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North Carolina: 16 Judges quit following state’s legalization of gay marriage

North Carolina, November 26, 2014: Sixteen North Carolina judges have either resigned or retired after gay marriage became legal in the state last month when a judge ruled that an amendment to the state’s constitution banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

In October, U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn of Asheville struck down the ban and ruled the amendment unconstitutional in response to a Charlotte-based lawsuit.

Reports from the administrative office of the courts note that “between the ruling on Oct. 10 and the end of the month, 16 magistrates left their jobs, but the state wouldn’t release why they left,” Time Warner Cable News-Charlotte reports.

The cable network added that it’s “been able to determine that at least 10 of the 16 magistrates who left last month, did so because they will not perform same-sex marriages.”

“The number of North Carolina magistrates who have resigned or retired early because of their opposition to performing same-sex marriages is higher than previously reported,” TWC-Charlotte reports, adding that the judges are now required by law to perform same-sex marriages. … “The court system reports there are 672 magistrates across the state, so only about 1.5 percent have left because of the same-sex marriage ruling.”

In May 2012, North Carolina voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative that added an amendment to their state constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.

The New York Times reported in 2012 that the amendment passed by a margin of more than 20 percentage points with 500,000 people voting early, which was a “record for a primary in the state.”

North Carolina’s Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has said his administration is “moving forward with the execution of the court’s ruling [lifting the ban on gay marriage] and will continue to do so unless otherwise notified by the courts,” according to the CharlotteObserver.

Judges quitting over the striking down of the gay marriage ban is not the only example of resistance or stated opposition to the court decision. A few North Carolina counties have passed resolutions in support of the former ban and have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal.

Despite the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear a wave of appeals in October, many believe that with the Sixth Circuit’s recent upholding of multiple state level amendments banning gay marriage, the Court will have to rule on the issue.

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Latest on Hindutva hate agenda

New Delhi, November 26, 2014: ‘Malicious 5’: Marxism, Macaulayism, Missionaries, Materialism and Muslim extremism are five biggest enemies of the Hindu society, claims a pamphlet distributed at the three-day World Hindu Congress 2014 that concluded here on Sunday.

The pamphlet – a single page, two-side printed document titled ‘Thought Paper’ – published purportedly by ‘Progressive Foundation’ is full of oft-repeated rhetoric in most abusive terms to describe the ‘Malicious 5’ or simply ‘M5’ – the “five fingered fist of the demon Mayasur.”

The pamphlet – TwoCircles.net has a copy of it obtained from a media personnel who covered the event – was distributed on Saturday during a session on education at the conference held between November 21-23.

This fist of the demon is introduced as “a combination of five sinister anti-Hindutva forces,” which is “weakening the very source of Dharma” and “continuously weakening Hindu society for centuries now.”

Describing that the M5 disguises themselves in various forms, it says, “Sometimes an evil finger attacks Hindu society with guerrilla warfare in the form of Maoists; at the same time other finger attacks Hindus openly in the form of Jihadists,” and further adds: “With two fingers in action another finger attacks on cultural front in the form of ‘Kiss of Love’.”

The pamphlet – it could not be immediately established whether ‘Progressive Foundation’ is yet another saffron-front organization – then goes on to describe the M5, as the Hindutva organizations perceive it:

Marxism for them thus is “the thumb of the demon’s claw,” that has given birth to “multiple bastard offspring like Communists, Socialists, Liberals, Maoists, Anarchists and all other forms Leftists.” Hindutva forces’ main grudge against Leftists is that they have “infiltrated and have taken over major Indian systems like Education, Journalism, and Environment, etc.” and that they have “ridiculed every hero, every period, every episode and every precedent in which Hindus can take pride.”

The pamphlet also holds Marxists guilty of always aligning with Muslims and supporting their cause. “The same Leftists whitewashes blood thirsty Islamic History, its despicable despots and condones their crimes,” it writes, adding, “Leftists have created heinous perception in which Muslim is always secular and Hindu is always communal.”

According to the same pamphlet, the last M of the “malicious 5” is the “poisonous fruit of Islam”. “Islam aims for Muslims to be brainwashed, blackmailed, frightened and forced into the fold of Jihadism,” it says, adding, “On the other hand it toils hard to neutralise, paralyse and blacken Hindu society so that the road for forward march of Islam is clear.”

It goes on to argue that all available platforms are being used to “defeat the emergence of Hindu nationalism … by harping on India’s multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-language, multi-national and multi-cultural character.” The pamphlet then declares that the fight with Islam will be “one of the longest in the history,” and that “Crazy ideas like Islam can be reformed are a fallacy”.

Similar words have been used in the pamphlet to describe missionaries who are making “bold bid” to make a “safer haven” for Christians in the East; Westernised Indians derided as Macaulayists, after Lord Macaulay, who introduced the Western education system in India, and Materialists, who “wickedly pit individual against its own society’s value system.”

