Citizens speak out. People in countries like Afghanistan, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Israel, Jordan, Libya, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Syria, Yemen and USA continue to gather together and stand up for their rights to improved living conditions that include basic freedoms, democratic participation and personal safety.
CHINA - The Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy reported to Radio Free Asia that Chinese authorities had detained over 60 Tibetan protesters in Garzê, a Tibetan region of Sichuan province, where people were rallying for Tibetan independence, the return of the Dalai Lama, religious freedom, and the release of political prisoners detained since last year.
SENEGAL - Following protests Thursday in which over 100 people were injured in clashes with riot police, President Abdoulaye Wade agreed to maintain the country's current constitution rather than make changes that would have paved the way for his unpopular son to take over as leader upon the passing of the 85-year-old president.
THE NETHERLANDS - Parliament member Geert Wilders, whose Freedom Party is the third largest in the Dutch Parliament, was acquitted Thursday of charges of hate speech against Muslims, with the court stating that although his statements about Islam could be considered shocking, hurtful and offensive to many, they were made in the context of legitimate political debate and were therefore considered within the realm of free speech and not a criminal act.
UNITED STATES - As police officers in Long Beach, California gathered Wednesday for an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding service and officers injured in the line of duty, a group of community members rallied outside, protesting what they said was the police department's unnecessary brutality, including two recent shooting deaths of unarmed persons.
PAKISTAN and AFGHANISTAN - After a series of cross-border incidents where innocent lives have been lost as both Pakistan and Afghanistan try to protect their borders from unlawful armed groups, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked Pakistan Friday to immediately halt her cross-border attacks, with four children who died the previous day as the most recent casualties. The Ministry stated also that such incidents could impede the two countries' efforts to improve trust and cooperation.
JORDAN - Tuesday's resignation of Jordanian Communication Minister Taher Adwan in protest of draft bills that he said would hinder government reform and freedom of expression sparked rallies Thursday in cities across the country. Protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and his cabinet as they called for the government to move forward on political and economic reforms, including elected officials and an independent judicial system.
PALESTINE and ISRAEL - Israeli troops on Friday fired teargas, chemical water and rubber-coated steel bullets at around 500 Palestinians gathered in Bil'in to protest the 720-kilometer security wall built by Israelis on Palestinian land, which was deemed illegal in 2004 by the World Court in The Hague, the Netherlands because it encroaches on ancestral farmlands. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed Friday that in spite of disagreements with the Hamas party over leadership, the two sides remain committed to resolving their differences, for the unity of the nation and the goal of a transitional government.
Meanwhile, Richard Falk, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, spoke out strongly against the longstanding Israeli blockade of Gaza, saying it denies all dignity of life as he called for its immediate lifting and restored freedom of movement.
BAHRAIN - UN human rights chief Navi Pillay and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon both conveyed deep concern over the harsh jail terms, including life sentences, that have been recently imposed on 21 political activists and human rights defenders.
BELARUS - According to a report published by the Belarusian human rights agency Vyasna, some 450 people, including 16 journalists, were arrested in cities across the country as thousands participated in an Internet-organized silent rally in which people clapped their hands to show their protest of the government and its economic policy. Along with the arrests, the country's 17-year President Alexander Lukashenko has reportedly threatened to shut down the Internet.
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BROTHER JACOB vs the Nation of Islam, debate and dialogue . BROTHER JACOB destroys them 10aby BrotherJacobSTL2729 views
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