Tag: CHRISTIANITY

Senior Sri Lankan officials ‘withheld intel on terrorist attacks’

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The head of Sri Lanka’s parliament has made damning accusations against senior officials in the government, alleging that they withheld intelligence about impending attacks on churches, hotels and politicians.

A series of Easter Sunday bombings at Sri Lankan churches andhotels killed at least 359 people. Authorities have made dozens of arrests in the aftermath.

“Some top intelligence officials hid the intelligence information purposefully. Information was there, but the top brass security officials did not take appropriate actions,” Lakshman Kiriella, leader of the parliament, said Wednesday

Kiriella claims that Sri Lankan authorities received a warning from Indian intelligence about possible attacks on April 4, and that this information was shared at a Security Council meeting, chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena, on April 7 but was not shared further.

“Somebody is controlling these top intelligence officials,” Kiriella added. “The Security Council is doing politics. We need to investigate into this.”

Meanwhile, former army chief and Minister of Regional Development Sarath Fonseka told parliament that he believed the attacks had been planned for some seven or eight years.

ALSO ON RT.COMTerrorists needed ‘at least 7-8 years’ to plan Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka

A confidential April 11 security memo contained names, addresses, phone numbers and movement patterns of the attackers from the National Thowheeth Jama’ath group suspected of carrying out the spate of attacks. Sri Lankan authorities also knew as far back as January that the group was stockpiling weapons and detonators.

Government minister Rauff Hakeem described it as a “colossal failure on the part of the intelligence services,” as in-fighting between Sri Lanka’s president and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appears to have prevented effective action being taken to avert the danger.

“If the names of the persons involved were already known, why were they not arrested?” he added.

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WaPo headline linking anger at Sri Lanka terrorist attacks to ‘far right’ draws Twitter’s ire

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The Washington Post is under fire for printing a story with a contentious headline, implying that anger over the recent spate of bombings in Sri Lanka is unique to the “far right.”

Titled “Christianity under attack? Sri Lanka church bombings stoke far-right anger in the West,” the piece drew outrage online far and wide for its recklessly phrased headline.

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In its story, the Post cites right-wing leaders and activists across the US and Europe – such as Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s National Rally party – who view the bombings in Sri Lanka as part of a greater attack on Christianity.

While the Post does acknowledge that “Christian minorities are targeted around the world,” some took the piece itself to be a religious slight.

“If you [need] any further proof that the Washington Post is anti-Christian, check out this asinine headline,” one user said on Twitter.

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BBC News On Sri Lanka Attack: ‘Muslims Left Nervous And Afraid’

By Chris Menahan

Won’t somebody think of the Muslims?

From BBC News:

Muslims left nervous and afraid

The BBC’s Anbarasan Ethirajan writes from the capital, Colombo:

Sri Lankans are yet to come to terms with this wave of unprecedented bomb attacks.

It is believed some Muslim youths were radicalised after clashes between the majority Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims last year in the central district of Kandy.

There have been videos on social media showing hardline Islamists and Sinhala hardliners promoting hatred after that violence.

But very few expected such massive attacks a year later. And why were Christians targeted? They are also a minority in Sri Lanka.

It’s an eternal mystery, folks.

The country experienced suicide attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels during the civil war that ended in 2009.

But the ruthlessness with which the latest attacks were carried out show that the country’s task this time will be challenging.

It is a different kind of battle. In the meantime, Sri Lankan Muslims are left nervous and afraid.

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‘They are Christians’: Obama & Clinton lambasted for calling bombed Sri Lankans ‘Easter worshipers’

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Some people believe prominent Democrats deliberately avoided using the word “Christian” when condemning bombings of churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday as part of a policy to undermine Christian faith in the US.

The eight bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, which killed almost 300 people on Easter Sunday, sparked worldwide condemnation. But the way some US politicians expressed their condolences sparked a minor outcry among conservative Americans. Former President Barack Obama and the former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, were blasted for using the term “Easter worshipers” instead of “Christians” when referring to the victims of the attacks.

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Three Sri Lankan Christian churches were targeted by the perpetrators, implying that the Christian minority was in the crosshairs. Some commentators in the US said Obama and Clinton were in the wrong when they failed to name the religion.

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Particular ire was sparked by the fact that both US politicians didn’t hesitate to use the word “Muslim” when expressing condolences to the victims of last month’s massacre at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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Notably, Obama and Clinton were not the only US figures, who used the term in remarks about the bloodshed in Sri Lanka. So did Adam Schiff, the Democrat chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

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And the same goes for US Attorney Trent Shores.

