Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

DEFENDING SKY TOGETHER:
MEETING OF THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFENSE OF
THE CIS COUNCIL OF DEFENSE MINISTERS ENDED IN YEREVAN, ARMENIA
by Oleg Gorupai

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, February 17, 2007, p. 3
February 21, 2007 Wednesday

Update on the recent meeting of the Coordinating Committee for
Antiaircraft Defense of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers in
Yerevan.

Russian AF Commander General of the Army Vladimir Mikhailov said
when the meeting of the Coordinating Committee for Antiaircraft
Defense of the CIS Council of Defense Ministers and conference of
CIS AF and Antiaircraft Forces commanders were over in Yerevan, that
several regional antiaircraft defense systems were to be established
in the Commonwealth.

Documents are now being prepared concerning deployment of the
Russian-Belarussian Regional System. According to Mikhailov, they
are to be drafted in time for the next meeting of the Russian and
Belarussian defense ministers.

The Caucasus Regional System that will be modeled upon the
Russian-Belarussian one is expected to become the second step in the
program of establishing antiaircraft belt all around the Russian
perimeter. Serj Sarkisjan, Defense Minister and Secretary of the
Security Council of Armenia, claims that the Armenian aerial borders
are protected within the framework of the Armenian-Russian military
cooperation. Hence the importance attributed to this cooperation
in Yerevan.

Armenia and Russia made considerable progress in the organization of
joint combat duty in antiaircraft defense. Joint exercise drills are
quite regular nowadays, and information is shared on a permanent
basis. The problem of personnel training has been successfully
negotiated. And yet, Russia keeps aiding Armenia in the development
of the national antiaircraft defense system, Mikhailov said.

The establishment of the antiaircraft defense regional system in the
Central Asian region of collective security will be the third step.

Mikhailov said that the establishment of similar regional systems by
NATO did not scare Russia anymore because aerial borders of the CIS
were reliably defended. "We do not care if the NATO has a system like
that or not, because we see everything we need to see. With a system
like that built, NATO will come up with an analog of our system of a
late 1970’s vintage," Mikhailov shrugged. "Surprising us with anything
new is clearly beyond them."

Representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine attended the Coordinating Committee
meeting. The next meeting will take place in the third quarter of
the year. Mikhailov told the gathering that activities in 2006 had
mostly been centered on fulfilling the Joint Action Plan of the CIS
United Antiaircraft System and on advancing bilateral and multilateral
military and military-technical cooperation within its structure. A
conference of CIS AF commanders took place on the property of the
Central Shooting Range in Russia on August 22-23. Two meetings of
the Coordinating Committee in 2006 discussed 14 issues having to do
with combat training, its organization and implementation. Command
post exercises with antiaircraft defense command structures and
forces on duty were organized in April and October. They involved
operational teams of commanders of the air forces of Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,
and Ukraine and antiaircraft defense measures assigned to the CIS
United Antiaircraft System. Crews of over 130 aircraft and helicopters
(Armenian, Belarussian, Kazakh, Russian, and Ukrainian) made more
than 140 flights during the exercises.

Mikhailov pointed out that military-technical cooperation between
partners was carried out in accordance with formal applications
from members of the CIS United Antiaircraft System. Specialists of
the Russian Defense Ministry repaired Krug installations for the
Armenians. An agreement was made for examination and certification
of Strela-2, Strela-3, and Strela-10 tactical missile installations
in 2007.

A command post exercise of the CIS United Antiaircraft System and
bilateral drills and command exercises (for the Uzbekistan, Ukrainian,
and Russian armies) were planned for 2007. Combat Brotherhood’2007
live-fire exercises will be prepared and carried out between June
and September.

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT ARMENIA ON FEBRUARY 20

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Tapan
Feb 19 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. German Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will arrive in Armenia on February
20. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, during the meeting the German Foreign
Minister will meet with RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Vartan Oskanian’s and German
Foreign Minister’s joint press conference will take place the same
day. The delegation will also visit Tsitsernakaberd where they will
lay flowers to the memorial of Armenian Genocide victims.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UNDER NATIONALIST SIEGE
Erol Onderoglu

BÝA, Turkey
Feb 19 2007

Monitoring media freedoms and rights in Turkey, BIA² discloses its
2006 Report. Cases against journalists, publishers and activists rose
to 293 last year where the infamous article 301 of the new Penal Code
reached international scene as intransigent tool

BÝA (Istanbul) – 2006 turned out to be the year when both the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican
People’s Party (CHP) confirmed their places siding with restrictions
faced with freedoms in Turkey.