The three days long first World Hindu Congress 2014 was organised by the World Hindu Foundation, in which over 1,500 delegates from 40 countries participated. The convention was sponsored by several leading companies.

Besides, several RSS, VHP and leaders of other Sangh organisations, many BJP leaders and ministers also spoke on the occasion. Several educationists, scientists and experts from different fields were also invited to speak during the over 45 sessions. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal spoke on the inaugural day expressing pride over a ‘swabhimani’ (proud) Hindu coming back to the reins of power in Delhi after 800 years after Prithviraj Chauhan.

- tcn

Delhi: Summit on economic opportunities for minorities in new business environment

New Delhi, November 26, 2014: In a step forward from the regular discussions on political and social empowerment of Muslim community, a need for focusing on economic opportunities for the community, especially in the light of new business environment was the main theme of a seminar held here.

The theme was ‘Minorities under New Business Environment: Developing Skills and Entrepreneurship’ and the occasion was the 6th All India Minorities Business Summit & Awards held at the India Islamic Culture Centre (IICC) on Friday, November 21, under the aegis of multilingual Maeeshat Magazine.

“What are the opportunities for minorities in the new environment? What kind of involvement of the minorities should be there in these new circumstances? How minority businessmen can benefit from different government schemes? How and what should be the participation of minority businessmen? This business summit is an attempt to find out such answers,” said Danish Riyaz, editor of the Maeeshat, which calls itself the first magazine of minorities’ business and economy.

“And, we want to play a bridge between the government and the public.”

The event did not see expected turnout but the organizers were not disheartened. “If we had wanted to bring crowd, we could have easily done so, but we invited only those people, who would be interested in entrepreneurship. This event is aimed at giving a platform for engagements with such industry leaders.”

The programme had generated some controversy earlier as many saw it as being ‘sponsored’ by the ruling BJP. According to the organizers, Zafar Sareshwala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close aide and CMD of Parsoli Corporation, Ahmedabad was “specially invited” while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari too was likely to attend the event.

Riyaz, however, shirked such criticisms, “Our only aim is to provide a platform to let the community youth avail opportunities from different schemes and available resources.”

He further told TwoCircles.net, “This is the sixth summit that we organized and in the last five programmes, UPA government was in power and we had engaged with that government as well. Irrespective of which party is in power, the community cannot sit back, but is required to engage with the government.”

As the programme began, Riyaz announced that Sareshwala, Mufti Barkatullah, Shariah adviser, Islamic Bank of Britain, UK, and Irfan Alam, founder SAMMAAN Foundation and former Fellow Harvard University (USA), were absent for “personal and logistical reasons.”

Suhail Lokhandwala, a social and political figure from Mumbai, himself a Memon, who are involved largely in trade, drew attention to the plight of the community in his inaugural speech. Citing references and anecdotes of conservation of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he said, the benefactor is always better than the beneficiary.

Sirajuddin Quraishi, IICC president shared his experience in the meat industry and challenges he faced. He encouraged the youngsters to try hands at entrepreneurship.

Tanveer Ahmad, former president of BJP’s Minorities Cell and Haj Committee focused on the importance of being involved in the task of governance and insisted that Muslims be part of the system. “There are so many sectors where Muslims practically have no presence, he reminded.

The aims and objectives of the Imamiah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) that represents Muslims in the co-operative sector were introduced by its MD Syed M Quaim. “We want to utilize the positive energy of Muslim community and we have gained a lot in short span of six months since our inception.”

Khalid Ali, MD of Multigain Company, spoke about the opportunities for investment in compliance with the Shariah and gave details of how his group of companies works in India according to “Islam’s Dos and Don’ts”.

Later, a panel discussion on the main theme of the programme saw participation from esteemed experts. Dr Javed Jameel, a columnist and scholar, Ishtyaque Ali, an expert with Orbit law firm, Aun Safvi of Imamiah Chamber, Waqar Anwar of Jamat-e-Islami, Mustaqeem Ahmad and Khursheed Alam comprised the distinguished panelists.

Shariqe Nisar, founder of TASIS and former fellow of Harvard University moderated the discussion. Mahbubul Haque, an eminent educationalist and founder Chancellor of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, chaired the session. Giving his own example, he said, “Besides educating our children we should also invest in the education industry.”

The evening also saw presentation of awards, including for ‘Best Entrepreneur’, ‘Excellence in Investment’ and‘Best Woman Entrepreneur’.

Woman Entrepreneur Award 2014: Shahina Khan, CMD, Espire Education; Entrepreneur Excellence Award 2014: Mohd. Mustaqeem Qureshi, Chairman, The Al- Nafees Group; Edupreneur Award 2014: Mr Mahbubul Hoque, Chairman, ERD Foundation and Chancellor, University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya; Best Entrepreneurs Award 2014: Dr J K Jain, chairman, Jain TV Group; Social Responsibilities Award 2014: Al Khair Co-Operative Credit Societies Ltd.; Outstanding Innovation Award 2014: Irfan Alam, Sammaan Foundation, Patna.

- tcn