Religious Freedom: New Report Paints A Grim Global Picture

Millions continue to suffer religious persecution globally, with wars and civil conflicts exacerbating already existing ills in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the U.S. State Department documented in its 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom. The report attempts to present an overview of persecution by governments, extremists and members of society, relying on information from government officials, religious groups, nongovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights monitors, academia and the media.

Haredi ‘Lost Boys’ May Find Themselves Drafted Into Israel’s Army

Members of Israel’s Haredi community are warning of a religious war after this country’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the government must start drafting yeshiva students into its military.

The Taliban’s Treatment Of Women Should Shock The Conscience Of Humanity

(ANALYSIS) In June 2024, in the build-up to the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, published his report on “The phenomenon of an institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, disrespect for human dignity and exclusion of women and girls.”

How Climate Change Has Made The Hajj More Risky

(ANALYSIS) Hundreds of people died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as the faithful faced intense high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, officials said, as people tried to claim their loved ones’ bodies. While deaths are not uncommon, climate change has made the experience deadlier in recent years.

Israel Remains A Nation Under Siege

(OPINION) The nation of Israel is different from any nation on the earth, as it has been in an existential battle for survival from the moment of its birth in 1948 until this very day. It is a nation under constant siege, and without constant vigilance (and the mercy of God), it would be wiped off from the map.

Israel, Opinion, Middle EastDr. Michael BrownJune 13, 2024Dr. Michael Brown, Michael Brown, Israel, Judaism, Hamas, Gaza, terrorism, Middle East, opinion, newsComment

Netanyahu Loses Centrist Partner: Will Anything Change In The Israel-Hamas War?

The Israeli government and the Biden administration on Sunday lost a key moderating and unifying figure with the resignation of senior war cabinet minister Benny Gantz. This development could complicate the Biden administration’s efforts to broker a possible hostage-and-ceasefire deal, and might also lead to early elections in Israel later this year.

For Jews Protesting For Palestinians, Activism Is Rooted In Their Values

(ANALYSIS) Some U.S. Jews’ involvement in Palestinian solidarity movements began years before the current war. In my research, which included in-depth interviews and participant observation work, activists emphasized that they were inspired to act because of their Jewish identity and values, not in spite of them.

The Cultural Battle Between Pro-Israel And Pro-Palestinian Protesters

Art — paintings, music, books, movies — has become part of the culture war swirling around Israel and Gaza that has been gaining steam steadily since Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 and Israel’s subsequent response. Concerts have been canceled and art has been damaged by protesters, all part of a battle over the political meaning and value of art.

Israelis Split Along Religious Lines Regarding The War In Gaza

Israelis are split along religious lines when it comes to the ongoing war in Gaza, according to a new study. In fact, the Pew Research Center survey found that Israelis “perceive the war in vastly different ways” — and much of it depends on their religious backgrounds. One of the “starkest divides,” according to Pew, is between Jewish and Arab Israelis as well as observant and secular Jews.

Succession: Inside How Iran Selects Its Supreme Leader

(ANALYSIS) The sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi is unlikely to drastically alter Iran’s foreign and domestic policies, but it has left a power vacuum. As stipulated by the constitution, Raisi was replaced by his first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, as interim president before presidential elections are held in 50 days.

Black Christians Call For Permanent Ceasefire In Israeli-Hamas War

Thirteen leaders from predominantly Black Churches of Christ have signed a formal letter calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The initiative — led by James Michael Crusoe, Edward Keyton and Quintessa Hathaway — began in February during Black History Month after the “Somebody Must Come Preaching” podcast featured the trio on an episode titled “Their struggle is our struggle.”

‘Accepting The Other’: Arab Christian Paramedic In Nazareth Promotes Unity

As a 15-year-old high school student in Nazareth, Arab Christian Yasmeen Mazzawi wanted to learn the history of the Jews she met volunteering as a paramedic with Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical services. Her decision to visit Auschwitz with a team of MDA volunteers challenged her friendships with Muslim and Christian classmates at Nazareth Baptist School, founded by Southern Baptist missionaries in 1935.

The Moral And Ethical Challenges Posed By Artificial Intelligence

The speakers that took to the stage at MIT this past week addressed a series of issues surrounding AI, including how it impacts a number of areas such as communications, entertainment, healthcare, politics, climate change and the military. In fact, speakers talked about the numerous potential pitfalls in a world where AI is becoming more ubiquitous.

Iran’s Hardliner President Ebrahim Raisi Killed In Helicopter Crash

President Ebrahim Raisi and Iran’s foreign minister were killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash, leaving the country without two of its most influential figures at a time of much turmoil in the Middle East. They were traveling from Iran’s border with Azerbaijan after inaugurating a dam project.

Garbage City’s Christian Residents Call For Increased Government Representation

Garbage City existed before its Coptic Christian residents, and they are the only ones willing enough to remain among the trash and help Cairo by sorting through it. The main issue, these days, is the lack of political representation and influence caused by a growing Muslim-Christian divide.

When Being Pro-Palestinian Means The End Of Israel

(OPINION) It is important to remember that many of those protesting Israel’s war in Gaza are not simply advocating for a ceasefire or for a two-state solution. They are advocating for the end of Israel. This, of course, is the obvious meaning of the “river to the sea” chant. But what is implied in the chant is now being stated explicitly by anti-Israel protesters and their allies. They, in turn, are simply articulating what has always been the fundamental position of Hamas.

Gaza’s Christian Presence Dwindles Following 7 Months Of Israel-Hamas War

An estimated 25 percent to half of the 900 to 1,000 Christians who lived in Gaza before the war have fled, and that an additional 25 percent are applying to leave. Israel’s occupation of the Rafah border crossing threatens safe passage to Egypt. Thousands of displaced Palestinians are fleeing Rafah for Deir el-Balah about 12 miles north and were straining a scant supply of fresh water.

US Watchdog Group Recommends Adding 15 Nations To List Of Religious Freedom Violators

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2024 report urged the U.S. State Department to add 15 nations to the current list of egregious religious freedom violators, and recommended key policy guidance for the Biden administration. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Nigeria and Vietnam should be added to the 12 Countries of Particular Concern.

Palestinian Journalists Receive Pulitzer ‘Special Citation’ For Gaza War Coverage

The Pulitzer Prize committee awarded a “special citation” to journalists covering the war in Gaza. In addition, “A Day in the Life of Abed Salaman: Anatomy of a Jerusalem” Tragedy by Nathan Thrall, which documents the experience of a Palestinian father whose 5-year-old son was killed in a bus crash, won the prize for general nonfiction.

How Schumer Persuaded Speaker Johnson To Pass Foreign Aid Bill

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the recent bipartisan passage of a $14.3 billion military aid bill to Israel, without imposing any conditions, a “great victory” for the Jewish state. In an exclusive interview, Schumer said he dedicated significant time to discussions with House Speaker Johnson, emphasizing the importance of passing the comprehensive foreign aid package, crucial for Israel’s defense.

Address

Contact

Information