We witnessed the huge and numerous problems regarding freedom of
expression and press, caused by the wording as well as the philosophy
behind the legislation that those two parties enacted as reforms at
the National Assembly.

In an environment where state institutions and security forces are
held sacred, the new Turkish Penal Code, entwined with imprisonment
sentences and criminalizing the ambiguous act of "insulting
Turkishness" resulted in arbitrary trials and prosecutions, which
took the infamous article 301 of the Code to international attention
in 2006.

In contrast to the trends in international law, even criticism against
state institutions were treated with a threat of imprisonment ranging
up to three years.

As a matter of fact, BIA² Media Monitoring Desk’s compilations conclude
that the number of prosecuted journalists, publishers and activists
had risen to 293 in 2006, in comparison to 157 in the previous year.

72 of those have been prosecuted under article 301 of the Penal
Code (article 159 in the previous legislation). 35 people have been
tried with article 216; eight on Law on Crimes Against Ataturk and
24 with allegations of "influencing the jurisdiction" with reference
to different legislation.

37-page report classifies 318 different cases and 449 journalists,
publishers and activists involved under the headlines "attacks
and threats", "detentions and arrests ", "trials and initiatives",
"European Court of Human Rights", "RTUK applications", "adjustments
and seeking justice" and "Reaction to censorship""

Websites new targets for attacks

According to the report 26 journalists and two media outlets have
been assaulted while seven journalists have been threatened and three
websites have been hacked by nationalists in 2006. 33 journalists
and 16 media outlets had been assaulted the previous year.

For example, journalist Metin Uca was attacked and injured following
a seminar in Gazi University and offices of daily Cumhuriyet were
targeted with hand grenades on two accounts.

Far and foremost PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other government members
frequently made declarations where they blamed the press.

Sports commentator Hasmet Babaoglu said that he’d received threats
after criticizing Mateja Kezman’s transfer to Fenerbahce during the
"90 Minutes" programme broadcasted on NTV.

Seven people convicted of article 301

Complaints filed by the General Staff, Police Department and
nationalist circles as well as problems that arose during the judicial
process brought the article 301 of the Penal Code into international
attention. Number of individuals tried with the article in question
went up to 72 from 29 in the previous year.

Hrant Dink, Sabri Ejder Ozic, Eren Keskin, Aziz Ozer, Erol Ozkoray,
Mehmet Fethi Dorduncu and Hanefi Bekmezci had been convicted on
those cases.

Before falling victim to a murder on January 19, 2007, Turkish-Armenian
writer Hrant Dink had been prosecuted once again for saying that "he
recognizes the Armenian Genocide allegations" during an interview
with the Reuters agency and publishing a news on the campaign for
the abolition of the very article he’d been tried of.

Owner of his newspaper Agos, Sarkis Seropyan and responsible director
Arat Dink will also be tried on that account.

13 of the cases filed with reference to the article 301 were acquitted
while five cases were dropped because of prescription or lack of
consent from the Ministry of Justice.

Courts prone to influence by the press!

24 journalists have been subjected to legal intervention with reference
to articles 277 and 288 of the Penal Code and article 19 of the Press
Law which defines the crime of "influencing a fair trial".

Hurriyet daily columnist Ahmet Altan was tried and acquitted on one
account for his article titled "Child Who Lost His Name" where he
commented on documents related to an ongoing legal case.

Lube Ayar, Ýsmail Saymaz, Faruk Cakýr, Ýbrahim Yýldýz, Necdet Tatlýcan,
Hrant Dink, Aydýn Engin, Serkis Seropyan, Arat Dink, Guray Oz,
Murat Yetkin, Ýlhan Selcuk, Mehmet Sucu, Murat Belge, Ýsmet Berkan,
Haluk Þahin, Erol Katýrcýoðlu, Hasan Cemal, Nalan Akgun, Azer Banu
Kemaloðlu and Ender Can Cevahir frequented court rooms for allegations
of attempting to influence the judicial process.

Cumhuriyet daily reporter Alper Turgut has been convicted for
reporting a case where police officers were acquitted by prescription
on allegations of torture.

Three convictions for allegations of "inflaming hatred and hostility"

Article 216 of the Penal Code, which penalizes "inflaming hatred
and hostility among peoples" continue creating controversy following
ambiguous interpretations by the Supreme Court.

While four other cases resulted in acquittals, Islamist writers Emine
Þenlikoðlu, Mehmet Þevket Eygi and Samir Cebeci were convicted on
allegations related to the article.

Elaborate legal attention to news related to the military

As of 2007, writers will be tried at Specialized High Criminal
Courts established to replace the disputed State Security Courts on
allegations of "diverting public from military service" or "making
terrorist organization propaganda".

