Hajj scam probe: Supreme Court warns FIA DG against adopting leniency

The Supreme Court on Thursday warned the Director General (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Waseem Ahmed against adopting a lenient approach in probing the alleged corruption and mishandling of Haj affairs, terming his conduct as disappointing keeping in view the nature of the issue. This is a high-profile case involving prestige of the country but an inspector of the FIA has been appointed for the investigation. How an inspector could investigate the Secretary or Minister for Religious Affairs, the Chief Justice wondered.
Meanwhile, the six-member special bench hearing the case directed Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Azam Khan Swati to submit documentary evidence substantiating scale of massive corruption in Haj affairs till December 13. Swati insisted that Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi was the 'lynchpin' in the Haj affairs corruption case.
Waseem Ahmed informed that the corruption was of millions of rupees however, recovery had yet to be made. FIA chief's statement that an "interview" of Minister for Religious Affairs has been conducted prompted Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday to ask him under which law he had ordered "interview" and why statement of the minister was not recorded according to the law.
TV anchor that you are conducting interviews instead of recording statements," questioned Justice Ramday but Waseem Ahmed, DG FIA even did not know the relevant provision of the law meant for recording statement of an accused. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry observed "this novel procedure of investigation is not understandable.
He referred to several provisions of law that were to be incorporated in the FIR and said it entails provisions of bailable and lesser punishment. Earlier, Waseem Ahmed told the bench that in view of the recommendations of the committee of two senators and three MNAs the FIR was registered in the case.
During the hearing, former Director General Haj, Rao Shakeel denied allegations of corruption and said that accommodation for all the pilgrims was hired on merit. He said that he dismissed an officer Ahmed Faiz on corruption charges. The court directed him as well to submit his statement on or before the next date of hearing.
Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, a parliamentary committee member who recently visited Saudi Arabia, accusing officials of the Haj Directorate of involvement in corrupt practices, complaints sent by three members of the National Assembly and two of the Senate, a letter sent to the Chief Justice by Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud alleging embezzlement and a number of applications received by Justice Ramday in person during the performance of Haj from pilgrims narrating their ordeals and complaining about corruption and mismanagement in Haj arrangements. In addition, 22 pilgrims had submitted an application.

Religion review of the year 2010

By Tim Ross, Religious Affairs Editor

During one of his more unusual interviews, given to a comedian at a football ground on Bonfire Night, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked what his favourite firework was. Scarcely pausing for breath, he replied: "I think the wrong answer to that would be 'a Roman Candle.'"

Benedict XVI's full state visit to Britain in September was the first by any pope for 400 years.

He was given the warmest of welcomes from the Queen, the Prime Minister, hundreds of thousands who lined the streets, and leaders of all the major faiths, including Dr William. the Roman Catholic Church was once again pitted against the Church of England in what some commentators saw as the greatest struggle for the souls of Anglicans since the Reformation.

October saw the first anniversary of Benedict XVI's historic - and hugely contentious - offer to accommodate conservative Anglicans who could not accept the ministry of women bishops.

‘Millennials’ Least Religious Group in American History

Millennials. There are more than 78 million of them. Born between 1980 and 2000, this demographic has surpassed the baby boomers as the largest and most influential generation in America.
Millennials are shaping the first half of 21st century of American culture. How could this impact Christianity as this age group reaches adulthood and prepares to exert their mark on the nation? Best-selling research author Thom Rainer and his son Jess, himself a Millennial born in 1985, have some answers—and they appear disturbing.
The father-son team is presenting the most comprehensive research project on Millennials from a Christian worldview perspective in their book, The Millennials: Connecting to America's Largest Generation. The duo started researching the project in June 2009, conducting 1,200 interviews that aim to help us better understand Millennials personally, professionally and spiritually.
Although Millennials still say they are “spiritual,” this group is the least religious generation in American history. Only 13 percent of Millennials considered any type of spirituality to be important in their lives. In fact, most Millennials don’t think about religion at all. Although 84 percent of Millennials say job success is important to them, they are not workaholics. They want to have fun with their co-workers on the job, and they see the need for balance between work and life. They expect the federal government to be a solution to many social problems, such as universal health care and retirement.

AP Interview: Malaysia gay man gets threats

A Muslim gay man in Malaysia says he fears for his safety after speaking about his sexuality in an Internet video that attracted online death threats and accusations by religious authorities that he is insulting Islam. The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday he was taking safety precautions following fierce criticism in this conservative, Muslim-majority country over his clip, which has been viewed more than 140,000 times on YouTube in just six days.

I'm Gay, I'm OK," features the 32-year-old engineer encouraging other gay Malaysians to be confident in themselves. It is part of a series of interviews posted online by gay rights activists since last week, but Azwan has attracted heavy attention because he is the only one from Malaysia's ethnic Malay Muslim majority so far. "I don't know what to expect next," Azwan said Tuesday in his first comments to the media after his nearly three-minute clip was posted Dec. 15. Other gay Malaysians featured in the "Independent Sexuality" video campaign so far are mainly ethnic Chinese non-Muslims, who generally face less of a public stigma about homosexuality.
He has also made his personal details more private on social media websites. Although Azwan's face appears clearly in the video, he declined to be photographed for the AP interview. but he said his lawyer friend was checking whether other legal action could be taken against him. Sodomy is punishable by 20 years in prison, though the law is only occasionally enforced. Some states impose fines or jail terms for gay-related actions such as cross-dressing in public.
 Several more Malay Muslims are expected to speak in upcoming clips, which are meant to tell young gay Malaysians not to despair about their future. Azwan told the AP. "I just wanted to represent gay Malays in this project. I hope these videos will help to create a more open society and more discussion.