Ken SApr 16, 2024

Australia,

We genuinely needs to talk about universal human rights and freedom of religion:

... particularly the freedom to be ....' atheist, agnostic, religious, religious but institutionally sceptical, etc. etc. etc.
and the 'freedom from ...' discrimination, threat, harassment, abuse, violence, and being coerced into religion etc etc.

The problem is that we have long avoided the fundamental problems being faced, and instead prioritised a very superficial interpretation of 'freedom of religion'.

A genuine political leader would publicly fund and call for a Interfaith forum to discuss the challenge of violence and its threat against freedom of religion, with the intent to reaffirm the Governments' and every religious organisations' commitment to to the UNDHR.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/16/sydney-church-stabbing-bishop-mar-mari-emmanuel-wakeley-assyrian-christ-the-good-shepherd-terrorist-attack-what-we-know-so-far-ntwnfb
#AusPol #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #Interfaith #Multiculturalism #DiversityAndInclusion #UniversalRights
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Sydney church stabbing ā€“ what we know so far

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed during a service at the Assyrian Christ the Good Shepherd church in Wakeley, triggering a riot and violence towards police and paramedics

The Guardian
Show threadKen S

The ONLY religious way that interfaith and infrafaith arguments should ever be considered 'righteous' in Australia is non-violent, non-coercive, non-abusive argument.

Absolutely no exception to this rule, including against people who fallen out of faith or are alleged of (non-malicious) blasphemy.
#AusPol #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #Interfaith #Multiculturalism #DiversityAndInclusion #UniversalRights

Apr 16, 2024 at 8:51amWeb
Show threadKen SApr 16, 2024

If you take to 'The Sword' and not 'The Pen' against 'blasphemers', then it should be known that 'The Sword-bearer' is more blasphemous than the alleged blasphemer.

Until there is such a declaration and commitment is made in Australia, I guarantee that we will always remain hypervigilant towards homegrown Religion-driven violence.
#AusPol #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #Interfaith #Multiculturalism #DiversityAndInclusion #UniversalRights

Show threadKen SApr 17, 2024
Assyrian and Muslim community groups call for 'unity and peace' following knife attack at Sydney Church. https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103728880
ā€Ø#AusPol #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #Interfaith #Multiculturalism #DiversityAndInclusion #UniversalRights
Assyrian community groups call for 'unity and peace' after Sydney's Christ The Good Shepherd church attack

For many in Sydney's Assyrian community, the images of violence at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church on Monday evening brought flashbacks of war.

ABC News
Show threadKen SApr 17, 2024
My thoughts for the family and friends of the questioned teenager.
I hope the teenager has their continued disappointment and their support.
Regardless of the charge and sentence, ... they will be central to his successful rehabilitation;
as well as the wider community.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-17/nsw-sydney-church-stabbing-lebanese-muslim-association/103733100
ā€Ø#AusPol #HumanRights #ReligiousFreedom #Interfaith #Multiculturalism #DiversityAndInclusion #UniversalRights
Lebanese Muslim Association says mosques under threat following Sydney church stabbing

The secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association says he sat with the family of the teenager accused of stabbing a bishop on Monday night, and has called for harmony following the unrest.

ABC News
Show threadKen SApr 18, 2024

Stabbed Sydney Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel releases update, publicly forgives attacker and calls for calm

'Jesus never taught us to retaliate'
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-18/bishop-mar-mari-emmanuel-speaks-first-forgives-attacker/103738404
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Stabbed Sydney Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel releases update, publicly forgives attacker and calls for calm

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel says he has forgiven "whoever has done this act" and calls for his community to not retaliate. 

ABC News
Show threadKen SApr 18, 2024

Assyrian church stabbing:

Separate from the criminal investigation,
The Department of Education should open a line of inquiry into the events leading up to 2020 suspension, and what support the child received up to and after his eventual dropping out, making him an easy and vulnerable target for any radicalisation.

It takes a community to raise a child, and thereā€™s suggestions that our most vulnerable minds arenā€™t getting the support they actually need.
https://amp.smh.com.au/national/nsw/teenage-terror-accused-dropped-out-of-school-was-increasingly-disobedient-20240417-p5fkmk.html
#NSWPol #NSWGov #NSWEdu

Teenage terror accused dropped out of school, was increasingly ā€˜disobedientā€™

The 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a western Sydney church had not attended school for more than six months, and his father had also seen signs of increasing ā€œdisobedienceā€.

The Sydney Morning Herald
Show threadKen SApr 21, 2024

Australia must not lose the war* within over religion, ideology and politics: Chip Le Grand

https://amp.smh.com.au/national/australia-must-not-lose-the-war-within-over-religion-ideology-and-politics-20240416-p5fk6v.html
* to borrow Islamic wisdom, Iā€™d describe this as the ā€˜greater jihadā€™. the internal war within ourselves and how that is then reflected in the outward struggle (the ā€˜lesser jihadā€™).
#AusPol #HumanRights #Interfaith #FreedomOfReligion

Australia must not lose the war within over religion, ideology and politics

While there is a huge difference between spilling blood and paint, recent episodes reflect a radical intolerance for different political, ideological and religious views.

The Sydney Morning Herald
Show threadKen SApr 21, 2024

* A quick guide on commonly misunderstood Islamic concepts:
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/publications/what-is-the-truth-about-american-muslims/misunderstood-terms-and-practices

Iā€™d encourage people to read the Quran for themselves, but be mindful of three things:
- Why Islam is called the ā€˜Religion of Peaceā€™
- Like the Bible, the Quran is a (progressive) story. Statements taken out of literary/historical context has a dramatically different meaning. (Unlike the Bible, however the Quran is very heavy reading)
- Every institutionalised religion has had ā€˜Goldenā€™ and ā€˜Dark agesā€™, highlighted by the promotion or suppression of critical literacy.

Similarly if you think to learn about Judaism or Christianity, or any other religion.
And if take the time to study these religions for yourself, you will come to realise that #Interfaith isnt a modern value. And that offences against other religions, is often considered an offence in your own religion.

Misunderstood Terms and Practices

What is the Truth About American Muslims?

Learning for Justice