Minority Watch # 06, October 1, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters
An understanding, not judgement

Minorities in the news

1. Muslims in the Occupied territories

Israel restricts Palestinians from the West Bank to attend prayers in Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on the first Friday of Ramadan reports Ha'aretz, September 16, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/903965.html

2. Arabs in Israel

Citing "discriminatory security checks" leaders of Israel's Arab community are planning to boycott the Israel's national Carrier El Al, reports Ha'aretz, Sep 19, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/904964.html

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) would agree to market lands under its control for the Israeli Arab citizens, reports Ha'aretz, September 24, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/906491.html

3. Jordan and Muslims

The Hashemite Kingdom allocated US$1.5 million to Jordan Hashemite Fund for the Reconstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock and the head of the Fund Prince Ghazi that the Kingdom grant Jordanian passports to 90,000 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, reports Ha'aretz, September 24, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/906483.html

4. Kurds in Iraq

Iranian government has admitted that its forces had attacked Kurdish positions inside Iraq reports, The Daily Star, September 26, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85581

5. Bedouins in Israel

Non-recognition of Bedouin villages in the Negev makes their lives harsher reports The Daily Star, September 29, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=85658

Reports, Articles etc.,

1. The 2007 Report on International Religious Freedom was released on Sep 14. Though the US itself would be found wanting in many of its standards used by it, The Report continues to be the most detailed information regarding religious minorities in different parts of the world. Country-wise reports can be assessed from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/

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