Islamic TV station in England fined. Britain’s broadcasting watchdog fined an Islamic TV channel 85,000 pounds—$132,490—for inciting violence after a program host said it was acceptable, and even a duty, for Muslims to murder anyone who insults the Prophet Muhammad. In a statement, the regulator known as Ofcom—short for Office of Communications—said the fine was imposed due to the serious nature of statements made by a presenter last year. On the program in question, Paigham-e-Mustafa, which means “Message from Mustafa,” presenter Allama Muhammad Farooq Nizami answered questions from viewers about a wide range of issues relating to Islam. One caller asked in Urdu what punishment was due for anyone showing disrespect to Muhammad. Sitting alone in the studio, Nizami looked straight into the camera and replied: “One has to choose one’s own method. Our way is the peaceful way, but when someone crosses the limits, faith-based emotions are instigated. The mission of our life is to protect the sanctity of our beloved Lord. May Allah accept us wherever there is a need to kill a blasphemer. We are ready, and should be ready at all times, to kill a blasphemer.” In addition to imposing a fine, Ofcom ordered the TV station not to repeat the segment and to broadcast a statement of its findings. Al Ehya Digital fired Nizami in May this year for promoting personal political opinions and supporting a violent act.
N.C. anti-Shariah bill becomes law. Add North Carolina to the list of states that prohibits its judges from considering Islamic law after Gov. Pat McCrory allowed the bill to become law without formally signing it. McCory, a Republican, called the anti-foreign-law “unnecessary,” but declined to veto it. The bill became law Aug. 25. The state joins Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, South Dakota and Tennessee. The North Carolina ban is limited to family law. Bans in other states are broader, applying to commercial law, contract law and other types of laws. A federal judge struck down a constitutional amendment in Oklahoma because it singled out Shariah by name rather than referring more broadly to “foreign law.”
Conservative African Anglicans plan conference. Concerned that the crisis in the worldwide Anglican Communion is deepening, conservative Anglican bishops in Africa are organizing a second conference to discuss ways of returning the church to what they describe as biblical faithfulness. They held the first conference in Jerusalem in 2008, five years after openly gay New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson was consecrated in the Episcopal Church. Participants at the Jerusalem meeting called for the creation of an Anglican province in North America to rival the Episcopal Church. Five years later, the church leaders say the new Anglican province, known as the Anglican Church in North America, is thriving. Now, the archbishop of Nigeria and archbishops in East Africa have organized the second Global Anglican Future Conference at which they hope to accelerate the process that began in Jerusalem. The GAFCON II meeting will take place Oct. 21-26 in Nairobi.
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