IRFN (January 23-28): New Head of Russian Orthodox Church Elected

Jan 27, 2009

Feature: The Russian Orthodox Church has elected senior cleric Metropolitan Kirill as its new leader, to succeed Patriarch Alexiy II who died December 2008.  Kirill is in favor of the Orthodox Church playing a more active role in increasing Church membership, and has called for the Orthodox faithful to resist the effects of Catholic and Protestant proselytism. The BBC has more.

1.  Pakistan: Christians Cleared of “Blasphemy” Amid Violence

ISLAMABAD – Five Pakistani Christians who were detained and charged with “blasphemy” against Islam in April 2007 were freed from prison on January 25, BosNewsLife reported on January 25. In remarks distributed by Compass Direct News agency, advocacy group Sharing Life Ministries Pakistan (SLMP) said it had negotiated their release with Muslim leaders. SLMP said that a Punjab court released Salamat Masih, 42, his son Rashid, 16 and their relatives Ishfaq, Saba and Dao Masih through "reconciliation" and out-of-court meetings between Muslim and Christian representatives. As a result of the meetings, Islamic clergymen reportedly agreed to issue a fatwa, or “religious edict” declaring the accused men innocent of blasphemy, and the Muslim witnesses withdrew their testimony on January 13. News of the release came as Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, said he wants Pakistan's controversial blasphemy laws to be repealed as part of what he called his struggle for "religious freedom, human dignity and social justice."

2.  Bolivia: New Constitution Adopted

LA PAZ – Following are key elements of the new Bolivian constitution as proposed by President Evo Morales, AP reported on January 25. INDIGENOUS RIGHTS — Recognizes self-determination of 36 distinct Indian "nations." Sets aside seats in Congress for minority indigenous groups but not for the Aymara and Quechua, who together represent the majority in Bolivia's western highlands. RELIGION — Both the Christian God and Pachamama, the Andean earth deity, are honored. Church and state are separate. Freedom of religion is guaranteed, and no mention is made of The Roman Catholic Church, a departure from the current constitution. And, HOMOSEXUALITY — Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation but refers to marriage as "between a man and a woman." The NY Times reported on January 26 that opposition leaders argue that the constitution does not reflect Bolivia's growing urban population, which mixes both Indian blood and tradition with a new Western identity, and could leave non-Indians out of the picture.

3.  Indonesia: Government Debates Ban on Smoking, Bans Yoga

PDANG PANJANG – Indonesia’s top Islamic body debated on January 25 whether to apply a blanket ban on smoking for Muslims or place a more limited restriction on tobacco use in the nation, Reuters reported on January 25. The Islamic body met in West Sumatra, where about 700 people, including Muslim clerics and theological experts, met for the National Edict Commission meeting, which has the power to issue fatwas on a range of issues from polygamy to yoga. The debate over smoking has revealed a split between those wanting to make it "haram," or not allowed, and others who favor a "makruh," an Arabic term whereby it would only be advised that smoking is bad but not forbidden. On January 26, the Islamic body determined that Muslims should avoid yoga as the Hindu prayers used could erode Muslims' faith. Under similar circumstances, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi intervened in 2008 to say that Muslims could carry on doing yoga minus chanting after the Malaysian National Fatwa Council had issued a ban.

4.  Sri Lanka: Guidelines for Missionary Activity

COLOMBO – The Commission on Unethical Conversions has recommended that written approval from a District Secretary must be made compulsory for the construction or expansion of places of worship to minimize unethical conversion of Buddhists to other faiths, The Sunday Times reported on January 24. The Commission in its report said that this applies to Buddhist temples, churches, kovils, mosques and other places of worship and that the Pradeshiya Sashanarakshaka Balamandalaya should be notified when such approval has been obtained from the District Secretary within two weeks, upon which the DS should publicize the requirements of the place of worship, carry out an investigation and then announce his/her decision on the matter. The commission recommended that newly registered religious or missionary institutes should handover an affidavit or take an oath promising only to engage in religious work among already established followers and not convert those from other faiths to that of their own. Article 9 of the Constitution states that the Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14 (1)(e). The report determined that privileges of a foremost place are not applicable to other faiths than Buddhism.

5.  Albania: Photo IDs with Headscarves now Permitted

TIRANA – Authorities in Albania have decided to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves while being photographed for ID cards, AP reported on January 23. Albania began issuing new identity cards January 2009, but Muslim community leaders complained that the government's passport agency was not allowing photos with headscarves. On January 23, Interior Ministry spokesman Fatmir Konja said  that such photos will be accepted as long as the headscarves do not obscure a person's facial features.