Hurriyet daily reporter Sebati Karakurt and responsible directors
Necdet Tatlýcan and Hasan Kýlýc as well as Milliyet daily reporter
Namýk Durukan face upto five years imprisonment for their pieces on
pro-Kurdish guerilla group Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Daily Birgun’s Sunday supplement editor Gokhan Gencay and responsible
director Ýbrahim Ceþmecioðlu is on trial with allegations of "diverting
public from military service" for an interview on conscientious
objection while Ulkede Ozgur Gundem daily reporter Birgul Ozbarýþ faces
a total of 21 years in prison for several cases on the same article.

Journalist Perihan Maðden has been acquitted on a similar allegation.

Three million euros worth of actions for damages against the press

Last year number and cost of suits for damages against those who
expressed their views also accrued: Army Cooperation Instution (OYAK)
has filed cases against five journalists demanding 5 million YTL
(around 2,5 million euros) in damages for critical articles of a
tender in which the institution was involved.

In 2006, counting the actions for damages filed by OYAK, MOPAK
and gold mine firms that continue using cyanide in explorations in
Bergama, total worth of damages requsted from journalists amounted
to 6 million 60 thousand YTL (around 3 million euros). It was 1,
5 million YTL the previous year.

"Insulting Ataturk" cases rest as usual

Journalist Ýpek Calýþlar, writer of Ataturk’s partner Latife Haným’s
biography as well as Aram publishing house owner Fatih Taþ who released
John Tirman’s ""Spoils of War: The Human Cost of America’s Arms Trade"
and its translators had benn acquitted on allegations of "insulting
Ataturk", the founder of the Rebuplic of Turkey.

Despite this positive development, publisher Ragýp Zarakolu and two
translators are still on trial in relation with this law.

Furthermore, Peri Publishing House owner Ahmet Onal has been
convicted on a case against the book, "Ambitions and Prisoners"
by Evin Cicek. Nationalist and Kemalist circles have targeted Prof.

Atilla Yayla, following his critical comments of Ataturk during
a conference.

Alternating journalists in prisons

In 2006 three media workers were released as four others got
imprisonment sentences. Those arrested following an operation
launched against the outlawed Marxist Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)
organization are still not charged after six months. Among the 36
arrested are Ýstanbul Ozgur Radyo broadcast coordinator Fusun Erdoðan,
Atýlým newspaper editor-in-chief Ýbrahim Cicek and coordinator Sedat
Þenoðlu.

In another raid by security forces to the leftist Ozgur Halk and
Genc Bakýþ magazines, concessionaire Suat Kolca and three workers
were arrested.

Two DÝHA-Dicle News Agency reporters who were arrested on allegations
that molotov coctails were found in their vehicle during the
anniversary of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s arrest had been released
after nine moths in prison.

Number of condemnations in the ECHR decrease

Number of convictions and cost of damages given by the European Court
of Human Rights (ECHR) against Turkey in cases involving freedom of
expression decreased in 2006.

During the year the strasbourg court ruled for damages amounting
to 221 thousand euros to 45 individuals. This figure was around 400
thousand euros in 2005.

No regulation but penalties in broadcasting

Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Board (RTUK) conducted several
meetings with tv broadcasters following public reaction to day time
so-called women’s and magazine programmes.

After a complaint by RTUK on grounds of "unlicensed broadcast"
regarding Ýmaj Radio, a court decision said "the Board recognizes
the radio’s existence when collecting dues from advertisement income
and now try to complain about unlicensed broadcasts". RTUK is yet to
conduct license allocations since more than 10 years when private-owned
stations went into air.

–Boundary_(ID_xCIO5NEVs+um4Xx37OXKgg)–

PanARMENIAN.Net

Kars-Baku project became possible due to Russia’s shortsightedness
17.02.2007 13:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Animation of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway
project became possible due to Russia’s shortsighted policy aimed to
restrain CIS `obstinate’ member states, head of the department of
international relations at the institute of political and military
studies Sergey Markedonov said in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, the matter first of all concerns
Georgia. `By applying sanctions against Tbilisi Moscow anchored hope
with Georgia’s neighbors. Closing of Verkhni Lars checkpoint at the
Russian-Georgian border July 7-8, 2006 aroused ambiguous reactions in
Yerevan. Plenty of questions emerged between Armenia and Russia. RA
vice-speaker Vahan Hovhanniasian tied the checkpoint closure with
tensed Russian-Georgian relations. `Russian counterparts should
understand that the steps targeted against Georgia are harmful for
Armenia as well and maximal flexibility is needed in such
circumstances,’ he said at that time. The point is that all vital for
Armenia communications are stretching via Georgia. However, Yerevan’s
discontent has a political motive as well. Deterioration of
Armenian-Georgian relations is not profitable for Armenia,’ the
Russian political scientist said.

