Christmas has been banned by the Red Cross from its 430 fund-raising shops.
Staff have been ordered to take down decorations and to remove any other signs of the Christian festival because they could offend Moslems.
The charity's politically-correct move triggered an avalanche of criticism and mockery last night - from Christians and Moslems.
Christine Banks, a volunteer at a Red Cross shop in New Romney, Kent, said: 'We put up a nativity scene in the window and were told to take it out. It seems we can't have anything that means Christmas. We're allowed to have some tinsel but that's it.
'When we send cards they have to say season's greetings or best wishes. They must not be linked directly to Christmas.
'When we asked we were told it is because we must not upset Moslems.'
Mrs Banks added: ' We have been instructed that we can't say anything about Christmas and we certainly can't have a Christmas tree.
' I think the policy is offensive to Moslems as well as to us. No reasonable person can object to Christians celebrating Christmas. But we are not supposed to show any sign of Christianity at all.'
Labour peer Lord Ahmed, one of the country's most prominent Moslem politicians, said: 'It is stupid to think Moslems would be offended.
'The Moslem community has been talking to Christians for the past 1,400 years. The teachings from Islam are that you should respect other faiths.'
He added: 'In my business all my staff celebrate Christmas and I celebrate with them. It is absolutely not the case that Christmas could damage the Red Cross reputation for neutrality - I think their people have gone a little bit over the top.'
The furore is a fresh blow to the image of what was once one of Britain's most respected charities.
The British Red Cross lost friends this year over its support for the French illegal immigrant camp at Sangatte and its insistence on concentrating large efforts on helping asylum seekers.
Yesterday officials at the charity's London HQ confirmed that Christmas is barred from the 430 shops which contributed more than £20million to its income last year.
'The Red Cross is a neutral organisation and we don't want to be aligned with any political party or particular philosophy,' a spokesman said.
'We don't want to be seen as a Christian or Islamic or Jewish organisation because that might compromise our ability to work in conflict situations around the world.'
He added: 'In shops people can put up decorations like tinsel or snow which are seasonal. But the guidance is that things representative of Christmas cannot be shown.'
Volunteers, however, said they believed the Christmas ban was a product of political correctness of the kind that led Birmingham's leaders to order their city to celebrate 'Winterval'.
Rod Thomas, a Plymouth vicar and spokesman for the Reform evangelical grouping in the Church of England, said: 'People who hold seriously to their faith are respected by people of other faiths. They should start calling themselves the Red Splodge. All their efforts will only succeed in alienating most people.'
Major Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Armies, said: 'There is really nothing to hurt the Red Cross in Christmas, is there? Would the Red Crescent stop its staff observing Ramadan?
'In practice, the role of the Red Cross is to run prisoner- of-war programmes and relief efforts for civilians. Those activities require the agreement of both sides in a conflict in the first place. Celebrating Christmas in a shop in England could hardly upset that.'
Major Heyman added: 'Moslems are just as sensible about these things as Christians. The Red Cross is just engaging in a bit of political correctness.'
Showing posts with label Red Cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Cross. Show all posts
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Afghanistan: Red Cross Betrays Employee
The Red Cross continues to fumble and stumble in its misson.
Recently I blogged on the unspeakable treatment of Christian convert at the hands of his Muslim tormentors. Afghan convert to Christianity is charged with Apostasy: "Crimes punishable by death ... and Afghan Convert Out of Islam Pleads for Mercy.
Now we hear that the Red Cross joins the cabal of savages by its complicity. Afghan judicial officials refused to bat an eye at the humiliation he endured in the hands of his fellow prisoners. Beatings, sleep-deprivation and sexual abuse are all a part of the nightmare that has unfolded after his arrest.
The Red Cross has failed in its mission in Afghanistan. It has repeatedly refused to intervene in its employee Sayed Mossa's case. It has even refused to deliver his mail. This once-great Christian organization has submitted itself to Islam and Sharia law. Yet it screams and cries about the US treatment of Guantanamo Bay prisoners -- prisoners who have not been beaten and sexually abused for their faith, but are being held because they wish to destroy us. During the holiday giving season, people need to be encouraged to support other disaster relief groups, since the Red Cross has obviously lost its moral compass. (hat tip Danielle B)
I would not send then my hard earned dollars this holiday season. I would not.
The Red Cross won't intervene on behalf of Gilad Shalit, either. Posers. Hypocrites.
This from Persecution.org:
Red Cross Neglects Arrested Afghan Employee for Converting to Christianity
Refuses to Deliver Prisoner’s Mail
Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2010) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Red Cross in Afghanistan (ICRC) has not intervened on behalf of a long-term employee who was arrested and imprisoned because he is Christian. This, despite that the Red Cross mandate includes “visiting prisoners” and “helping victims of conflict and internal violence, whoever they are.”
Sayed Mossa worked 15 years in ICRC’s orthopedic department in Kabul assisting amputees. In late May, footage of Muslim converts to Christianity being baptized was aired in Afghanistan. The broadcast triggered nationwide protests and a government-led crackdown against Christians. On May 31, being a Muslim convert to Christianity, Mossa was arrested by security officers working with the Ministry of Interior.
Aid workers in Kabul immediately contacted the Red Cross after hearing of the arrest. “The Protection office told us that Mossa will be visited like the others and that we must not interfere with their job. We are not his family and they will not tell us anything. We told them that he has been sexually abused and his condition has deteriorated badly, but nothing could move them,” said a friend of Mossa’s who inquired about his safety. When Mossa’s wife asked for help, the Red Cross paid her Mossa’s salary, but reportedly said they would not intervene to liberate her husband. It was two months before Mossa’s wife had heard where he was being held. She was not notified by the Red Cross, but by a released prisoner who had served time with Mossa.
