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Christians are an integral part of the Holy Land: Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyadh Maliki
Rome – When you say that Palestine is the Holy Land, “you cannot talk about the Holy land without Christians”, and Palestinian Authorites consider Palestinian Christians as an “integral, essential and solid part of the Palestinian people, it doesn ‘t matter what the percentage of Christians is in Palestine”, emphasizes Riyad al Maliki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, enumerating in this regard also some institutional measures ordered by the Palestinian Authority with the aim of countering the progressive numerical erosion of the Christian component of Palestinian society. “We” – Minister al Maliki explains in an exclusive interview to Agenzia Fides “don’t see Christians as a different community. They were in Palestine before the Muslims. Therefore if we talk about seniority, they have priority over Muslims in Palestine”. The representative of the Palestinian government also traces the decision to increase the minimum quota of seats reserved for Christian citizens in the future Parliament of Palestine from 5 to 7 (out of a total of 132): “Christians”, Al Maliki explains, “are a solid part of the Palestinian People. Even if they represent less than 7%, they should get minimum 7% in order to show that we want Christians who emigrated back. This is why it was decided that they should be over-represented in the parliamentary assembly”.
When you say that Palestine is the holy land, you cannot talk about the Holy land without Christians”. In fact, in Palestinian society there have also recently been signs of intolerance towards Christians. In December the Palestinian Islamist Party Hamas had instructed Muslims to limit their “interaction” with Christian Christmas celebrations, in the Gaza Strip. “This kind of approach” remarked categorically Minister al Maliki, “is something we do not accept because it is not part of our culture, tradition, our history … and this is why so many religious and non-religious leaders have expressed dissent from that pronouncement in other parts of Palestine, and Hamas eventually withdrew it… What is important to us” adds the Minister “is what President Mahmud Abbas does. He is personally attends the Christmas midnight mass, he is a Muslim. What the President does, should reflect what Palestine should do. Our message is brotherhood, coexistence, we are the same family, one is Muslim and one is Christian. One cannot play with the composition of the Palestinian society. For us” continues the Palestinian Government Representative “Christianity is an essential component. That’s why we have a presidential decree that the mayor of Bethlehem has to be always Christian …. the mayor of Ramallah has to be always Christian, and the same is for Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala … it doesn’t matter what the percentage of Christians in such cities, we want them to stay as Christians”.
Minister al Maliki was able to speak on Thursday, May 6 with Archbishop Gallagher on the condition of Christians in Palestine and throughout the Middle East, during a meeting with him at the Vatican. “With the Holy See” the Minister tells Fides “we want to stress the importance of our bilateral relations, to tell them about about the situation in Jerusalem, where there is an increased tendency to attack mosques and churches and to prevent both Muslims and Christians from having access to their holy places and participate in mass and prayers”. He also touched other issues with Archbishop Gallagher al Maliki, including “this phenomena of evangelism spreading all over the world”, a phenomena that “really should worry the Catholic Church but it worries us as Palestinians, because the evangelists are having anti- Palestinian tendency”. Al Maliki’s visit to Rome took place in the context of a European tour carried out by the Palestinian Minister to meet, among others, the Russian foreign Minister Serghei Laveov and the Italian foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. The intent was to verify what European institutions and countries can do “in order to push Israel to allow us to hold elections in Jerusalem, not only in west bank and Gaza but also in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian Authority were forced to postpone the elections because Israel did not respond to their request to do it in Jerusalem. The foreign Ministers of the European Union are having a meeting on Monday “and we also want the countries to raise the issue in the meeting in order to collectively pressure Israel so it allows us to hold elections in Jerusalem”. There have been no elections for 15 years, and some observers say Palestinian Authorities could find an alternative solution. “Jerusalem” Minister Maliki responds to these comment “is located in Jerusalem, it is not in Ramallah … voting there means voting there. It is not a technical issue, it is connected with the issue of the status of Jerusalem, as a part of the occupied Palestinian territory. I have heard: why don’t you hold elections in consulates, or in embassies or in UN offices … or even in churches or mosques… but this” continues the Minister “is not acceptable. The whole issue of elections is about Jerusalem. To go towards elections without Jerusalem, it is like accepting what Trump said. Jerusalem is an eternal and undivided Capital of Israel. It’s a political issue. It’s not technical. We have postponed the elections for 15 years, we can do that more for 1, 2, 3 months but you can’t give up on the Jerusalem issue”. In the previous elections, the Minister recalls, Palestinian polling stations were also opened in East Jerusalem, because “there is an agreement signed in 1995 in Washington, and in that agreement Israel accepts that Palestinian carry out elections on all Palestinian territory including Jerusalem. Then, the Israelites heard what Trump told them, and now they say that if they allow the elections to take place in Jerusalem they are giving up that part of east Jerusalem to the Palestinians. The name is elections, but in reality the real issue is about Jerusalem”.
