Magic Statistics

Last Friday, Hindus , Jains, and Sikhs around the world celebrated Diwali, the Hindu “Festival of Lights”, in honour of the “victory of good over the evil within every human being”.  In India, where Diwali is a national festival, some militant Hindus celebrated by assaulting and terrorising a Christian family who prayed at home instead of joining the festivities.

The family consist of Pritam Arse (53 yrs) and his family his Wife Priyadarshini (45 yrs) his son Ravi Arse (24 yrs) second son Prakash Arse (22 yrs), a fully Blind Boy and Daughter Mamta Arse 18 yrs old. The believers were having Family Prayer in their house and they heard a deafening sound of Fire crackers inside their house yard. They were terrified by the sound and when they came out they were confronted by over twenty Young men fully drunk . . .

The trespassers abused the family using very vulgar language for praying instead of celebrating Divali [the festival of the Hindus]. Then they caught hold of their Eldest Son Ravi Arse who was on Fast and slapped him on his face and pushed him into a gutter outside their house.  Then they started threatening the family with murder and even threatened that they will kidnap Pritams 18 year old daughter Mamta.

This went on for two hours on the evening of 10 November.  The family went to a local  police station the next morning, but the police refused to register their complaint.

Hindus attacked Christians in other parts of India around the time of the festival:

• Hindu extremists disrupt worship service in Karnataka state
• Indian Pastor beaten up in Karnataka
• Priest beaten up in Maharastra state
• India Evangelist Killed And "Sacrificed" For Hindu 'goddess'

In Hinduism, Diwali commemorates the return of the Lord Rama to his capital after a 14-year exile and a war in which he defeated demon Ravana.  Confusingly, other Hindu myths are associated with Diwali, while Sikhs and Jains have different myths entailing different reasons for celebrating.  See Wikipedia for the bewildering details.

Previous related posts:

• Christian converts “lose their right to be Indian”
• Hindus attack Christian for accidentally damaging mud idol
• Indian Christians carry a heavy cross

Officially, Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, but its attitude toward Islamic law seems to be quite different from the rest of the country.

President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete says the government is considering whether to establish the Kadhi, or Islamic Sharia, law court.

“If not properly handled, the Kadhi Court question is likely to disrupt peace and harmony that the country has enjoyed for centuries to the envy of many other countries,” said the president. But whatever decision is finally taken, the government will be guided by the need to uphold the national interest.

Tanzania has enjoyed peace and tranquillity by being unwaveringly a secular state.

The matter has been referred to the Law Reform Commission, which will issue a advisory report in February 2008.

In the meantime, Zanzibar has ejected four Islamic clerics who threatened the delicate peace that exists between the 98%-Muslim population and Western tourists who form the backbone of the local economy.

Four Muslim clerics have been expelled from Zanzibar for preaching hatred against Christianity, a government official said Saturday, the first time such an expulsion has been ordered in nearly 15 years.

The four were sent to—you’ll never guess—mainland Tanzania.

Zanzibar enjoys a semi-autonomous status within Tanzania with a legal system separate from the rest of the country.  It sounds like Zanzibar would be wise to keep it that way.

h/t for Tanzania Daily News: International Christian Concern

Previous related post: From good intentions to disastrous policies to Western bailouts

Nigeria’s State Security Services (SSS) reports that several Muslim militants have been arrested on suspicion of plotting terrorist attacks.  Those arrested are said to have connections with al-Qaeda and the Nigerian Taliban.

The group, according to the security source, was responsible for the recent attacks on police stations and some neighbourhoods in parts of the country.

The suspects were arrested in Kano, Kaduna and Yobe states with explosive-making devices, including bags of fertiliser and some quantities of firearms.

Sources at the SSS attributed the success in the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects to the recent changes in the service, especially the re-organisation and strengthening of the Anti-Terrorism Department and the prioritisation of the operational focus of the intelligence body.

No specific information has yet been released as to the number or names of those arrested.  They are being held in custody in Abuja.

Reuters adds some unhelpfully vague background.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is divided about equally between Christians and Muslims. The two communities usually live side by side peacefully but there are occasional outbreaks of religious violence.

Based on news reports over the past several years, religious violence is almost entirely confined to the north where Muslims persecute the church, attack Christians, steal their property, and abduct their children.

Previous related posts:

• Nigerian Christians murdered after call for jihad
• Muslim family may abduct Christian children: Nigerian court
• Muslims rampage against Christians in northern Nigeria

The StatWife and I were fortunate enough to see this gripping and uplifting movie in an Edmonton theatre last May.  North Americans can buy or rent it on DVD tomorrow, 13 November. 

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire.  That legislative achievement can be credited to the tireless efforts of one man, MP William Wilberforce.  He began his campaign with almost no Parliamentary support in the late 18th century.  Subjected to ridicule and disdain at the outset, he nevertheless persevered, submitting his bill to Parliament every year and slowly building political and public support for a measure that, to many, struck at the root of Britain’s economic prosperity.

Wilberforce is flawlessly played by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd.  The film also features a superb supporting cast, including Rufus Sewell as anti-slavery activist Thomas Clarkson, Romola Garai as Wilberforce’s wife Barbara Spooner, and the incomparable Albert Finney as John Newton.

Highly recommended.

Previous related posts:

• “Amazing grace . . . that sav’d a wretch like me”
• Wilberforce honoured at York Minster service
• Monday morning prayer