In a final meeting with Reto Stocker, head of the Red Cross in Kabul, Mossa’s friends were again told that ICRC is neutral and would not intervene. They were also asked to not make the case public.
In another breach of the Red Cross’ mission, they refused to deliver hundreds of letters addressed to Mossa. Westerners organized the letter-writing campaign to both encourage the Christian and to publicly display the international community’s concern over his plight. “They won’t deliver the letters to Sayed. The Red Cross does not have the right to keep the letters from him. It’s their responsibility to ensure he receives letters written to him via the Red Cross address,” said an aid worker in Kabul who helped organize the campaign.
“If the Red Cross refuses to do something they stand for, shouldn’t the world know about such a gross violation of their stated practices?” said another aid worker. “I mean, if donors support the Red Cross’ work because of what they declare they do, shouldn’t the Red Cross be reproved for their refusal to do (the work they are supposed to do)?”
Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Sayed Mossa has now been in prison for nearly six months without legal representation or equal protection. The Red Cross, his employer, did not visit Mossa in prison until two months after his arrest, and would not intervene because he was arrested on religious grounds. Moreover, they have blatantly refused to deliver letters to Sayed which are rightfully his. We urge those concerned about the Red Cross’ behavior to call the Red Cross in their country and politely express their views.”
Red Cross headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland +41 (22)734 60 01
United States & Canada +1 (202) 587 4600
United Kingdom (+44 207) 877 75 81
France (+33 1) 56 54 11 11
Recently I blogged on the unspeakable treatment of Christian convert at the hands of his Muslim tormentors. Afghan convert to Christianity is charged with Apostasy: "Crimes punishable by death ... and Afghan Convert Out of Islam Pleads for Mercy.
Now we hear that the Red Cross joins the cabal of savages by its complicity. Afghan judicial officials refused to bat an eye at the humiliation he endured in the hands of his fellow prisoners. Beatings, sleep-deprivation and sexual abuse are all a part of the nightmare that has unfolded after his arrest.
The Red Cross has failed in its mission in Afghanistan. It has repeatedly refused to intervene in its employee Sayed Mossa's case. It has even refused to deliver his mail. This once-great Christian organization has submitted itself to Islam and Sharia law. Yet it screams and cries about the US treatment of Guantanamo Bay prisoners -- prisoners who have not been beaten and sexually abused for their faith, but are being held because they wish to destroy us. During the holiday giving season, people need to be encouraged to support other disaster relief groups, since the Red Cross has obviously lost its moral compass. (hat tip Danielle B)
I would not send then my hard earned dollars this holiday season. I would not.
The Red Cross won't intervene on behalf of Gilad Shalit, either. Posers. Hypocrites.
This from Persecution.org:
Red Cross Neglects Arrested Afghan Employee for Converting to Christianity
Refuses to Deliver Prisoner’s Mail
Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2010) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Red Cross in Afghanistan (ICRC) has not intervened on behalf of a long-term employee who was arrested and imprisoned because he is Christian. This, despite that the Red Cross mandate includes “visiting prisoners” and “helping victims of conflict and internal violence, whoever they are.”
Sayed Mossa worked 15 years in ICRC’s orthopedic department in Kabul assisting amputees. In late May, footage of Muslim converts to Christianity being baptized was aired in Afghanistan. The broadcast triggered nationwide protests and a government-led crackdown against Christians. On May 31, being a Muslim convert to Christianity, Mossa was arrested by security officers working with the Ministry of Interior.
Aid workers in Kabul immediately contacted the Red Cross after hearing of the arrest. “The Protection office told us that Mossa will be visited like the others and that we must not interfere with their job. We are not his family and they will not tell us anything. We told them that he has been sexually abused and his condition has deteriorated badly, but nothing could move them,” said a friend of Mossa’s who inquired about his safety. When Mossa’s wife asked for help, the Red Cross paid her Mossa’s salary, but reportedly said they would not intervene to liberate her husband. It was two months before Mossa’s wife had heard where he was being held. She was not notified by the Red Cross, but by a released prisoner who had served time with Mossa.
In a final meeting with Reto Stocker, head of the Red Cross in Kabul, Mossa’s friends were again told that ICRC is neutral and would not intervene. They were also asked to not make the case public.
In another breach of the Red Cross’ mission, they refused to deliver hundreds of letters addressed to Mossa. Westerners organized the letter-writing campaign to both encourage the Christian and to publicly display the international community’s concern over his plight. “They won’t deliver the letters to Sayed. The Red Cross does not have the right to keep the letters from him. It’s their responsibility to ensure he receives letters written to him via the Red Cross address,” said an aid worker in Kabul who helped organize the campaign.
“If the Red Cross refuses to do something they stand for, shouldn’t the world know about such a gross violation of their stated practices?” said another aid worker. “I mean, if donors support the Red Cross’ work because of what they declare they do, shouldn’t the Red Cross be reproved for their refusal to do (the work they are supposed to do)?”
Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Sayed Mossa has now been in prison for nearly six months without legal representation or equal protection. The Red Cross, his employer, did not visit Mossa in prison until two months after his arrest, and would not intervene because he was arrested on religious grounds. Moreover, they have blatantly refused to deliver letters to Sayed which are rightfully his. We urge those concerned about the Red Cross’ behavior to call the Red Cross in their country and politely express their views.”
Red Cross headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland +41 (22)734 60 01
United States & Canada +1 (202) 587 4600
United Kingdom (+44 207) 877 75 81
France (+33 1) 56 54 11 11
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