According to him, situation in the Armenian-inhabited Javakheti region
of Georgia is far from being stable and Yerevan clearly understands
that Armenia will not stand a second Karabakh. `Armenia’s disinterest
in Kremlin’s policy for restraining Georgia proceeds from this
fact. Thus, Yerevan tries to maintain maximal reasonableness even
somehow conniving the alarming situation in Javakhk through which a
sector of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku is supposed to pass,’
underscored Markedonov.

TURKISH HACKER TARGETS NZ SITES
By Schwarz Reuben

The Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand)
February 14, 2007 Wednesday

NEARLY 600 New Zealand websites have been hijacked by a Turkish
computer hacker.

The attack hit Kiwi websites and 300 international sites hosted on
the same American-based server, a computer that holds the information
displayed on Internet pages. The Kiwi websites were hosted mainly by
Vodafone- owned Internet provider ihug.

In each case, the content of the website’s homepage was replaced
with an animated knight, Turkish pop music and a cryptic message in
Turkish. Closing the page triggered a pop-up to a Turkish hacking
website.

The hacker, calling himself "Iskorpitx", is one of the world’s most
prolific, responsible for about 180,000 attacks since 2003. He is
believed to be a 45-year-old Turk, whose previous attacks included
anti-French, anti- Greek and anti-Armenian diatribes.

This time his motive is more cryptic. The message on the hacked Kiwi
sites means "the worldwide brand can not be imitated", according to
translation firm A2ZTranslate.

Ihug spokeswoman Annabel Gould said the company was aware of only
about 60 businesses that had been affected. However, an informal
survey conducted by The Dominion Post suggests there were many more,
with about 94 per cent of the roughly 575 hacked websites polled
hosted by ihug.

Ms Gould said the security breach was fixed yesterday, but the
hacker’s page was still present on many sites because customers had
yet to upload their original home page again.

Sunday’s attack hit many types of businesses, including outdoors shops,
private investigators and cat hotels. Several businesses contacted
were not even aware their websites had been hijacked — though others
felt the sting of having their site down for nearly two days.

Canoe & Kayak owner Peter Townend said customers used its website
to buy its products and make bookings. The attack had been a "huge
inconvenience".

Glove wholesaler Omnigloves realised its site had been hijacked after
a customer complained. "We are thinking of going to another service
provider," said part-owner Ann Dodds. "What’s the point of having a
website if people can’t get on it?"

The attack occurred onan American server run by Quik.com. Ihug
inherited some clients hosted there after it bought local subsidiary
Quik.co.nz last year. Ms Gould said ihug was considering whether to
offer compensation. Where possible, it would move customers to its own
"far more secure servers".

ORDER TO KILL HRANT DINK GIVEN BY CHIEF OF TRABZON POLICE DEPARTMENT
By H. Chaqrian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/02/2007

The investigation of Hrant Dink’s murder is becoming more and more
large-scale. More and more facts are becoming revealed, mostly due to
the evidence of Yasin Hayal, detained under suspicion of ordering the
murder. As it is known Hayal, knowing that Tuncel was an informer of
the Tarpizon police, changed his evidence on February 9 and stated
that Tuncel was the organizer of the crime and that he had received
the order to kill Dink immediately from him. He also stated that in
prison he was aided by Yasar Cihan, head of "Great Unity" party Trabzon
office, and given $750 for the organization of the explosion at the
"McDonald’s" cafe. Taking into consideration this new revelation
by Hayal, the General Prosecutor’s office roused a new criminal
investigation against the "Great Unity" party.

Meanwhile, as "Vatan" newspaper reports, Hayal gave new evidence. This
time a new investigation is roused by the demand of Hayal’s lawyer
Fatih Cakr, basing upon Hayal’s new statement that the organizer of
the murder of Hrant Dink was the head of anti-terrorism department
of the Trabzon police.

The aforementioned department chief is Yahya Ozturk, of whom Fatih
Cakr’s petition says the following: "Charged Erhan Tuncel passed Yasin
Hayal these words of Yahya Ozturk, head of anti-terrorism department of
the Trabzon police, ‘Our national Flag has been defamed. The mission
of recovering its dignity is laid upon Erhan and Yasin’. These words
were taken as background for murdering Hrant Dink ".

Getting out of the Court Hall, Cakr said to the reports, "Me as an
attorney of Yasin Hayal, after a conversation with him at the place
of detention represented his statements to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Some are trying to mess up Trabzon on purpose. Erhan Tuncel uses
the youth in order to reach his aim. I shall fight against him till
the end."

