Religion News – Weekly Newsletter for December 13-20, 2010

Sunni Waqf board files appeal on Ayodhya in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI – The Sunni Central Waqf Board Tuesday filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court for setting aside the Allahabad High Court judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.

Our appeal on behalf of Sunni Waqf Board was filed today, Zafaryab Jilani, the board’s lawyer, told reporters here.
A three-judge …. Source  : Sunni Waqf board files appeal on Ayodhya in Supreme Court.

Dawoodi Bohra head conducts Moharram discourses at 99

MUMBAI – Setting a record of sorts at 99 years, the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin is conducting the annual Moharram discourses in Mumbai for the second consecutive year, an aide said here Tuesday.

This year, around 200,000 Dawoodi Bohras have gathered from all over the world and different parts …. Source article  : Dawoodi Bohra head conducts Moharram discourses at 99.

Obama skipping Golden Temple in Time’s ‘Top 10 Religion Stories’

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama’s decision to skip a planned visit to the Golden Temple during his India trip has been listed ninth among Time magazine’s ‘Top 10 Religion Stories’.

Explaining why it put “Obama Decides Not to Visit the Golden Temple” on the list, the US magazine wrote: “The Golden Temple in Amritsar … Read more : Obama skipping Golden Temple in Time’s ‘Top 10 Religion Stories’.

Seek stop to US turban checking, Badal urges PM

CHANDIGARH – Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that Sikh turbans were not checked and Sikhs were not humiliated in US airports.

After India’s UN envoy Hardeep Singh Puri was patted down by security officials at the Austin airport and his turban checked, Badal said the …. Source  : Seek stop to US turban checking, Badal urges PM.

Argentine cleric attacks Santa Claus as `fat, red man’

BUENOS AIRES – Worshippers at the Catholic cathedral in Resistencia in north-western Argentina could barely believe their ears when their archbishop demonised Christmas’ jolliest figure.

Archbishop Fabriciano Sigampa called Santa Claus a “fat, red man” who had no business in the Christmas celebrations of Christianity.
Even little children “should know that they get presents only … Read more : Argentine cleric attacks Santa Claus as `fat, red man’.

Sri Lanka destroying statues of Tamil kings: Canadian Tamils

TORONTO – The Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora in Canada has reacted angrily to Colombo’s decision to scrap the Tamil version of the country’s national anthem and alleged that the “Sri Lankan government is systematically destroying the statues of Tamil kings”.

The Sri Lankan cabinet under President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided that “the current Tamil version …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Sikh panel plans protest outside US embassy

CHANDIGARH – The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the mini-parliament of Sikh religion, Tuesday said its members will protest outside the US embassy in Delhi Dec 23 against turban checks at American airports.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said committee members will ‘gherao’ (lay seige to) and protest outside the US embassy Dec 23.
The … Read more »»».

Citing Diwali in Mumbai, Obama plugs new era of engagement

WASHINGTON – Citing his India visit when he and First Lady Michelle celebrated Diwali with children in Mumbai, US President Barack Obama has said his administration has pursued a new era of engagement by building partnerships between peoples.

Joining holiday celebrations at the State Department for diplomats Monday, he said: “As you know, my administration …. Original article  : Citing Diwali in Mumbai, Obama plugs new era of engagement.

Muslim woman whipped in public for wearing trousers

LONDON – A Sudanese Muslim woman was publicly whipped for wearing trousers, a video released on the internet shows.

The woman was apparently punished under the Sharia law for wearing trousers under her Islamic clothing, Sky News reported Tuesday.
The footage shows her crawling on the ground, raising her arm to try to ward off …. Source article  : Muslim woman whipped in public for wearing trousers.

Act to stop turban checks, Akali Dal tells government

CHANDIGARH – The ruling Akali Dal in Punjab Tuesday termed Indian diplomat Hardeep Puri’s ‘pat down’ episode in the US as an outrage and urged the central government to launch a diplomatic initiative to ensure that Sikhs’ turbans were not checked anywhere in the world.

Puri, India’s permanent representative to the UN, was screened by … Read more »».

Now follow a Moharram ‘majlis’ on your cell

LUCKNOW – Members of the Shia community can now follow a ‘Majlis’ addressed by leading clerics during the month of Moharram on their mobile phone within half an hour of the event.

Gurgaon-based IT company Anagha Communications has developed a software to bring the Moharram majlis straight to your mobile phones within 30 minute of … Read more : Now follow a Moharram ‘majlis’ on your cell.

Sunni Waqf Board moves apex court against Ayodhya order

LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI – The Sunni Central Waqf Board Tuesday moved the apex court against the Sep 30 order of the Allahabad High Court in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, raising several issues against the verdict, including that it relied heavily on belief.

“We have sought to draw the Supreme Court’s attention to the fact …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sunni Waqf Board moves apex court against Ayodhya order.

Dalai Lama recalls Tibet’s relations with India

DHARAMSALA – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has recalled Tibets past relations with India and said these are still close to heart.

Tibets past relations with Kalimpong and Darjeeling are still close to heart. As a child I was delighted to hear from Tibetan merchants and officials about their journey to Kalimpong, Sikkim, Darjeeling … Original article on : Dalai Lama recalls Tibet’s relations with India.

