Category: human rights


Pray for human rights in Pakistan

Filed under: human rights, Islam, persecution — Leave a comment
January 28, 2011

A human rights group in Pakistan has urged Christians around the world to observe a Day of Prayer today for the release of Asia Bibi from prison, and for the repeal of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws.  Mrs Bibi, a 45-year-old Christian mother of five, faces death by hanging for alleged blasphemy.

Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), has asked Christians everywhere to take part in a peaceful protest by praying today for peace and harmony in Pakistan, a country whose Christian population faces increasing threats from Islamic extremists.

On January 4, Salman Taseer, governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, was allegedly assassinated by a bodyguard for seeking to abolish the blasphemy laws, which discriminate against Christians.  Mr Walter said that without support for reform in Pakistan, such killings would become a daily practice.

So let us pray today for the release of Mrs Bibi, and for an end to religious discrimination and persecution in Pakistan. 

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 30 Jan 2011.

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Good news for asylum seekers

Filed under: asylum seekers, human rights, law — Leave a comment
November 12, 2010

By Rod Benson

In a unanimous decision the High Court has ruled in favour of two asylum seekers who claimed they were denied legal fairness when they applied for a review of their refugee claims.

The two Tamil men arrived by boat from Sri Lanka on October 2.  Their claim for refugee status was denied, but they were prevented from appealing that decision because they were on Christmas Island.  In the past, asylum seekers who arrived by boat were denied access to Australian courts.

The High Court decision means that there is no legal benefit for the government to detain boat people off-shore.  Good news for asylum seekers, and more may now be inspired to make the risky journey.

It will also fan the flames of racism and xenophobia in Australia, which unscrupulous politicians will no doubt turn to their own advantage. 

The High Court has called for a fair go for all.  It’s about time we took notice.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 14 November 2010.

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Christian homosexuals

Filed under: human rights, sexuality — Leave a comment
September 8, 2010

By Rod Benson

Freelance writer Eve Tushnet is an amazing person.  The daughter of a liberal Harvard law professor and a former civil rights activist, Tushnet “came out” as a lesbian as a young teenager.

She went off to Yale University, where she attended a meeting of a conservative student group, intending to laugh and ridicule.  Instead, their thinking impressed her, and the degree to which they lived out what they believed, even when it required sacrifice, left a deep impact.

Many of those in the group were Christians, and within a year Tushnet was baptized and welcomed into the church.  Her sexuality has not changed, but she has embraced celibacy, and works to convince gay and lesbian people to take seriously the moral teaching of the church.

Life is far from easy for people like Eve Tushnet.  It’s my prayer that God, who is rich in mercy and grace, will richly bless her, and all who live with same-sex attraction, aware that the Bible does not condone homosexual practice. 

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 8 August 2010.

Image: http://www.seedsofshalom.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

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Fred Nile moves to ban the burqa

Filed under: discrimination, human rights, multiculturalism — Leave a comment
September 8, 2010

By Rod Benson

One of the most confronting images on our streets today is the full-face burqa worn by Muslim women.  For some, it is a symbol of religious identity.  For many others, it is a symbol of the suppression of women.  And recently the burqa has come into question for the fact that it inhibits personal communication and allows criminals to conceal their faces and weapons.  And it could well be used as a cover for terrorism.

On Thursday, the Reverend Fred Nile sought to introduce a bill into the NSW Legislative Council to ban the burqa, following similar successful moves in France and Belgium. 

 “We must do all we can to protect women, especially Muslim women, from discrimination and oppression so they live an open lifestyle,” Mr Nile said.

But it seems NSW is not ready for such measures, and his motion was lost.  We can only hope and pray that events do not conspire to render that decision a fateful one.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 23 May 2010.

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Why we should not ban the burqa

Filed under: human rights, Islam, multiculturalism — Leave a comment
September 8, 2010

By Rod Benson

Last week Senator Cory Bernardi called for a ban on the burqa, the full-face Muslim head covering, as a security hazard, a symbol of “the repressive domination of women,” something that compromises “important aspects of human communication,” and is downright “un-Australian.”

Many will agree.  Even journalist Elizabeth Farrelly argued that the burqa may be acceptable on the grounds of personal morality, but not in terms of social ethics.  Belgium has banned the burqa; why not Australia?

Well, Muslim women in Australia number only in the tens of thousands, and only a small proportion of those wear the burqa.  A ban would not reduce violent crime.  There are many other ways to conceal weapons and identity.  If we ban excessively modest clothing, we should also ban excessively immodest clothing – like speedos, miniskirts, sleeveless dresses.

And a burka ban would reinforce claims that the government has the right to regulate women’s dress, undermining campaigns for women’s rights in places like Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 16 May 2010.

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