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The criticism is based on the perception that the Democratic Party is bent on downplaying America’s Christian roots for the sake of sensibilities of people adhering to other religions. The sentiment is probably best reflected in Fox News’ coverage of the supposed “war on Christmas” in the US.

In this particular case, however, the notion may be misplaced, one commenter pointed out. Christian churches are not exclusively Christian places of worship there, quite the contrary.

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In Sri Lanka, Christianity plays a unique role of serving as a bridge between people by welcoming both the Sinhalese and Tamil ethnic groups. Considering that Tamil separatism was behind a bloody 25-year-long civil war on the South Asian island, which ended just a decade ago, one can understand why this role is highly appreciated.

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FRENCH JOURNALIST: TWO CHURCHES IN FRANCE ARE VANDALIZED EVERY DAY AND NO ONE GIVES A F*CK

French Journalist: Two Churches in France Are Vandalized EVERY DAY and No One Gives a F*ck

“This government, this regime….including the Pope, including the cardinals, shut their mouth, say nothing”

 | Infowars.com – APRIL 17, 2019

French journalist Maxime Lepante warns that France’s history is “in the process of burning down” as a result of two churches being vandalized every day and that political and religious leaders don’t “give a f*ck.”

Lepante highlighted recently released statistics that show there were 1062 anti-Christian acts in 2018, compared to just 100 anti-Muslim acts. Throughout 2018, no less than 875 churches in France were targeted.

“Two churches were vandalized per day,” said Lepante, adding, “This government, this regime….including the Pope, including the cardinals, shut their mouth, say nothing when our churches are being vandalized, and in contrast, the minute there is a mosque that has a pot of pork sausage in front of it, there’s immediately arrest and prison for the person who did it….apologies from the whole of France, the stigmatization of racism and so on, it’s an absolutely unbearable double standard!”

Lepante then pointed out that the Notre Dame cathedral was vandalized a few years ago by feminist protesters who sprayed urine everywhere and that the left’s response was to laugh while the perpetrators were acquitted.

The journalist then cited the story of how a Pakistani migrant who had only been in the country two months caused “extensive damage” to the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris.

“I would like to remind you that in the week March 12th-19th, twelve French churches were vandalized,” said Lepante, before citing several examples of how leading leftist figures in France have openly called for the destruction of Paris’ historical buildings and monuments and how political leaders don’t “give a f*ck” about the situation.

“The situation is grave, the situation is scandalous, it’s the pride of our history that is in the process of burning down,” said Lepante.

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LOU DOBBS: IT WAS A ‘POLITICAL DECISION’ TO RULE OUT ARSON IN NOTRE DAME BLAZE

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“A political decision rather than one based on careful investigation of the facts.”

Steve Watson | Infowars.com – APRIL 17, 2019

Veteran broadcaster Lou Dobbs noted Tuesday that the decision to dismiss any notion that the Notre Dame fire could have been a deliberate act was based on politics, rather than any investigation of the facts.

“One thing authorities are ruling out, however, within just a matter of hours, arson,” Dobbs stated.

“That was a decision made within hours. It sounds like a different kind of decision,”Dobbs added.

“Perhaps a political decision rather than one based on careful investigation of the facts.” he further told viewers.

Dobbs cited the enormous amount of attacks on Catholic churches in France last year alone as a reason why it is entirely valid for anyone to wonder if the Notre Dame fire was set deliberately.

“Perhaps overlooked since yesterday is 875 Catholic churches in France were vandalized in 2018 — 875! In a single week last month, 12 churches were vandalized, including a fire deliberately set at a church also located in Paris.” Dobbs urged.

“This is context, this is not speculation, this is the situation right now in France and the recent history of what has happened to Catholic churches throughout the nation.” he added.

“Ignored too often by some covering the tragedy, some who have ruled out ‘speculation’ about the cause of the Notre Dame fire as they speculate — taking it as gospel that arson was not the cause.” Dobbs noted.

While many actually celebrated the fire, news networks declared it was a made up conspiracy theory that anyone was happy Notre Dame was burning.

Networks, including Fox News, actively shut down anyone who dared even suggest that arson should be looked into.

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Two Fox Hosts End Interviews When Guests Bring Up Pattern of Church Fires in France

Fox News stopped two guests from vocalizing a very real pattern of church destruction in France.

By Peter D’Abrosca

Two separate Fox News hosts inexplicably ended interviews with guests who brought up the fact that there has been a pattern of church fires in France.

“You need to know that for the past year we’ve had churches desecrated each and every week in France – all over France,” French politician Philippe Kersenty told Fox’s Shep Smith. “The politically correct will try to tell you this is an accident – ”

Smith interrupted.

