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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Clerics arrested in Zimbabwe |
| 2003-03-03 |
| Police in Zimbabwe arrested 20 church pastors yesterday for staging an illegal peace march, witnesses said. Funny, clerics aren't arrested in Europe or the US for staging peace marches. Wonder if any Western clerics will take notice of the difference? Nah, probably not. The clerics had marched to the police headquarters in the capital, Harare, to deliver a petition protesting against state-orchestrated political violence and strict laws prohibiting demonstrations. Brian Kagoro, an official with the reform group Crisis in Zimbabwe, said the representatives of the multidenom- inational National Pastors Conference were arrested while waiting to hand in their petition. He said they were held and questioned under the Public Order and Security Act, the law they oppose. All 20 were released after eight hours according to Jonah Gokova, an official with the charity Ecumenical Support Services. Photographed, fingerprinted, questioned, maybe roughed up a little. Too bad western clerics won't take notice. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 Wonder about how low expectations can go? Saudi Arabia escapes religion blacklist      AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE The Bush administration, in a move likely to anger both conservatives and human rights activists, has decided not to blacklist Saudi Arabia over the issue of religious freedom, Newsweek reported in its edition to be released today.      Secretary of State Colin L. Powell is expected to shortly release a list of "countries of particular concern" that the United States says engage in "systematic, ongoing and egregious" violations of religious freedom, the weekly reported.      But after contentious debate with the administration of President Bush and against the recommendation of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Saudi Arabia will be conspicuously absent from the list.      The commission found that with the downfall of the Taliban, Saudi Arabia "is probably the worst oppressor of religious rights in the world," according to Newsweek.      "I'm appalled and disappointed," commission Chairman Felice Gaer is quoted as saying about the omission. "But I'm not surprised."      Lawmakers and religious conservatives have been increasingly vocal about their displeasure with Saudi Arabia of late, and the magazine said White House aides have described religious freedom there as "a high-priority item for evangelical Christians."      But the administration decided that it would be counterproductive to criticize the Saudis on the issue now, and that such a move "might interfere with broader U.S. interests in the region." |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-03-03 19:17:24 |
| #4 Bush referred to "the soft bigotry of low expectations" Daniel Moynihan's phrase, AFAIK |
| Posted by: Brian 2003-03-03 16:21:00 |
| #3 During the presidential debates, Bush referred to "the soft bigotry of low expectations". A felicitous phrase from an "inarticulate" man. |
| Posted by: Pink & Fluffy 2003-03-03 13:36:34 |
| #2 "Racism by lowered expectations": best comment about a certain kind of left I've seen in a long time. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-03 11:44:08 |
| #1 nope - black africa can do anything - just like the Arab dictatorships, they're not expected to meet civilized standards. Racism by lowered expectations |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-03-03 09:34:10 |