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Toronto Declares December as Christian Heritage Month, Following Heated Debate: Christians Jubilant to Celebrate Faith
In a landmark decision on November 14th, 2024, Toronto’s City Council officially declared December as Christian Heritage Month, sparking jubilation among the city’s Christian community. This historic celebration will take place in the very council chambers where a heated debate on the topic unfolded, adding profound significance to the occasion and reflecting the depth of engagement surrounding this important decision.
To commemorate this milestone, a celebratory event will be held on Thursday, November 21st, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, providing a space for Christians across the region to come together and honor their faith and heritage. The event is being organized by Christian Music Festival.
The celebratory event on November 21st promises to be a powerful expression of faith and freedom, uniting communities to honor the historic declaration of Christian Heritage Month.
The movement to declare December as Christian Heritage Month is being spearheaded by Molly Banerjei, a passionate advocate for the initiative, who has garnered support from a diverse coalition of volunteers, pastors, faith leaders, and community members from across Canada. This national grassroots movement has received backing from Canadians of various backgrounds, including First Nations, African, South American, Asian, Caribbean, and European communities.
“As a proud Christian Canadian, this moment fills me with hope and gratitude,” said Molly Banerjei. “Christian Heritage Month is not just about celebrating faith but about honoring the values of love, service, and community that have strengthened our nation’s fabric for generations.”
With this declaration, Toronto joins over 30 municipalities across Canada, including Ottawa, Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan, and Durham Region, that have also recognized December as Christian Heritage Month. Many of these municipalities will be holding flag-raising ceremonies to mark the occasion, signifying the importance of this movement in the Canadian mosaic.
“This is not just a celebration of Christianity; it’s about recognizing the contributions of Christian communities to every aspect of Canadian society,” said Banerjei. “By celebrating Christian Heritage Month, we honor the diversity that makes Canada strong and the faith that has shaped this great nation.”
Councillor Lilly Cheng added, “There’s so much good and beauty in Christianity. So, I don’t think it’s something to be ashamed of to say I’m Christian. This is an important day for our city and the Canadian people.”
As December approaches, churches across Toronto, Vaughan, Durham Region, and beyond are preparing events, services, and outreach activities to mark this historic occasion. The recognition of Christian Heritage Month in Toronto is seen as a major step toward greater inclusivity and acknowledgment of the values that unite Canadians across the country.
The celebratory event on November 21st promises to be a powerful expression of faith and freedom, uniting communities to honor the historic declaration of Christian Heritage Month.
Sources:BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
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16 വയസിന് താഴെയുള്ള കുട്ടികളിൽ സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയ നിരോധിക്കാൻ യുകെ
ലണ്ടന്: ഓസ്ട്രേലിയക്ക് പിന്നാലെ 16 വയസിന് താഴെയുള്ള കുട്ടികളില് സോഷ്യല് മീഡിയ നിരോധനം കൊണ്ടുവരാന് യുകെയും. ഓണ്ലൈന് സുരക്ഷ ഉറപ്പാക്കാന് തനിക്കാവുന്നത് ചെയ്യുമെന്ന് യുകെ സാങ്കേതിക വിദ്യ സെക്രട്ടറി പീറ്റര് കൈലേയെ ഉദ്ധരിച്ച് ബിബിസി റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നു. എല്ലാത്തിന്റെയും രേഖകള് കയ്യിലുണ്ടെന്നും തനിക്ക് ആദ്യം കൂടുതല് തെളിവുകള് ലഭിക്കണമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം വ്യക്തമാക്കി. യുവാക്കളിലെ സോഷ്യല് മീഡിയകളുടെയും സ്മാര്ട്ട്ഫോണുകളുടെയും സ്വാധീനത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് കൂടുതല് ഗവേഷണം നടത്തുമെന്നും കൈലേ പറഞ്ഞു.
16 വയസുവരെയുള്ള കുട്ടികളില് സോഷ്യല് മീഡിയ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത് നിരോധിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള നിയമം ലോകത്തിലാദ്യമായി ഓസ്ട്രേലിയ അവതരിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഓസ്ട്രേലിയയിലെ കമ്മ്യൂണിക്കേഷന് മന്ത്രി മിഷേല് റോളണ്ട് അവതരിപ്പിച്ച ബില്ല് ഓണ്ലൈന് സുരക്ഷയുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടുള്ള രക്ഷിതാക്കളുടെ ആശങ്കയ്ക്ക് പ്രാധാന്യം നല്കുന്നു. ബില്ല് പാസായാല് നിയന്ത്രണമേര്പ്പെടുത്താന് ഒരു വര്ഷം വരെയെങ്കിലും സമയമെടുക്കും.
