More Middle East demonstrations in favour of religious freedom
After this, and this, now Tunisia is seeing protests in favour of religious harmony between Christians, Jews and Muslims:
As many as 15,000 of the demonstrators on Saturday were protesting against Tunisia’s Islamist movement, calling for religious tolerance a day after the Interior Ministry announced a Polish priest had been assassinated by an extremist group and following verbal attacks on Jews.
“We need to live together and be tolerant of each other’s views,” said Ridha Ghozzi, 34, who was among the protesters carrying signs and chanting slogans including “Terrorism is not Tunisian,” “Religion is Personal” and “Muslims, Christians, and Jews – we’re all Tunisians.”
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Filed in: Current affairs,Middle East,Religion
This is brilliant - I wonder what the resident religious nutters here (both PP and the UK) and abroad would have to say about this.
Most people reject extremism and want to get on with life. They want security and opportunities and those who try to hijack that with fundamentalism of any kind do so at their own peril.
But I am sure the message would be lost to both those who openly support fundamentalism and those who do it subtly.
Good.
“But I am sure the message would be lost to both those who openly support fundamentalism and those who do it subtly.”
Yes - some people are not happy that Cammo has the *audacity* not to be courting the MB in Egypt, eg the author of this:
http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/02/22/cameron-isnt-in-the-middle-east-to-promote-democracy-but-arms-trading/
Peace n prosperity Rumbold, I come to your website often but I am usually a lurker. I decided I’d finally post a comment for post saying how much I love visiting your blog as I think your writing is both exciting and helpful. Keep your blog up-to-date and you have a visitor for life, glad to meet you,thanks.
Meanwhile in east London
http://ukcommentators.blogspot.com/2011/02/teaching-other-religions-to-our-sisters.html
You know people, when not pumped up with propaganda to feel fear and hatred for others, are really rather lovely.
My putrid hippy soul is happy once more x
bleeuugh, pass the bucket Rumbold, I feel it coming on again…
Heh Nadeem.
National identity (Tunisian) trumps religious identity (Muslim, Jew, Christian). Just what Cameron was speaking about in his anti-multiculturalism speech.
Lets hope these demonstrations accelerate, they dovetail very well with the essence of the revolution the middle east is undergoing right now. This is the ME going back to its roots.
Those that have sought to create fear and division are to be reviled.
I can’t help but feel a bit optimistic about developments. The people of Tunisia and Egypt threw out the tyrants but continue to speak out about the kind of society they want to see replace them. There may be no political structure behind these voices but there is a momentum and, for me, that momentum is in a positive direction.
Of course, it could all go badly wrong yet, as gloomy Nadeem seems to think, but something has changed across the region.
my muslim friend just put this up on her facebook …..
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/34665.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENKn5lDtLvE&feature=player_embedded
has there talk about this anywhere?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENKn5lDtLvE&feature=player_embedded
CJCJC -
Spot on - and well done for challenging a warped view of the world. I guess Cambridge hasn’t helped him look beyond long held parochial views.
Rumbold - good find well done.
The egyptian story about Muslims protecting Christians as human shields and this story show common bonds of humanity and nationality are far more powerful than divisive forces.
Well done - and Tunisia started something which is going to change the world - so hats off to them.
Thanks Shamit. This stuff needs to be highlighted as much as possible.
“I guess Cambridge hasn’t helped him look beyond long held parochial views.”
These public school, Oxford-educated types… No mention of the Muslim Brotherhood here. Nice pics of Dave and Tone though.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359316/Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-takes-arms-dealers-Egypt-promote-democracy.html
“the Interior Ministry announced a Polish priest had been assassinated by an extremist group”
hmmm not what the catholics are saying
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9366
website is claiming 15,000 other websites are claiming hundreds demonstrated who are we to believe now?
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Hundreds+demonstrate+secular+Tunisia/4315666/story.html
the propaganda machine is in full swing it seems, depending on which version of events you choose to believe!
Oi there’s nothing wrong with public school or for that matter Oxbridge. It matters what you take from them and what you make of yourself.
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Joe90
Either way both articles show that there is a growing sense of unity in Tunisia which goes beyond religious divisions.
this story on tunisia just shows how lies can be fed to the masses without finding the real truth first.
rumbolds original piece was suggesting it was muslim extremists who killed the priest. Now it is found to be a petty criminal who committed the crime. Yet islam as a whole gets put under the microscope and gets the blame.
Nothing new there then.
“rumbolds original piece was suggesting it was muslim extremists who killed the priest.”
Rumbold’s piece did no such thing. Could you please point it out where he said “muslim” extremists. he said extremists.
It would hardly have been a shock, would it?
Though, as it is, even better news, right?
Thanks Shamit.