tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post7825861122813589181..comments2024-02-10T07:26:14.917-05:00Comments on Baha'i Faith in Egypt: Egypt: A “Journalist” Grabbing at Straws in Desperate Attempt to Deny Rights of Baha’is!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-62879591656717092912007-11-27T10:12:00.000-05:002007-11-27T10:12:00.000-05:00Thank you Barney for this clarification. It is als...Thank you Barney for this clarification. It is also interesting that the Arabic phrase for "public order" is "al-nezam al-aam," literally translated it means: "general order." Egypt, however, had never defined what it means when it claims that the Baha'i case disrupts "al-nezam al-aam." Also, the claim itself contradicts Egypt's own constitution which guarantees absolute freedom of belief and religious practice. <BR/>Regardless of this, the Baha'i case was never about the recognition of the Baha'i Faith in Egypt; it has been all along about obtaining identification documents and equal citizenship rights. This is the issue that must be addressed and resolved by the government. Using the question of "recognition" has been intended by those in authority to issue ID documents to divert public opinion and the judiciary from the real question, namely: citizenship rights.Bilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060802520953738221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-49103816522858679342007-11-27T07:16:00.000-05:002007-11-27T07:16:00.000-05:00The "public order" excuse is derived from internat...The "public order" excuse is derived from international human rights law. As I understand it, states can - under very limited circumstances - restrict the freedom of their citizens to publicly manifest their religion if such manifestation endangers public order. In the Anglophone world, "public order" is usually taken to mean absence of disturbances on the streets. However, in the Francophone world the phrase "l'ordre publique" indicates the basis on which the state is founded. In a society in which l'ordre publique is allegedly founded on Islam, the government can - by twisting the equivocating between the English phrase and the French phrase - develop an excuse to abridge the human rights of religious minorities.<BR/><BR/>Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides for limitations "as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others".<BR/><BR/>The UN's Human Rights Committee's General Comment 22 states that, "limitations on the protection of freedom of religion or belief must not be based on principles derived from one single tradition."<BR/><BR/>So the Egyptian authorities are not in the least justified in violating the human rights of the Baha'is, who, in any case, are no threat to public order, health or morals. Quite the opposite, in fact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-86549568538326588702007-11-26T17:51:00.000-05:002007-11-26T17:51:00.000-05:00Perhaps the Arabic word "Elaheyyah" meaning "Godly...Perhaps the Arabic word "Elaheyyah" meaning "Godly" wold be more descriptive!Bilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060802520953738221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-85857148399215076042007-11-26T16:53:00.000-05:002007-11-26T16:53:00.000-05:00To translate the word "divine", I can't think of a...To translate the word "divine", I can't think of another Arabic word source other than "sama's".<BR/><BR/>I think the first comment on this article shows that this is the semi-official position and is a lead to a biased court decision. This does not bode well for the Baha'is in Egypt who have suffered so much. The courts are obviously not independent! <BR/><BR/>Journalism and the judiciary seem to be controlled by the government which is trying to compete with the fundamentalists as to who is watching more for "Islamic" interests in the country! In doing so, the government spreads lies, fabricates arguments that do not stand the test of logic, and predetermines court outcomes! <BR/><BR/>I think this goes beyond incompetence to a well articulated campaign of control and "religious" cleansing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-82178304604506963462007-11-26T07:08:00.000-05:002007-11-26T07:08:00.000-05:00I think it is rather accidentally revealing that a...I think it is rather accidentally revealing that a picture of sunset is used...is that correct? Perhaps the metaphorical guidance of their sun is now setting on the horizon?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14948341359264244662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-54849963475357662672007-11-25T13:46:00.000-05:002007-11-25T13:46:00.000-05:00What is also odd is that the article states in its...What is also odd is that the article states in its title that "the Baha'i [Faith] is not a recognized religion from the sky [translated literally]. The Arabic word "Samaweyya" used in the article, when translated literally means "from the sky" and is often used in the Arabic language to refer to "divine." The article is accompanied by a sunset photograph of the sky. You can draw your own conclusions from this metaphor, but it is interesting to note that many still think of divine as coming from the "sky!" Do we really know where the divine is? I would love to hear what you think!Bilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060802520953738221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-91191174913310065532007-11-25T10:56:00.000-05:002007-11-25T10:56:00.000-05:00R.A.,It is the usual rehtoric: deny...deny...deny....R.A.,<BR/>It is the usual rehtoric: deny...deny...deny...deny...deny....Bilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060802520953738221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-77965370152989547392007-11-25T10:08:00.000-05:002007-11-25T10:08:00.000-05:00I was wondering why it was so poorly written! It i...I was wondering why it was so poorly written! It is almost like a word salad. Now I understand why....Bilohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08060802520953738221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-18808430707228171852007-11-25T07:15:00.000-05:002007-11-25T07:15:00.000-05:00Is it just and impartial practice that a so-called...Is it just and impartial practice that a so-called semi-official newspaper prints such an article during the period where a verdict is set to be announced by the Court of Administrative Justice on 25 December 2007? No better means of demonstrating lack of integrity and incompetence could be displayed if one were to intentionally plan for such. That the arguments are illogical and outdated are added insult to those who would only hope that some fraction of justice may be forthcoming. Al Ahram has the greatest circulation, which puts to question the comparatively small number of articles that are proficient and impartial in recounting the issues of the Baha’i national ID issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29145551.post-23012869878340660002007-11-25T04:06:00.000-05:002007-11-25T04:06:00.000-05:00The language of the report and writing style, for ...The language of the report and writing style, for those who are familiar with official press releases, shows that he's just copying from a ministry of interior reply. And it's not going too far if we assume this whole report is prepared by the ministry and a journalist name was just placed on it. Very common practice in regime controlled press. It's good to know again where the ministry stands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com