കുട്ടികള് അക്കൗണ്ട് എടുക്കുന്നത് തടഞ്ഞില്ലെങ്കില് സാമൂഹ്യ മാധ്യമങ്ങള് നഷ്ടപരിഹാരം നല്കേണ്ടി വരുമെന്നും ബില്ലില് പറയുന്നുണ്ട്. ഇങ്ങനെ സംഭവിച്ചാല് ടിക് ടോക്, ഫേസ്ബുക്ക്, സ്നാപ്ചാറ്റ്, റെഡ്ഡിറ്റ്, എക്സ്, ഇന്സ്റ്റാഗ്രാം തുടങ്ങിയ പ്ലാറ്റ്ഫോമുകള് 3.3 കോടി ഡോളര് പിഴ നല്കേണ്ടി വരും. സോഷ്യമീഡിയ പ്ലാറ്റ്ഫോമുകളില് സംരക്ഷണം ഒരുക്കേണ്ട ചുമതല കുട്ടികള്ക്കോ മാതാപിതാക്കള്ക്കോ അല്ലെന്നും മൈക്കിള് റോളണ്ട് പറഞ്ഞു. 18 വയസിന് താഴെയുള്ളവർക്ക് ഓണ്ലൈന് പോണോഗ്രഫി നിരോധിക്കാനുള്ള നിയമവും ഓസ്ട്രേലിയ ആലോചിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com
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British Evangelist Slashed, Imprisoned, Threatened with Death, Keeps Going
LONDON – An ex-Muslim turned Christian evangelist has been beaten, chased by angry mobs, unlawfully jailed and even stabbed, all for the sake of the Gospel.
This is not in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. It is officially happening in Christian Britain.
Her name is Hatun Tash, and what has been done to her has even caught the attention of the British media.
Tash grew up in Turkey as a Muslim and became a Christian after moving to England. And being an ex-Muslim speaking out against Islam has made her a target.
She told us she has changed residences more than 50 times in the past four years because she knows Muslims are looking for her in order to kill her. One man has already been sentenced to 24 years in prison for trying.
Because of this ongoing danger, she asked that we interview her from a secret location.
Tash told us her conversion to Christ began when she learned the truth about Islam and Mohammed.
“As I read biography, it was very disturbing to me. So, the man you grew up to love and honor suddenly turns out to be like, yeah, not good, not good. And I decided, I can’t be Muslim.”
Then she learned about a very different God than the one of Islam, telling us, “As you dig into it, you get to meet with a God who is not silent or far or distant from you, but you meet with a God who loves you, who pours out himself on you. And not only that, He just puts himself on the cross and then says, ‘I love you from everlasting to everlasting, Come to me.'”
Tash began sharing this message to Muslims at Speakers Corner, in London’s Hyde Park, where speakers climb atop stepladders and vigorous debates ensue, often between Muslims and Christians.
Her preaching and criticism of Islam has sometimes enraged Muslims, and three years ago a man slashed her face with a knife. He has never been caught.
She however has been arrested unlawfully more than once. The London Police have twice paid her damages for wrongful arrests, including two years ago when she refused to leave the area where she was preaching. Tash was forcibly marched through Hyde Park, followed by Muslims celebrating her arrest. She was placed in a police van, strip-searched, and jailed.
This has not stopped Tash from going to mosques and sharing the Gospel daily.
“I would simply stand in front of the mosques, and I’d say ‘Muhammad is a false prophet. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Tell me, what is your objections?’ Hundreds of Muslims just stop and then they want to talk to you. Sometimes you get harmed, sometimes it gets dangerous. Sometimes you end up in hospitals, sometimes you end up in people’s homes for a cup of tea,” Tash said.
“I don’t care whether people reject me or not. They need to hear the gospel,” she said.
Christian Concern’s Christian Legal Centre has defended Tash. Christian Concern’s Andrea Williams told us, “The truth is that those that have attempted to kill her have been caught on camera. The police know who they are, but they have not been arrested. She is feared by and targeted by Muslim groups because she is fearless for the gospel. She loves Jesus so much that nothing will halt her.”
Tash says she will continue to preach and continue to challenge Islam.
“Things are dangerous. Should I choose to stay silent? Like when people are spending 5,000 Pounds to buy a gun, to shoot you and shoot your loved ones? The Gospel is so glorious, I cannot be silent. And the Lord is the giver of life. So, when it’s my time, He will take me home. But until He gives me breath, we continue to preach.”
Sources:CBN News
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