Afghanistan to close more polling stations because of security concerns

Afghanistan: More voting stations to remain closed

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan election officials said Wednesday that scores of additional polling stations will have to remain closed during the Sept. 18 parliamentary vote because of the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The state electoral commission said 81 of the 458 polling stations planned in Nangarhar province will … Read more >>>.

Cleric to child, Ramadan spirit binds them all

NEW DELHI – From dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a time for nurturing piety. Mosques fill with worshippers. The muezzin’s call of ‘adhan’ and sirens signal the starting and breaking of fast. Markets in Muslim dominated areas in India overflow in the evenings, as people get …. Source article  : Cleric to child, Ramadan spirit binds them all.

In secular Syria, a TV soap raises controversy by criticizing Muslim hard-liners

Sex, violence, Islam: Syrian TV soap raises drama

BEIRUT – In a new Syrian soap opera, a beautiful green-eyed young woman named Layla is torn over whether to take off the niqab, the billowing black Islamic garb that hides every part of her except her eyes.
“I cannot take this pressure anymore,” she says in one episode. … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : In secular Syria, a TV soap raises controversy by criticizing Muslim hard-liners.

White House, religious leaders pressure Fla. minister not to burn Quran; he’s still praying

Fla. minister: Quran burning still planned

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The leader of a small Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy said he was still praying about whether go through with his plan to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, which the White House, religious leaders and others are pressuring him to call off.
The Rev. … Read more : White House, religious leaders pressure Fla. minister not to burn Quran; he’s still praying.

Mormon farmers in Idaho abstain from alcohol but earn living by supplying barley to brewers

Abstinent Mormon farmers grow barley for beer

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo might seem like an unlikely person to be pushing a bill to cut federal taxes on small beer-makers: A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he abstains from alcohol.
But Crapo’s effort, with senators from Oregon, Massachusetts and Maine, …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Mormon farmers in Idaho abstain from alcohol but earn living by supplying barley to brewers.

Prayers, feasts and piety – it’s Ramadan in India (Special)

From dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is a time for nurturing piety. Mosques fill with worshippers, hotels are closed during the day. The muezzin’s call of ‘adhan’ and sounds of sirens are the signals for starting and breaking fast.

Each year, when the sound of a particular … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Prayers, feasts and piety – it’s Ramadan in India (Special).

Islam will sooner or later dominate Europe: Italian priest

LONDON – Christians in Europe must have more children or else the continent would become Islamised, said a Vatican official who predicted that Islam would “sooner rather than later conquer the majority in Europe”.

Italian Father Piero Gheddo said the poor birth rate among Europeans coupled with waves of Muslim immigrants could lead to Europe …. Read the original article  : here.

Rev up those prayers at Bullet Baba’s shrine!

PALI – It’s a shrine dedicated to the Motorbike Devta, also called Bullet Baba. The deity is indeed a motorcycle and such is faith that hundreds of devotees turn up every day to pray for a safe journey.

The unlikely shrine near Chotila village, around 20 km away from Pali en route to Jodhpur on the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Rev up those prayers at Bullet Baba’s shrine!.

Friend testifies that defendant never spoke of sending money to Muslim fighters in Chechnya

Longtime friend testifies in Islamic charity trial

EUGENE, Ore. – A longtime friend of a man accused of using an Islamic charity to smuggle money to Muslim fighters in Chechnya has testified that defendant Pete Seda wanted to promote peace and help orphans.
Seda is on trial in federal court in Eugene, Ore., on charges he and …. Read the original article  : here.

Hillary Clinton condemns Koran burning plan; pastor adamant

WASHINGTON – As a Florida church vowed to move forward with a controversial plan to burn the Koran, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined other US officials in condemning it as “disrespectful and disgraceful”.

“We sit down together for this meal on a day when the news is carrying reports that a pastor down …. Original source  : Hillary Clinton condemns Koran burning plan; pastor adamant.

