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“Codex Gigas” – is the book weighing 75 kilograms devilish?

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Newsdesk
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The Codex Gigas is the largest illuminated manuscript of the Middle Ages. In addition to religious texts, encyclopedic, medical knowledge, and color illustrations, this book contains an image of the devil on a full page, hence the second name of the manuscript. The Codex Gigas is also known as the Devil’s Bible because of its legend. The codex was written between 1204 and 1230 in Latin in a Carolingian minischool, a type of writing popular in the Middle Ages. Scholars believe that the manuscript was created by a representative of the Benedictine Order. The book is 92 cm high, 50 cm wide, 22 cm thick and weighs 74.8 kg. It was originally written on 320 sheets of parchment, believed to have been made from the skins of 160 donkeys. Over time, 10 pages of the Code have disappeared.

In a 2008 National Geographic documentary on Codex Gigas, experts suggested that the book was written by one man. It took about 5 years to write the pages alone, and another 20 years to decorate the pages with silver, gold ornaments and bright miniatures.

“First, the author had to arrange each page and only then start writing the letters,” say the experts in the film. “He probably wrote about 100 lines of text in one day.”

The content

Most of the pages of the code are devoted to religious texts, historical treatises, medical and encyclopedic knowledge. For example, there are the Old and New Testaments, the books of the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus Flavius ​​”Jewish Antiquities” and “Jewish War”, the encyclopedia of the scholar Isidore of Seville “Etymology”, widespread in the Middle Ages, medical treatises of Hippocrates, there are even descriptions of the ritual exorcism and astronomical calendar.

 Historians point out that the Code probably reflected all the knowledge of the world and nature that the Benedictine Order had at the time the book was written. Particular attention is drawn to the location on one side of the Kingdom of Heaven, and on the other – Satan. Apparently in this way the author wanted to show the contrast between the images of Good and Evil. The legend

Legend has it that at the beginning of the 13th century in one of the monasteries on the territory of modern Bohemia lived a monk-scribe who once broke his monastic vows. As a result, the brothers decided to punish him for this act by building it in the walls of the monastery. The monk did not want to die and to avoid punishment, he promised to create a book for one night, which would include all the knowledge gained by mankind and glorify the monastery. While working on the book, the monk realized that he could not do it alone and needed help. He prayed fervently, but not to God, but to the fallen angel Lucifer, asking him to help him write the Code in exchange for his soul. The devil finished the manuscript and as a token of gratitude for the help the monk drew it on one of the pages of the book. Although the devil kept his promise, the author portrayed him in a divided language – this image is used in religious texts to denote a dishonest, deceitful person.

Painted with red horns and two tongues, with an ermine cloak, this creature stares blankly. He is depicted between two towers. It is worth noting that only members of the royal family wore ermine, so this detail defines the devil as the “prince of darkness”. Right next to the illustration of the devil there is an image of paradise, represented by many rows of buildings, which are also located between two towers. What makes the kingdom of heaven alarming is the fact that there are no signs of life there. Without explanation, the author painted a paradise completely devoid of life. These two pages ominously portrayed good and evil side by side. These illustrations are also the only full-page drawings in Codex Gigas.

Another legend haunts the Codex Gigas – it is known as the “Curse of the Devil’s Bible”. In 1477, the Benedictine monastery in Bohemia, known as the source of the medieval manuscript, experienced financial difficulties. Therefore, the monks had no choice but to sell their most valuable property – Codex Gigas. At that time the manuscript belonged to the Benedictine monastery in Brzhevnov. Shortly afterwards, the monastery in Bohemia fell under the devastation of the Hussite revolution.

A brief history of the Code

Scholars studying the Codex and other historical documents have been able to trace the “life path” of the manuscript.

Brief history:

From 1204 to 1230 – during this period the Code was created, the hermit monk Herman worked on it in the Benedictine monastery, which was located in the Czech town of Podlazice.

1295 – The Benedictine monastery in Podlazice pledges the code of the neighboring monastery in Siedlec, which later sells the book to the Brzevnov monastery in Prague.

1594 – The codex falls into the hands of German King Rudolf II, who places the book in his castle in Prague.

1648 – The Swedes plunder Prague. The manuscript ends with Queen Christina of Sweden, who keeps the manuscript in her library at the Three Crowns wooden castle.

