Jakarta. More than 200 cases of religious freedom violations were recorded in 2017, and most of them were carried out by non-state actors, human rights group Wahid Foundation revealed on Wednesday (08/08). In its annual report, Wahid Foundation said the 213 cases recorded last year show a 4 percent increase from 2016. However, the increase is smaller than in previous years. For comparison, there were 190 cases recorded in 2015, a 20 percent increase from 2014. Last year, most violations, 64 percent, were committed by non-state actors such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). In previous years, the abuse came mostly from government-affiliated institutions. FPI has been the most notorious abuser, according to the report. And too little has been done by law enforcers to curb it. "As a result, this organization has not been deterred ... Quite contrary, this shows that FPI's actions are not fully noticed by the law," the report said. The main victims have … [Read more...] about Non-State Actors Are Main Violators of Religious Freedom in Indonesia
Reconstruction of religious thought in islam
Stakes of ‘Islamic vote bank’ and religious politics in Pakistan
Under the enigmatic political leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan came into being in August 1947, a Muslim majority state but not an Islamic state. During Jinnah’s 13-month governorship, the name of the country remained only “Pakistan.” However, it was labeled as an “Islamic Republic” in 1956. After the demise of its founder, orthodox religious strata and state-supported radicalization emerged with the Objectives Resolution in March 1949, prepared by Liaquat Ali Khan and passed by the first National Assembly of Pakistan. This historic resolution was the first step toward legislation as well as the religious bias of all three constitutions categorizing Pakistani citizens as Muslims and non-Muslims. The dailyReport Must-reads from across Asia - directly to your inbox Steadily, religious factions pierced through the socio-political fabric of Pakistan. The madrassas and street power of religious bands worked to strengthen and publicize their … [Read more...] about Stakes of ‘Islamic vote bank’ and religious politics in Pakistan
BN committed towards religious freedom in Malaysia: Salleh
KOTA BELUD: Barisan Nasional (BN) is always committed to the preservation of religious freedom in this country, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak. He said the commitment was in line with the Malaysian Agreement when Malaysia was being formed, which stated that religious freedom would be continued. "The (BN) government will always maintain a fair attitude and will assist, not only houses of worship, but will also look at other appropriate infrastructure. "Off course, when we say that religious freedom will be given priority, we should also ensure that their infrastructure is comfortable for them to practice their respective religion," he said. He disclosed this to reporters after attending a programme called "Setia Budi" with Kota Belud church leaders, here today. Salleh said a government such as the BN had been very responsible all this time so that religious freedom could be preserved. The event organised by the Kota Belud Council of Churches … [Read more...] about BN committed towards religious freedom in Malaysia: Salleh
Screening of foreign preachers in Singapore: Why and what’s next?
SINGAPORE: For locals Sarah, a Muslim, and Serene, who is Christian, listening to big-name religious leaders hailing from all around the world is both “inspiring” and “refreshing”. American Islamic speaker and author Yasmin Mogahed, for instance, offers insights on spiritual enlightenment and personal development - “a combination that speaks to many young Muslims”, as Sarah explains. And Serene recalls a worship and songwriting conference she attended last year, which featured California-based pastor Dan McCollam. “It’s encouraging to hear from fellow believers who practice their faith and serve God in a different culture, but with the same love for Jesus Christ,” she said. The reputation and popularity of such foreign preachers lends greater credibility, authority and prestige to the experience of hearing them “live” here, said anthropologist Lai Ah Eng, a researcher at the National University of … [Read more...] about Screening of foreign preachers in Singapore: Why and what’s next?
Hallucinatory drug Ketamine can reduce depression and remove suicidal thoughts in hours, says research
Doctors studying depression and the ways of preventing suicide have recently discovered that low doses of ketamine, an anesthetic and psychedelic drug, relieves people of suicidal thoughts in as quickly as 24 hours. In a study conducted in the US, depressed subjects who were given an infusion of ketamine expressed relief from harmful impulses after a few hours. The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, was conducted on 80 clinically depressed subjects who volunteered for the trial in New York State Psychiatric Institute. All of them had active suicidal thoughts and 43 of them were taking anti-depressants for their condition. The subjects were randomly given either low doses of ketamine or the sedative midazolam as a control measure. Even on the first day, the ketamine patients showed positive response to the treatment and experienced fewer suicidal thoughts than the control group. Doctors have observed that this may be due to the drug's effect on depression or direct … [Read more...] about Hallucinatory drug Ketamine can reduce depression and remove suicidal thoughts in hours, says research