Thousands weep as Bohra chief, 99, conducts Moharram discourse

MUMBAI – A sea of humanity, many moved to tears, sits in rapt attention at the Saifee Mosque and outside in the bylanes as the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, 99-year-old Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, conducts the annual Moharram discourse.

The live Ashara Mubaraka discourse by the Syedna – for the second consecutive year [..] Read the original article: here.

Muharram Being Observed Today

AHMEDABAD, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The occasion of Muharram is being observed in many parts of the country on Friday with mourning processions being taken out in a number of cities all over India. While a curfew has been declared in many parts of the Jammu & Kashmir’s capital Srinagar to avoid any uncalled for incident, … Read : Muharram Being Observed Today.

Muharram Being Observed In Pakistan

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (GaeaTimes.com)- Like every year, the city of Karachi in Pakistan was witness to a mourning procession on Thursday to commemorate the occasion of Muharram which honors the sacrifices that were made by Hazrat Iman Hussein and his companions. The mourning procession that was carried out in Karachi commenced from Nishtar Park and … Read more : Muharram Being Observed In Pakistan.

Jolie-Pitt Hindu wedding tickles Canada

TORONTO – The reported decision by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to have a Hindu wedding in an ashram in Rajasthan next year to formalize their live-in relationship has drawn curious reaction from the Canadian media and readers.

Isn’t Hollywood’s hottest couple, like other celebrities, trying to appropriating Hindu culture to make their wedding look …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Jolie-Pitt Hindu wedding tickles Canada.

Delhi-Agra highway choked with devotees

MATHURA – The Delhi-Agra national highway has been choked for the last three days as devotees of a local spiritual leader make their way on foot and in packed buses and trucks for a four-day religious discourse that ends here Friday.

The followers of Baba Jai Gurudev have been coming to his grand white … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Delhi-Agra highway choked with devotees.

Tamil NGO denies links with spectrum scam

CHENNAI – The founder of an NGO linked to DMK MP Kanimozhi that was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) insisted Thursday that it did not receive any money linked to the 2G spectrum scandal.

Jegath Gaspar Raj told a news conference here that he strongly condemned insinuations that the scam money may …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tamil NGO denies links with spectrum scam.

Pakistani officials in Saudi Arabia to probe Haj scandal

ISLAMABAD – A team of officials from Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) left for Saudi Arabia Thursday to investigate the Haj corruption scandal that led to the sacking of two federal ministers.

The team led by FIA deputy director Khalid Rasool will visit Makkah and Madina to find out the exact situation regarding accommodation provided …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

US cable praises India’s secular society

NEW DELHI/LONDON – A diplomatic cable sent by the US embassy here to Washington says America can learn a lot from the Indians’ tolerance for all faiths, according to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

An April 2006 cable posted in The Guardian newspaper said that in the Indian context, secularism was synonymous with tolerance for all faiths, …. Source article  : US cable praises India’s secular society.

Hindu terrorism phrase coined by vested interests: VHP

PANAJI – Hindu or saffron terrorism was a “figment of imagination” and a phrase coined by vested interests who were working against the nation, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said here Friday.

VHP’s all-India vice president Ashok Chowgule said the parishad will discuss the issue of ’saffron terrorism’ at its international conference in Goa … Original source on Gaea Times at : Hindu terrorism phrase coined by vested interests: VHP.

Vatican condemns China’s interference in church affairs

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican Friday condemned a unilateral gathering earlier this month of China’s state-supervised Catholic church – saying bishops and priests had been forced to attend.

The Vatican’s protest, contained in an eight-point statement, is the latest salvo in a growing rift with Beijing, one that appears to reverse an improvement in relations [..] Read the original article: here.

Peaceful Moharrum in Mumbai

MUMBAI – Muslims Friday peacefully observed Yaum-e-Ashoora, the 10th day of the Muslim month of Moharrum, remembering the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and his followers in the battle of Karbala about 1,400 years ago.

While Shia Muslims observed the day Thursday, Sunnis observed it Friday by fasting. The city also …. Original article  : Peaceful Moharrum in Mumbai.

Thousands join Muharram processions across Kashmir Valley

SRINAGAR – Muharram processions were taken out peacefully in many parts of the Kashmir Valley Friday except for the main procession which couldn’t be taken out due to the imposition of curfew in Srinagar.

Thousands joined the processions at different places to pay rich tributes to the grandson of the Prophet and commemorate his … Read more >>.

Yaum-e-Ashoora observed in Hyderabad with procession

HYDERABAD – Muslims Friday observed Yaum-e-Ashoora or the 10th day of the Muslim month of Moharrum remembering the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and his followers in the battle of Karbala about 1,400 years ago.

While Shia Muslims in this historic city observed the day by taking out the traditional ‘tazia’ … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Yaum-e-Ashoora observed in Hyderabad with procession.

WikiLeaks: 85,000 Tibetans reach India since 1980

NEW DELHI/LONDON – More than 85,000 Tibetans have arrived in India in the past 30 years and 46,000 of them returned to Tibet, says a US cable put out by WikiLeaks.

The New Delhi American embassy cable of Feb 22 this year and reproduced by The Guardian said that “an average of 2,500-3,500 refugees from …. Original article  : WikiLeaks: 85,000 Tibetans reach India since 1980.