argued that it was discriminatory for a church incumbent to refuse to allow a civil partnership ceremony to take place when the law allowed it.' And, that a clergyman 'prepared to register marriages but not to register civil partnerships would be accused of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of services and pressure would be brought to bear on him to pocket his principles and do what he believed to be wrong'."
Clergy could be sued if they refuse to carry out ‘gay marriages’, traditionalists fear
By Martin Beckford and Heidi Blake. 3 March 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7361378/Clergy-could-be-sued-if-they-refuse-to-carry-out-gay-marriages-traditionalists-fear.html
Indeed, religious liberty advocates will be watching and waiting for the test case which will set the precedent for the future. It will be case to decide whose "rights" will prevail. It will determine whether churches will retain their right to conscientious objection, or whether Gay Rights lobby groups will win the right to dictate to the church in the name of equality, human rights and non-discrimination.
The amendment was supported by Stonewall, a leading Gay Rights lobby group.
From the Christian Institute:
"Lord Waddington, a former Home Secretary, argued: 'If this amendment were carried, it would only be a matter of time before it was argued that it was discriminatory for a church incumbent to refuse to allow a civil partnership ceremony to take place when the law allowed it.'
"And if legal challenges in the courts failed, Lord Waddington added, 'it would not be long before Stonewall was back, demanding repeal of this permissive provision and for a clear duty to be placed on churches to register civil partnerships.
" 'Is that not the way Stonewall has always worked? And was not Mr Ben Summerskill of Stonewall hinting just that when recently he said that right now faiths should not be forced to hold civil partnerships although in 10 or 20 years time things may change.' "
Homosexual unions allowed in churches
3 March 2010
http://www.christian.org.uk/news/homosexual-unions-allowed-in-churches/
As Pink News commented: the amendment "has yet to be approved by the House of Commons but MPs are unlikely to oppose it".
Lords back religious civil partnerships for gay couples
By Jessica Geen. 3 March 2010
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/03/03/lords-back-religious-civil-partnerships-for-gay-couples/
See also:
House of Lords vote to allow Civil Partnerships to take place in Church
3 March 2010
http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=1006
(Christian Concern for our Nation is a sister organisation to the Christian Legal Centre www.christianlegalcentre.com.)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Ethnic-religious tensions simmer in Liberia's northern Lofa County. 1 March 2010
On Friday 26 February, a violent clash errupted between Muslims and Christians in Voinjama, the capital of Lofa country in northern Liberia, that left four dead (3 Christians) and 18 wounded, 3 critically. Calm has been restored and investigations are underway, but tensions and fears remain.
On 23 Feb. 14-yr-old Korpo Kamara, a student at the local Luthern school, went missing in Konia town, some 55 miles south-east of Voinjama. On 24 Feb. police dispatched from Voinjama found her body near a Konia mosque. When local Christians (ethnic Lormas) arrived at the mosque and began asking the local Muslims (ethnic Mandingos) what had happened, the Muslims denied having any knowledge of the incident. Some ethnic Lormas reportedly blamed the Muslims, saying that Muslims have been known to kill for ritual sacrifice (see The Inquirer). Now this might be true, or it might not. It could possibly be a case of blame shifting as ritual sacrifice is widespread in Liberia. Hopefully the investigation will uncover the truth.
According to Liberia's Daily Observer, during the confrontation at the Konia town mosque, a Muslim made a telephone call to the Muslim community in Voinjama, the county capital, delivering the false rumor that Christians had torched the Konia mosque.
The Muslim community in Voinjama responded to this false report by mobilising against Voinjama's Christian community. The Catholic Church on the Macenta Road was torched and the Voinjama Free Pentecostal CHurch was "massively looted". Private homes and vehicles belonging to Christians were also burned.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Observer that automatic weapons-fire was heard coming from the Mandingo quarter, and that during the confrontation, Pakistani peacekeepers deployed tanks around the Konia's two mosques and protected them from looters, but left the churches and other Christian-owned establishments to be vandalized.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed her grave concern over the development, and promised that a full investigation will be undertaken and that the perpitrators will be prosecuted in keeping with the law. In the meantime, the Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council will initiate mediation.
Violence Erupts in Lofa
27 Feb 2010
http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/4844
Four Killed In Voinjama Violence
1 March 2010
http://liberianobserver.com/print/4880
Four dead in religious clashes in Liberia: official
AFP 1 March 2010
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jwcBPvPiQdkWURQ3VJqaZohaGmrg
Calm Returns To Voinjama…4 Killed, 18 Wounded
By Patrick K. Wrokpoh
http://theinquirer.com.lr/story.php?record_id=2398&sub=14
On 23 Feb. 14-yr-old Korpo Kamara, a student at the local Luthern school, went missing in Konia town, some 55 miles south-east of Voinjama. On 24 Feb. police dispatched from Voinjama found her body near a Konia mosque. When local Christians (ethnic Lormas) arrived at the mosque and began asking the local Muslims (ethnic Mandingos) what had happened, the Muslims denied having any knowledge of the incident. Some ethnic Lormas reportedly blamed the Muslims, saying that Muslims have been known to kill for ritual sacrifice (see The Inquirer). Now this might be true, or it might not. It could possibly be a case of blame shifting as ritual sacrifice is widespread in Liberia. Hopefully the investigation will uncover the truth.
According to Liberia's Daily Observer, during the confrontation at the Konia town mosque, a Muslim made a telephone call to the Muslim community in Voinjama, the county capital, delivering the false rumor that Christians had torched the Konia mosque.
The Muslim community in Voinjama responded to this false report by mobilising against Voinjama's Christian community. The Catholic Church on the Macenta Road was torched and the Voinjama Free Pentecostal CHurch was "massively looted". Private homes and vehicles belonging to Christians were also burned.
Eyewitnesses told the Daily Observer that automatic weapons-fire was heard coming from the Mandingo quarter, and that during the confrontation, Pakistani peacekeepers deployed tanks around the Konia's two mosques and protected them from looters, but left the churches and other Christian-owned establishments to be vandalized.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed her grave concern over the development, and promised that a full investigation will be undertaken and that the perpitrators will be prosecuted in keeping with the law. In the meantime, the Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council will initiate mediation.
Violence Erupts in Lofa
27 Feb 2010
http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/4844
Four Killed In Voinjama Violence
1 March 2010
http://liberianobserver.com/print/4880
Four dead in religious clashes in Liberia: official
AFP 1 March 2010
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jwcBPvPiQdkWURQ3VJqaZohaGmrg
Calm Returns To Voinjama…4 Killed, 18 Wounded
By Patrick K. Wrokpoh
http://theinquirer.com.lr/story.php?record_id=2398&sub=14