The Black Widows is what Russian journalists call female Islamist suicide bombers who have participated in more than 30 attacks that have killed about 900 Russians in eight years. The Black Widows are the creation of notorious Chechen rebel military commander Shamil Basayev, the mastermind of the Beslan school massacre, a three day hostage taking in a school in North Ossetia that left 334 hostages dead. Basayev’s theory is that when the Russian authorities are on alert for potential terrorist attacks, a young woman in jeans, or an older woman in a frock, attracts less suspicion than a dark-skinned young Chechen man in a cheap jacket. Basayev dubbed his battalion of suicide seekers Riyad us Saliheen, an Arabic reference from the Koran meaning Garden of the Righteous. It was composed of men and women, but it was the women who fascinated the Russian media. There have been two more suicide bombings in Dagestan see:

Pray: that God’s righteousness would overcome all dishonourable plans to rule and oppress. (Ps.3:7)

More: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/03/30/f-russia-black-widow.html#ixzz0jkFhogeS

The Black Widows is what Russian journalists call female Islamist suicide bombers who have participated in more than 30 attacks that have killed about 900 Russians in eight years. The Black Widows are the creation of notorious Chechen rebel military commander Shamil Basayev, the mastermind of the Beslan school massacre, a three day hostage taking in a school in North Ossetia that left 334 hostages dead. Basayev’s theory is that when the Russian authorities are on alert for potential terrorist attacks, a young woman in jeans, or an older woman in a frock, attracts less suspicion than a dark-skinned young Chechen man in a cheap jacket. Basayev dubbed his battalion of suicide seekers Riyad us Saliheen, an Arabic reference from the Koran meaning Garden of the Righteous. It was composed of men and women, but it was the women who fascinated the Russian media. There have been two more suicide bombings in Dagestan see:

Pray: that God’s righteousness would overcome all dishonourable plans to rule and oppress. (Ps.3:7)

More: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/03/30/f-russia-black-widow.html#ixzz0jkFhogeS

The Catholic Church is the latest organisation to come out in support of a campaign to end the detention of families seeking sanctuary in Britain. It follows in the footsteps of other major denominations in backing the Citizens for Sanctuary pledge. The pledge warns that Britain’s history of providing sanctuary to people in difficulty is being threatened by the rise of extremist politics, ‘media scare stories’ and Home Office failings. It asks politicians to support policies aimed at ending the detention of children and families for immigration reasons, and not to ‘demean’ those seeking sanctuary in Britain. It goes on to ask politicians to preserve the UK’s legacy of providing refuge for victims of persecution and promote a ‘culture of sanctuary’ by helping the public to understand why it is important to offer a safe haven. Catholic Bishop for Migrants, Patrick Lynch, urged politicians to back the pledge.

Pray: for the persecuted and displaced people who seek sanctuary with us that they may find a compassionate helping hand. (Na.1:7)

More: http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/church.backs.call.to.end.detention.of.child.asylum.seekers/25592.htm

Muslim leaders have been criticised by a University of Oxford academic for not doing enough to tackle extremists. At the same time a parliamentary committee has attacked a central plank of the Government’s counter-extremism programme by arguing that its ‘Prevent’ strategy has ‘stigmatised and alienated Muslims'. Nick Chatrath, a researcher at Oxford’s Faculty of Oriental Studies, claims in a paper to be published this week that in the face of growing radicalisation in Britain, Muslim leaders are ignoring extremists’ points of view and glossing over some of the more unsavoury parts of Islam’s ancient texts. In an essay in next month’s Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Mr Chatrath calls for a more open engagement by moderate Muslims with the arguments of extremists. Mr Chatrath says: ‘Moderate Muslim leaders are doing a poor job of tackling extremism in Britain.’ He called on moderate community leaders to do more to counter this.

Pray: against those who promote extreme ideas in any form that they would be moderated. (Ecc.7:18b)

More: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7082139.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084