45 Filipinos Convert to Islam in Saudi
EMIRATES 24|7: A group of 45 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia converted to Islam after they were taught about the religion during a visit to their company by preachers from a government religious centre in the Gulf Kingdom, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

The preachers from the Islamic Guidance Centre in the capital Riyadh said the 45 Filipinos decided to embrace the new religion after listening to a brief lecture by one of the preachers at their company on Monday. » | Correspondent | Thursday, March 07, 2013

Filipino Man Wins Last Minute Stay of Execution for $1 Million Blood Money

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A Filipino man won a stay of execution hours before he was due to be beheaded for murdering his landlord in Saudi Arabia as his family were given four months to raise $1 million (£630,000) blood money.

Joselito Zapanta, a Philippine construction worker was sentenced to death after killing the Sudanese landlord in 2009.

The relatives of Salah Ibrahim, who was killed in a dispute with Zapanta, 34, over unpaid rent, however agreed to waive the sentence in return for blood money.

The predawn decision to put off the sentence came after a Philippine official handed in a written plea for more time to King Abdullah, the Saudi ruler.

Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippine government, said the Saudi government had given more time but could not defy the wishes of the bereaved.

"The family has been given four months to raise four million riyals," he said. » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Die blutigen Osterrituale der Katholiken

Public Beating for Selling or Buying Roses on Valentine[’]s Day
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE: JHAWARIAN – An informal survey by media reporters and the district administration revealed that a vast majority of residents condemned Valentines Day [sic] celebrations in the area. Several administrators and clerics have threatened public floggings for anyone seen selling or purchasing a red rose on February 14.

“Islam condemns Valentine’s Day and boys presenting flowers to young girls is vulgar and goes against the norms of Islam,” said Maulvi Ibrahim, adding that clerics in the district had made announcements stating that anyone seen purchasing or selling red roses should be punished in public.

“There is no reason for such holidays to be celebrated in Pakistan as they go against our culture and cause ‘moral corruption,” he said. A conference was called by clerics to discuss the ‘problems’ associated with celebrating Valentines [sic] Day in Pakistan. “We should put a ban on selling anything red (roses, chocolates, heart shaped balloons) on February 14th,” said Mufti Nadeem Tabish.

A dispute reportedly broke out between the clerics regarding the origins of Valentines [sic] Day. Several clerics maintained that Valentines Day was a Jewish holiday and others stated that the custom of handing out roses had been derived from Hindu culture. “I see no harm in celebrating Valentines [sic]. Everyone here has been debating where the day comes from even though it is named after a Christian saint. The clerics are trying to paint Valentines Day [sic] as an Israeli conspiracy,” said a high school student Karim.

“Young boys and girls do not interact let alone hand each other presents in our culture and Valentine’s Day has become an excuse for such reprehensible behaviour,” said a district officer Mumtaz Haroon. >>> | Monday, February 14, 2011

INQUIRER GLOBAL NATION: OFWs warned against celebrating Valentine’s Day in Saudi Arabia: MANILA, Philippines—"Don’t wear anything red or be seen in public carrying red roses or heart-shaped balloons and other items symbolizing Valentine's Day." >>> Jerry E. Esplanada | Moonday, February 14, 2011

OFW = Overseas Filipino Workers >>>

VOICE OF AMERICA: Valentine's Day Not Loved in Many Areas of the World: Monday marks the celebration of Valentine’s Day by much of the world. But it is a celebration that is drawing protests in some areas. >>> | Sunday, February 13, 2011

LA TIMES – BLOGS – BABYLON & BEYOND: SAUDI ARABIA: Black market for red roses surges with Valentine's Day crackdown – It isn't often that cynical singles and religious police find themselves on the same side, but this Sunday they will stand united against a common threat: Valentine's Day and its ubiquitous trappings.

Saudi Arabia's religious enforcers, backed by the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, have started their annual purge of anything Valentine-related, including flowers, gifts, candy and the color red. >>> Meris Lutz in Beirut | Saturday, February 12, 2011

THE WASHINGTON POST: Indonesian Muslims warned against Valentine's Day: JAKARTA, Indonesia -- An Indonesian Muslic cleric has warned his young followers against celebrating Valentine's Day, saying it is the same as promoting faiths other than Islam and could lead to forbidden sex. >>> nk-kjj, The Associated Press | Monday, February 14, 2011

Wishing all my visitors a very HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY. That goes for all my Muslim visitors too! Celebrate love! There's more than enough hatred in the world! – Mark

Embrace Islam, Or Lose Your Job
STRATEGYPAGE: Islamic terrorism comes in many different forms. Christian Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia are complaining that their employers are threatening to fire them if they do not convert to Islam. It's against the law for a Moslem in Saudi Arabia to convert to another religion. The punishment is death, and anyone attempting to convert Moslems is subject to the death penalty. This sort of double standard, and use of coercion, is a big deal in the Philippines, although the government there, and in Saudi Arabia, try to play down this particular problem. There are about 200,000 Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia, and 600,000 throughout the Persian Gulf. The forced conversions are not widespread, yet. But several hundred are believed to have occurred, and the idea is catching on with employers who are conservative Moslems. >>> | Friday, February 12, 2010

Naturalized Citizens Are Poised to Reshape California's Political Landscape
Efren Curiel, 45, is sworn in as a naturalized U.S. citizen in March at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello. California’s 300,000 naturalized citizens accounted for nearly one-third of the nation’s total. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES TIMES: The increase in naturalized Asian and Latino citizens -- 300,000 people took the oath of allegiance in 2008 -- could alter the state's policy priorities for years to come, analysts say.

More than 1 million immigrants became U.S. citizens last year, the largest surge in history, hastening the ethnic transformation of California's political landscape with more Latinos and Asians now eligible to vote.

Leading the wave, California's 300,000 new citizens accounted for nearly one-third of the nation's total and represented a near-doubling over 2006, according to a recent report by the U.S. Office of Immigration Statistics. Florida recorded the second-largest group of new citizens, and Texas claimed the fastest growth.

Mexicans, who have traditionally registered low rates of naturalization, represented the largest group, with nearly one-fourth of the total. They were followed by Indians, Filipinos, Chinese, Cubans and Vietnamese.

The new citizens are reshaping California's electorate and are likely to reorder the state's policy priorities, some political analysts predict. Several polls show that Latinos and Asians are more supportive than whites of public investments and broad services, even if they require higher taxes. >>> By Teresa Watanabe | Monday, May 11, 2009

Saudi Arabia: Two More Filipinos Face Execution
INQUIRER.NET: MANILA, Philippines -- A day after an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was beheaded in Jeddah for killing a Saudi national, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said it is closely monitoring the capital case of two more OFWs that is now going through final court procedures.

In a press conference, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos said the case is one of 34 in varying court stages that the DFA is monitoring. He did not name the two OFWs or where they are.

"Since January 2006, the department under my watch has handled 64 probable death-row cases. Of the 64, 24 have been commuted. Of the remaining 40 cases, 34 are already filed in court and the rest are still in preliminary investigation stage," he said.

Since then, he said the other unsuccessful attempt to have a death sentence commuted was that of Reynaldo Cortez, who was executed June 2007.

At the same time, Conejos said the Philippine government has sent a note verbale to the Saudi government for the possible repatriation of the remains of Jenifer Bidoya, who was beheaded Tuesday afternoon. Saudi Arabia: Two More Filipinos Face Execution >>> By Veronica Uy | October 15, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback (US) Barnes & Noble >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Hardcover (US) Barnes & Noble >>>