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS RECEIVES A YOUTH DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE LEBANESE COMMUNITIES

A youth delegation representing the youth of Lebanon visited His Holiness
Aram I in Antelias on February 11. The delegation’s aim is to spread
awareness of love, peace and cooperation among the political and community
leaders in Lebanon.

Visiting the Armenian Pontiff, the delegation members read a proclamation
stressing the importance of coexistence in Lebanon as a family of
communities. The delegation then presented a small cedar tree to the
Pontiff.

Greeting the youth delegation and praising their thoughtful initiative, His
Holiness said: "you are a message to all that Lebanon is a family rich of
diversity; a family brought together by mutual love and trust; a family
based on collective values and principles. This family should be kept
strong. This is our obligation. Others should not interfere in this family’s
internal matters. We should solve our family’s internal problems with mutual
love and understanding. Therefore, we should deliver this message to
everyone. The Lebanese family should live with dignity and govern itself
with the principles of love, peace and freedom."

##
View the photo here: #2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM BATTLE FOR SOULS OF IRANIANS
Written by Rachelle Kliger

The Media Line, NY
Feb 12 2007

"Hallelujah" – A Christian CD in Persian.

Fereshteh Dibaj and her husband Reza Montazemi, a Christian couple in
Iran, were released from an Iranian jail last October after spending
10 days in detention.

The charges against them are still unclear, but it is likely to do
with their religious affiliation. They belong to Iran’s little-known
Christian population, a minority that constitutes less than one
percent of the country’s 70 million inhabitants.

According to Amnesty, Reza’s mother, who owns the house in which they
live, was reportedly ordered to sign a document two days before the
couple was arrested, promising that no more Christian meetings for
worship, prayer or Bible study would be held there.

It should come as no surprise that Tehran’s religious authorities
are concerned about the Christian community.

According to Christian organizations, the country is witnessing a
huge spate of conversions from Islam to Christianity. The trend began
shortly after the Islamic revolution in 1979, increased during the
Nineties and has continued since President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad came
to power in the summer of 2005.

The number of Christians in Iran who hail from Muslim backgrounds is
approximately 70,000, based on estimates of churches and individuals.

There are no accurate figures of converts. Discretion is vital in
order to avoid the wrath of the religious authorities.

Fereshteh Dibaj is the daughter of Reverend Mehdi Dibaj, a Christian
convert who spent 10 years in prison on grounds of apostasy. He was
murdered in 1994, shortly after his release from prison.

Fereshteh’s husband Reza reportedly converted to Christianity in
his youth.

Flouting government orders, the couple continues to lead an independent
house church in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran.

Christians in Iran break down into several groups. The larger and
older communities include the Armenians, who immigrated from Armenia
and Turkey several centuries ago, and the Assyrians, who likely
originated from Syria and Iraq.

Smaller and more recent congregations include quite large numbers of
converts to Christianity.

Under the Islamic regime that came to power in 1979, there has never
been total religious freedom for the Christian population in the
country, says Wilfred Wong, a researcher with the Jubilee Campaign,
a pressure group that lobbies to protect the persecuted church.

"The situation has fluctuated between bad and worse," he says. "At
the moment it’s worse."

All agree that Christians who bear the brunt of persecution in Iran
are the evangelicals and converts from Muslim backgrounds.

"This is not to say that the traditional non-evangelical churches
have complete freedom. That would be naïve," Wong says. "They also
suffer varying degrees of difficulties."

Fereshteh’s older brother Issa, who has lived for several years in the
United Kingdom, says he never faced the problems that his father did,
as he was born and raised a Christian.

"The reason my sister had problems was because of her active
evangelism," he says.

Iran ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, which preserves the right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion in 1976, prior to the Islamic Revolution. But the current
Islamic character of the regime is problematic, Issa says.

"Even if the constitution guarantees these freedoms, they aren’t
really recognized," he says.

So, with all the problems it entails, what is reportedly pushing
Iranian Muslims to Christianity?

Ironically, many believe Iran’s rigid regime is inadvertently driving
this trend of conversions rather than preventing it.

The trend is partly due to the Muslim population’s disenchantment
with the regime and all it has to offer, Dibaj says.

"Up until the revolution, the clergy said if Iran became an Islamic
state all the problems would be solved," he says.

"Now, 20 years or so after the revolution, people have seen the
restrictions, they’ve seen the economic decline, people have seen the
real face of Islam and they had an eight-year war with Iraq. They say
to themselves: ‘If this is Islam, we don’t want to have any of it.’"