Imam behind NYC Islamic community center says it will include ‘prayer spaces’ for other faiths

Imam: NYC Islamic center to include other faiths

NEW YORK – A proposed Islamic community center near ground zero will include separate prayer spaces for Muslims, Christians, Jews and people of other faiths, the imam behind plans for the facility wrote in an op-ed piece published online Tuesday.
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf wrote in The New York … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Imam behind NYC Islamic community center says it will include ‘prayer spaces’ for other faiths.

Clinton condemns Fla. pastor’s plan to burn Quran a ‘disrespectful, disgraceful act’

Clinton calls plan to burn Quran ‘disgraceful act’

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called a Florida church’s threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks a “disrespectful, disgraceful act.”
Others in the Obama administration weighed in against the proposed burning, including …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Clinton condemns Fla. pastor’s plan to burn Quran a ‘disrespectful, disgraceful act’.

Attorney General Holder tells religious leaders burning Quran is ‘idiotic and dangerous’

Holder: Quran burning idiotic and dangerous

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder is calling the planned burning of the Quran at a Florida church idiotic and dangerous.
That’s the word from religious leaders who met with Holder for nearly an hour Tuesday to discuss recent attacks on Muslims and mosques around the United States.
The meeting was closed … Original article on : Attorney General Holder tells religious leaders burning Quran is ‘idiotic and dangerous’.

Government turns up pressure on Florida church where pastor wants to burn copies of Quran

Pressure rises on pastor who wants to burn Quran

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The government turned up the pressure Tuesday on the head of a small Florida church who plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, warning him that doing so could endanger U.S. troops and Americans everywhere.
But the Rev. Terry Jones insisted he …. Source article  : Government turns up pressure on Florida church where pastor wants to burn copies of Quran.

Justice Department investigating at least 5 anti-Muslim acts in 4 states

DOJ investigating at least 5 anti-Muslim acts

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department is investigating a handful of apparently anti-Muslim incidents in four states, including the stabbing of a Muslim cab driver in New York City.
FBI agents and civil rights division investigators also are looking into vandalism and other incidents at mosques or mosque construction sites in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Justice Department investigating at least 5 anti-Muslim acts in 4 states.

US officials say Quran burning ‘un-American,’ will put US troops, diplomats, travelers at risk

US officials say Quran burning endangers troops

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration on Tuesday weighed in against a Florida church’s threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book, with the State Department calling the plan “un-American” and officials saying it could threaten U.S. troops, diplomats and travelers overseas.
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the administration …. Read the original article  : US officials say Quran burning ‘un-American,’ will put US troops, diplomats, travelers at risk.

NYC mayor: Fla. minister’s plan to burn Quran on 9/11 is ‘distasteful’ but a protected right

NYC mayor defends minister’s right to burn Quran

NEW YORK – Mayor Michael Bloomberg says a minister’s plan to burn the Muslim holy book on Sept. 11 is “distasteful” but says the minister has a right to do it.
Bloomberg was asked Tuesday about Pastor Terry Jones’ announced plan to burn the Quran on Saturday, the ninth … Read more »»».

US State Department calls Quran burning plan un-American; Fla. pastor says he’ll do it anyway

US church to go ahead with Sept. 11 Quran burning

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A Christian minister vowed Tuesday to go ahead with plans to burn copies of the Quran to protest the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks despite warnings from the White House and the top U.S. general in Afghanistan that he would endanger American troops overseas.
Pastor …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : US State Department calls Quran burning plan un-American; Fla. pastor says he’ll do it anyway.

White House: Quran burning would put troops in Afghanistan in harm’s way

White House: Quran burning would endanger troops

WASHINGTON – The White House said Tuesday that a Florida church’s threat to burn copies of the Muslim holy book could endanger U.S. troops abroad, while the State Department denounced the plan as “un-American” and said it would put American diplomats and travelers at risk.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs …. Original article  : White House: Quran burning would put troops in Afghanistan in harm’s way.

Kalyan Singh to launch Ram temple movement

LUCKNOW – Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalyan Singh Tuesday said he would soon start a movement to push for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya even as the court verdict in the Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid case is expected next week.

Singh, who was Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the 16th century Babri Masjid …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Kalyan Singh to launch Ram temple movement.