An update on this story . Also in this report is news that a priest who had come under threat earlier because his schools’ performance surpassed Muslim ones is now under police protection. “Kashmir: Muslims try to burn a Christian school (only in name),” by Shefali Prabhu for Asia News , September 15: Mendhar (AsiaNews) – A mob of Muslim radicals have tried to burn a school with a Christian name (St. Francis School), unaware that it is governed by Muslim and Christian in name only. The police managed to stop the arsonists, but fired into the crowd, killing four people and wounding 19. Christian leaders say “these people are being manipulated. The protest against the “Burn the Koran” campaign is spreading in several areas of Kashmir and has already left 22 dead and hundreds injured. The events used the announced (but subsequently cancelled) desecration of the Koran in the United States, to increase the tension against the Indian government, which refuses to grant autonomy to the region, also disputed by Pakistan. After three days of demonstrations and violence, protests erupted yesterday in Mendhar, about 60 km from Poonch near the border with Pakistan. From 10 am at least 3,000 people gathered also from nearby villages, marching towards the school of St Francis and the residences of teachers. The crowd were stopped by the police who used firearms, batons and tear gas grenades. In the clashes four demonstrators were killed and 19 wounded. The mob destroyed dozens of government offices, the police station and burned at least eight cars. The irony is that the school targeted is Christian in name only and is owned by local Muslims, even if the teaching staff is made up of Christians from Kerala. Mgr. Peter Celestine, bishop of Srinagar tells AsiaNews: “The so-called St Francis School has nothing to do with Catholic Protestant or evangelical institutions. They only use the Christian name to attract students. This shows that even for the local Muslims, Christian educational institutions have a very high standard”. That’s got to stick in the craw of the supremacists; it’s very bad for business. “These people – he added -are rounded up from nearby villages and incited to attack, inflamed by religious zeal.” In recent days, however, some Catholic schools were affected. Among them the Good Shepherd’s School of missionary Jim Borst, in Pulwama. The mob burned the main building and two other buildings were looted. Witnesses said the protesters were from villages under the influence of “Allahwales” and Devbandis “fundamentalist groups close to the Wahhabis. Local people, Muslim, expressed solidarity with the missionary and say they are ready to help re-start the school. Fr. Jim, for his part, sent a letter to the families linked to the school, promising to reopen immediately as soon as the curfew ends. Meanwhile the priest is under police protection to prevent attacks against him. On 14 September another school risked being burnt: it is the Christ School in Poonch. Only police intervention stopped the mob just 500 meters from the building. Fr. Matthew, the principal told AsiaNews: “We have 1522 students and only 40 are Christians, 40% of the students are Muslims, then there are Hindus and Sikhs. We have always enjoyed a deep respect from the locals. Many Islamic authorities have expressed their displeasure at the attempt to burn the school and condemned the attack. But people are manipulated and have been driven to a frenzy by false news reports”. That ability to be so easily “driven into a frenzy” aggravates underdevelopment in the area: it’s hard to develop anything stable, let alone an educational system, in a “frenzy”-prone area. Hence, here is another study in jihad and its accompanying attitudes and sense of entitlement causing poverty, rather than the other way around.
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Kashmir: Muslims attempt to burn another school over its Christian name
And Obama is chuffed . “Israel analysts see Turkey radicalizing, becoming ‘Iran No. 2,’” from the World Tribune , September 15 (thanks to all who sent this in): TEL AVIV — Israel’s defense community has assessed that Turkey was moving toward becoming a radical and nuclear Islamic state. Officials and leading analysts asserted that the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was rapidly dismantling the secular Turkish state. They said Erdogan could turn Turkey into another Iran, a radical Muslim state with nuclear weapons. “There could be a deep strategic change,” Amos Gilad, a senior Defense Ministry official, said. Officials cited Turkey’s referendum that would revise the secular constitution. They said the 26 amendments approved by 58 percent of voters on Sept. 12 would significantly increase the authority of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party while marginalizing Turkey’s military. Leading officials expressed concern over Erdogan’s growing power in Turkey and his success in intimidating the once-powerful Turkish military. They said Erdogan could use his referendum victory to expand Turkey’s alliance with neighboring Iran and Syria while fomenting another crisis with Israel…. “If there is not a change in personality, then Turkey will become Iran No. 2,” former National Security Council director Uzi Dayan said.
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"If there is not a change in personality, then Turkey will become Iran No. 2"
When in Muslim countries, non-Muslims should conform their behavior to Islamic sensibilities. When in non-Muslim countries, non-Muslims should conform their behavior to Islamic sensibilities. Once you have grasped this basic principle, all will be well. “Cover up for pool event during next year’s Ramadan,” by Padraic Murphy in the Herald Sun , September 23 (thanks to all who sent this in): UPDATE 12.35pm: A PLAN to force families to cover up to avoid offending Muslims at a public event has triggered furious debate. An overwhelming 94 per cent of heraldsun.com.au readers disagree with the legal ruling approving the contentious ban during next year’s Ramadan. So far the Premier John Brumby has refused to weigh into the debate about the event, saying he will wait to see the VCAT [Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal] ruling before making any comment. VCAT has approved a ban on uncovered shoulders and thighs for a community event to be held at the Dandenong Oasis, a municipal pool. “Participants aged 10 and over must ensure their bodies are covered from waist to knee and the entire torso extending to the upper arms,” a request by Dandenong City Council and the YMCA states in an exemption application to the Equal Opportunities Act. “Participants must not wear transparent clothing.” This issue has also sparked a huge community debate, with well over 500 people commenting on heraldsun.com.au this morning. Many readers feel the administrative ruling has gone too far to appease minority interests, and even senior Islamic figures have raised concerns about the precedent….
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Australia: Non-Muslims must cover up at municipal pool to avoid offending Muslims during Ramadan
A new We Ask America poll in Illinois finds Rep. Mark Kirk (R) with a small lead over Alexi Giannoulias (D) in the race for U.S. Senate, 39% to 36% with 19% still undecided.
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Kirk Holds Slight Edge in Illinois
White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel met privately with Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who could be a potential rival running for Chicago mayor early next year. Jackson spoke to the Chicago Tribune : “No one entering this contest should be under any illusion that if Rahm Emanuel comes to town, he’s [not] bringing an A-game. This will not be a B-game. And those who would be mayor need to recognize that. I say this with respect, but not unafraid to be in the ring with him myself. Rahm Emanuel is a heavyweight championship player and it would be a heavyweight fight.”
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Jackson and Emanuel Discuss Possible Race