The impressionable nature of the Iranian population is also a
determining factor, he believes.

"You have to recognize that Iran is a very young country. Nearly 70
percent of the country’s population is under the age of 25. Most of
the population had nothing to do with the start of the revolution
and they have access to Christian television programs and websites.

They’re curious to find out more and they contact these outlets."

Iranian officials failed to respond to The Media Line’s queries
regarding the treatment of Christians in the country and the reported
large wave of conversions to Christianity.

The Muslim world is not happy, to say the least, about Christian
missionaries converting their believers. At the start of the war
in Iraq, reports of Christian missionaries entering the country to
win over Muslim hearts and souls reinforced perceptions of the West
as crusaders.

But Christians say the converts are hardly influenced by Western
missionaries, as these are barred from entering the country.

Even local evangelists are too few to be a key driving force behind
the conversions, Wong says.

"In many cases it’s a dream or a vision leading them to conversion,"
he says.

But the regime’s way of handling this trend – namely, by clamping
down on the Christian population – is not the right way to go about
it, and is even unIslamic, says Dr. Muhammad Serag, a professor of
Islamic studies at the American University in Cairo.

Traditionally, a Muslim man who turned his back on the religion would
be executed and a woman would be imprisoned until she repented, he
says. But this penalty is only applied if these people pose a threat
to Muslim society, such as propagating their new religion, he explains.

However, this does not correspond with the Quranic verse, "Let there
be no compulsion in religion" (Al-Baqara, verse 256).

The severe attitude toward converts was originally adopted for
political reasons, in order to preserve the interests of the Muslim
society, Serag says.

"In the past it could be appreciated, understood or justified, but
not in modern times," he adds.

Conversion from Islam is still frowned upon in Muslim society and is
a matter of concern.

"Conversions are associated always with Western influence or military
interference in Muslim society," Serag says. "They may not feel
easy about it, they may not be welcoming this attitude, but they do
not take violent action against them and I think this should be the
right attitude."

"I don’t mind if they convert. It’s their free choice," says Sami
Zaatri, a young Muslim who has created a website called Muslim
Responses to counteract Christian missionary arguments.

"What I do have a problem with are evangelicals," he says. "They call
the Prophet Muhammad a terrorist and then they come to our countries
and try to missionize."

Zaatri, an American of Iranian descent, says he is not necessarily
trying to convert people to Islam, but urges Muslims to make their
decision only after they have all the information.

"Some people have been lied to. If you read the missionary arguments,
you see they are distorting the Arabic, taking things out of context
and quoting weak sources. It preys on weak Muslims who don’t know
the sources."

Sofyan Abdelaziz, director of the American Muslim Association of
North America (AMANA), says that even if converts are deserving of
punishment, the Islamic regime should not have the authority to mete
out these penalties, as they do not represent Islam.

At the end of the day, the decision to punish someone is in the hands
of an authority much higher than Tehran, he says.

"If somebody wants to convert, it’s between them and God."

detail.asp?NewsID=16721

–Boundary_(ID_YeV6Q5uf5k 6Vo82AMHEh/g)–

DEATH OF PRO-ARMENIAN JOURNALIST IN TURKEY SPURS DEBATE
By John Telfeyan, The Breeze; SOURCE: James Madison University.

The Breeze via U-Wire
University Wire
February 8, 2007 Thursday

HARRISONBURG, Va.

On Jan. 19, Hrant Dink, the editor of the Armenian language newspaper
Agos and a Turkish citizen of Armenian heritage, was fatally shot
outside of his office in Istanbul. The gunman, Ogun Samast, was a
Turkish teenager under orders from a Muslim terrorist organizer. This
event creates a major stumbling block for the secular Turkish
governments bid to join the European Union.

In the following week, more than 1,000 protestors, who considered
Dink and Agos to be the voice of the Armenian community in Istanbul,
marched to the site of his murder to bring attention to and protest
against the restrictions on freedom of speech that Dink had been
fighting against when he was alive.

According to Aricle 301 of the Turkish law code, insulting
"Turkishness" is punishable by a three-year jail sentence. Dink
himself had been prosecuted under this law for — among other things —
mentioning the Armenian genocide of 1915, where more than a million
Armenians in Turkey were massacred. Turkey is one of the only nations
with Western aspirations that does not acknowledge that the genocide
took place, and speaking of the genocide is therefore criminal.

The Turkish government first prosecuted Dink after a speech he made
in 2002 for comments he made about the Turkish national anthem. At
the time he was murdered, Dink was again being threatened with a
three-year jail sentence for other, equally "insulting" comments.