“Sir, sir, sir – we’re not going to speculate here of the cause of something that we don’t know,” he said. “If you have observations, or you know something, we would love to hear it.”

Kersenty attempted to proceed with his observations, but Smith hung up on him.

Later, host Neil Cavuto did the same to his own guest.

“Well, Neil, if it is an accident it’s a monumental tragedy,” said Catholic League President Bill Donohue. “Just last month a 17th Century church was set on fire in Paris. We’ve seen tabernacles knocked down, crosses have been knocked down. Statues have been – ”

Donahue, too, was interrupted.

“Bill, we don’t know that,” Cavuto said. “We don’t know.”

Cavuto filibustered for a whole minute before letting Donahue speak again.

“I’m sorry, I mean when I find out the eucharist is being destroyed and human excrement is being smeared on crosses – this is going on now – ” Donohue said.

Cavuto interrupted again.

“Wait a minute, Bill, wait a minute,” Cavuto said. “I love you, Bill, but we cannot make conjectures about this.”

He then hung up on Donahue.

Neither guest suggested the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral was set intentionally. They both simply noted a pattern of the destruction of churches in France.

Earlier Monday, Big League Politics reported on the reality that 10 churches in France were attacked in a single week:

In February 10 churches in France were attacked in one week, causing some to fear increasing religious tensions in the migrant-friendly country.

The attacks, allegedly sponsored by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, saw 5 churches vandalized, attacked, or damaged in a one week span.

Roman Catholic publication La Croix International first reported that four churches were vandalized in a week period in February. The first church to be vandalized was in Houilles, France on February 4 at the church of St. Nicholas, where a statue of Mary was found broken into pieces.

Why would Fox News stop its guests from addressing this reality on air?

WATCH Shep Smith:

WATCH Neil Cavuto:

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Pakistani Migrant Faces Trial for Smashing Historic Church Holding Tombs of French Kings

The choir of the Saint-Denis basilica is pictured on April 6, 2018 in Saint-Denis, near Paris. / AFP PHOTO / Ludovic MARIN (Photo credit should read LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/Getty Images)

By Chris Tomlinson

A 41-year-old Pakistani migrant will face trial after vandalising the Saint-Denis Basilica, the home of the tombs of many French Kings including Charles Martel.

The Pakistani origin male, who had arrived in France only two months ago, will stand trial in Bobigny next month, accused of causing serious damage to the main organ of the basilica as well as smashing stained glass windows in an apparent attack that took place in March, Le Parisien reports.

While in court for his initial hearing, the Pakistani, who does not speak any French, said through a translator: “I do not know how I am concerned with this case.”

When asked if he would like time to prepare his defence, he told the court he did not understand the French justice system.

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According to the court, the man had already been accused of vandalism of property in February and that his DNA had been found in the basilica by investigators which led to his arrest.

The migrant claimed ignorance of the judicial process which forced the judge to question whether or not he was purposely trying to not understand what was occurring. As a result, the judge delayed the trial until May 10th and ordered a psychiatric evaluation of the Pakistani national.

When the incident occurred in March, the damage to the organ was said to be extensiveby Saadia Tamelikecht, head of the departmental unit of architecture and heritage of the heavily migrant-populated Seine-Saint-Denis suburbs.

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The vandalism also came just over a year after the basilica was stormed by pro-migrant activists alongside illegal migrants to protest the French government’s reforms to asylum laws, with police having to forcibly remove them after around an hour of occupation.

Vandalism of churches across France has become a major issue, with nine churches across the country vandalised in just 11 days in February. Some of the damage had included thefts, while others featured grotesque acts such as the smearing of faeces on the walls of a church in Nîmes.

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Just last month the second largest church in Paris was damaged by fire, which police have said was deliberately started. Dramatic images from the scene showed flames pouring out of a “massive” porch door and stained glass window, although fortunately the Paris Pompiers were able to put out the blaze before it spread to the rest of the building.

In the aftermath of the attack on the church, French right-wing leader Laurent Wauquiez hit out at the mainstream media for ignoring the story of church attacks in France, remarking that the amount of coverage the stories got was “tiny”, reports London’s The Times.

On Monday, another tragedy struck one of France’s most iconic cathedrals as the roof of the Notre-Dame cathedral caught fire, causing widespread damage to the building.

Firefighters said the blaze had been successfully extinguished Tuesday morning, but images coming from Paris show the extent of damage to the historic fabric of the building — both the total destruction of the Medieval wooden roof, but also the collapse of parts of the stone vaulted ceiling.

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