Though the Turkish prime minister has condemned the murders, the
assassination has shed light on the greater issue of freedom of speech
in Turkey. As speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Tigran Torosyan has
stated that Turkey should not"even dream about joining the European
Union" in light of the recent events; other officials who want to
keep Turkey out the European Union have started using this incident
as leverage.

Although Turkey is the most progressive Islamic country in the world,
secular according to its constitution, 99 percent of its population is
Muslim, predominantly Hanafist Sunni. The government is constantly torn
between the secular influence of Europe — and its own constitution
— and its devout people who are being led against their will to
uncomfortable new heights of liberalism against their will in order
for Turkey to join the European Union.

But extremists are still fighting against change, and those extremist
actions have spoken louder than the politician’s words. Even the
judicial system is corrupt, to the point that honest laymen do not
receive fair trials and the majority of judges still carry a belief
that they are elite and should not be touchable by common journalists.

To its credit, the Turkish government — a mere one hundred years old
— has abolished torture, the death penalty and military interference
in politics. It has also increased women’s and minority rights, but
without freedom of speech there will be nothing to keep the government
in check. As long as any criticism of the Turkish government is
punishable under Article 301, no press institution will be able to
act as a watchdog.

Dink fought for freedom of speech for four years, and he died for it.

Other journalists are picking up where he left off; more than 60
journalists have been prosecuted using Article 301, many of them
for recognizing the 1915 genocide. Dink, although adamant about
recognizing the Armenian genocide, was more concerned with freedom of
speech. Before his death changed his plans, he intended to travel to
France, where politicians are debating the prohibition of genocide
denial; Dink planned to deny the Armenian genocide out of principle
in protest of such encroachments on freedom of speech.

The European Union will continue to look disfavorably on Turkey’s
application for entrance while laws like Article 301 are still
on the books. Some people in the European Union are already using
Turkey’s civil liberty problems to try and keep them out. Hopefully
the attention — small though it may have been in the West — paid to
Dink’s untimely death in the last few weeks will bring more awareness
about freedom of speech in Turkey before the European Union lets
them in.

WINDOWS OF THE WORLD: A FORMER FRESNO AD DESIGNER FINDS A NEW CAREER AND A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION IN RELIGIOUS ARTWORK
Ron Orozco

The Fresno Bee – California – KRTBN
Published: Feb 10, 2007

Corky Normart is king of religious art in the central San Joaquin
Valley.

At St. Columba Episcopal Church’s parish hall in northwest Fresno,
his stained-glass window, "Biblical Creation," features a gold cross
glowing with hundreds of red, purple, blue and gold rays.

At the California Armenian Home chapel in east Fresno, Normart’s "Tree
of Life" stained-glass window bears fruit in white, yellow and blue.

At St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in east Fresno, his stained-glass
window "The Annunciation of Mary" depicts the mother of Jesus with
a halo of orange, red and yellow.

Sixteen Valley churches and chapels, including some at hospitals and
retirement homes, display Normart’s religious art, making him a local
artist with a big impact on the faith community.

"He’s everywhere," says the Rev. James Snell, pastor of St. Columba
Church.

"He’s been a local icon for artists, and not just his stained glass,
but for his creativity."

After a long career as an art designer in advertising, Normart, 77,
has developed a second career with his religious art. His first work
was in 1983: a stained-glass window of an angel, "The Third Day,"
for the St. Columba chapel.

Normart is in demand in the Valley, but he also has an international
reputation. More than 10 years ago, he designed and oversaw the
restoration of the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in
Jerusalem, the church traditionally believed to be built on the site
where Jesus was entombed.

In the Valley, Normart’s art is going to be showing up in more places,
including College Community Congregational Church in north Fresno.

In September, Zion Congregational Church in Fresno closed, and the
40 members decided to combine with College Community Congregational
Church. The former Zion members are bringing the stained-glass windows
that Normart made in 1999 with them.

Normart dubbed seven of the windows "The Seven Days," one for each
day in the account in Genesis, in which God creates the world.

These days, Normart is busy installing the windows portraying the
first six days — and creating a new window for the seventh day —
behind the altar at College Community Congregational Church.

At the rear of the sanctuary, Normart is installing the original
seventh-day window in the middle of two other windows he previously
had made for Zion.

"The windows are so special to us," former Zion member Eileen White
says.

Parishioners at St. Mary’s on East Kings Canyon Road also will see
more stained-glass windows by Normart.

In addition to "The Annunciation of Mary," which Normart shows in two
window panels, he also created two more window panels on the other
side of the worship hall, depicting the Annunciation of Joseph.

"They’re especially striking in the morning, when the sun comes
through at the 8 o’clock service," says the Rev. Michael Fry, pastor
of St. Mary’s.

Those four windows no sooner went up than parishioners agreed they
needed more of Normart’s religious art.

Normart is currently planning four more windows to continue the themes
of Mary and Joseph. He is toying with the idea of new windows next
to Mary with roses, the flower traditionally linked to her. Next
to Joseph’s windows, Normart is thinking about new windows with
lilies. ("He often is depicted in art with them," Normart says.)

Normart says he also is planning windows with Canterbury and Celtic
crosses because they symbolize the Anglican heritage of St. Mary’s
and other Episcopal churches.

"He’s done a lot of work with Episcopal churches in the area," Frye
says of Normart. "We’re glad to be associated with him."

Normart also has religious art displayed at Episcopal churches in
Los Banos (St. Alban’s) and Riverbank (Christ The King Parish). The
Episcopal Conference Center of Oakhurst also has Normart’s art.

Regardless of the denomination, Normart says he begins each religious
art project the same way.

He talks with clergy members, administrators and others to determine
what they want and offers his suggestions. Then, after coming to a
preliminary agreement, Normart prays and seeks inspiration by reading
scriptural passages.

"I’ve done more Bible readings since I’ve done the windows,"
Normart says.

Normart says he won’t ever forget his first religious art.

In 1983, a family member had a serious illness, and Normart had a hard
time dealing with it. A friend advised him to go to the St. Columba
chapel, where he would be able to gather his thoughts.

Normart got down on his knees, wept and prayed.

Out of that experience, Normart says he began to feel a sense of
peace and new insight into his feelings.

Maybe it was Normart’s artistic eye, but he also noticed the chapel
had a window that reminded him of a shower door — nothing inspiring.

So Normart got permission to create a stained-glass window in place of
the existing window. Normart had never crafted a stained-glass window,
but he went for it.

He created the angel, trumpeting Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension
to heaven. He dubbed the window "The Third Day," based on the account
in the Gospel of Luke 24:21.

Normart says he just wanted to "give back" to St. Columba for what
its chapel meant to him. He also says he wanted to help others coming
to the chapel in similar desperation.

In 1995, Normart’s abilities became internationally known when he was
commissioned to return a sense of awe to the dome of the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre. The dome had fallen into disrepair from neglect
by its caretakers, representing Greeks, Armenians and Roman Catholic
Christians.

Normart’s idea was 23-carat gold-leafing for the dome’s 12 rays —
one for each of Jesus’ apostles — and the heavenly stars.

For nearly three years, Normart made dozens of trips to the
project. Then, one day, Normart linked his first religious artwork
in Fresno, "The Third Day," to the dome of the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre.

"On the third day, Jesus rose again and ascended into heaven,"
Normart says.

"I realized he rose from this tomb, which is the tomb under the dome
that I designed."

In 2002, Normart was commissioned to return to St. Columba, where
expansion plans were in the works for the parish hall and chapel.

Normart nearly tripled the size of "The Third Day" window and created
another new window for the chapel. He also created a 12-foot by 15-foot
stained-glass window, the "Biblical Creation," for the parish hall.

Normart says he feels satisfaction that his religious art helps people
to feel a sense of pleasure or deeper spiritual understanding.

In 1998, for example, Normart was in a corridor just outside the
California Armenian Home chapel. He was on a ladder, cleaning a
stained-glass window of Mount Ararat, which is dear to many residents
of Armenian descent.

Normart remembers the "click, click, click" sound of a woman resident
using a walker to enter the chapel. She was unaware Normart was nearby.

She looked into the chapel. And, upon seeing Normart’s stained-glass
windows, including "The Tree of Life," she said, "Oh, my."

Normart says the woman continued clicking her way into the chapel —
and she started singing the traditional hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross."

Normart remembers: "She sang the whole thing. I don’t know who she
was. She must have been in her 90s. She knew all of the words. She
just went right through them."

Normart’s friend, the Rev. Donald Mansir, who helped Normart land
the job in Jerusalem, says people appreciate Normart’s art because
it both inspires and educates them. When that happens, people also
experience a sense of closeness with God.

"Corky prays, so he is receiving an inspired instruction because of
the kind of man he is," Mansir, a Franciscan priest and chairman of
the Bishop John S. Cummins Institute for Catholic Thought, Culture
and Action at St. Mary’s College in Moraga.

"Both our intellect and heart have to be involved," Mansir says.

Normart says, "There are 10,000 artists who can do as well, if not
better, artistically, than me. I’ve been given the chance, so I say,
‘Thank you very much.’"

The reporter can be reached at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected] m) or (559) 441-6304