1697 – Fire in the castle “Three Crowns”. Nearly 18,000 books and 5,700 manuscripts were burned in the fire. The code survives because the servants manage to throw it out the window. The cover of the book was seriously damaged when it fell.

1768 – The codex is deposited in the new residence of the Swedish monarchs – the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

1819 – The codex is restored: the binding is replaced.

1878 – The codex is moved to a new library building in Humlegarden Park.

2007 – The manuscript was sent to Prague and temporarily exhibited at the National Library.

2018 – The Codex becomes a permanent exhibition at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm, where it is available to the general public.

If you want to get acquainted with Codex Gigas, you can view the book on the official website of the library. The manuscript is fully digitized.

Isidore, O. S. & Josephus, F. (1200) Devil’s Bible. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1230] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667604/.

Photo: Michal Maňas / CC BY 2.5

On the popular beaches of Spain, tourists were imposed with gigantic fines of up to 3 thousand

By
Gaston de Persigny
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people on beach during daytime

Spain has reopened to tourists – its beaches are already receiving the first wave of Europeans and Britons who have “seized” their favorite resorts. For the Russians, we recall, getting to the Iberian Peninsula is problematic – only with the help of connecting flights and transfers. At the same time, the joy of tourists vacationing in Spain is overshadowed by gigantic fines that can follow not only the “balconing” once invented by British vacationers, but also more innocent entertainment. In general, for almost everything. And the fines are serious – they reach up to 3 thousand euros.

Here are some examples of the most severe penalties:

• The aforementioned 3,000 euros are at risk for tourists to pay for a relatively innocent activity – namely, barbecuing on the beach without permission. In some places, for example, in Grenada, for frying sausages, you can “fly in” for a huge fine. In any case, tourists are advised to ask if it is possible to have a barbecue here.

• A little cheaper – but also sensitive to the wallet – a night’s sleep on the beach can cost, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s “wild” camping with tents, or, as the publication puts it, rest “after a long drunken night.” Sleeping on the beach in Valencia can cost you a fine of 1,500 euros.

• Blows on the wallets of tourists also agitate to observe public decency. Tourists are warned that there is an opportunity to sunbathe in what the mother gave birth in Spain – but only on special beaches, including Playa la Tejita and Playa de la Pelada in Tenerife. But those who decide to undress on a non-nudist beach will most likely deserve a fine of up to 750 euros.

• By the way, walking the streets in a “beach” form is also not recommended – tourists face a fine of 300 euros for walking through the streets of the city in swimming trunks or a bikini.

• And, finally, ecology. Tourists are strongly discouraged from washing with soap and shampoo in beach showers. This harms marine life and could lighten the wallet by as much as 750 euros. Smoking on some beaches, by the way, is also prohibited – this applies to beaches in almost all popular resorts – in Galicia, Murcia, Catalonia, Andalusia, Asturias, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands. True, the fine is relatively moderate – only 30 euros.

Restrictions for Russian tourists lifted on entry to a popular European country

By
Gaston de Persigny
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Despite problems with access to Europe, more than a dozen European countries have canceled testing rules and vaccination status requirements for Russian tourists. On May 2, Switzerland joined them. The country has lifted all coronavirus restrictions. This means that travelers can visit the popular country without vaccinations and medical certificates. The corresponding decree was issued by the Swiss government.

Back in April, the Swiss Secretariat of State announced the authorities’ decision to lift entry rules for all travelers. And starting May 2, tourists will only have to comply with basic border measures. “The current entry restrictions will be lifted from May 2. From that date, the normal rules for entering Switzerland will apply,” the agency said earlier in April. This means that absolutely all travelers, including Russians, whether arriving in Switzerland from an EU or non-EU country, can now enter the country without the need to present a valid certificate of vaccination, recovery or tests.

Tourists arriving in Switzerland now are required to follow other entry requirements, such as holding a valid passport or visa, if such a requirement is applicable. It is believed that the Swiss authorities have decided to lift entry rules to make it easier for tourists to visit the country during the peak summer season. In addition, the decision also followed the improvement of the covid situation.

According to WHO data, only 1,747 new cases of coronavirus infection have been registered in Switzerland over the past seven days. In addition, the vaccination rate in the country remains high. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health revealed that as of April 19, a total of more than 15.6 million doses of the anti-COVID vaccine had been administered in the country. Of the total number of vaccinated individuals, 69.1% underwent primary vaccination, and another 42.8% received revaccination.

In addition to lifting entry rules, Switzerland has also already lifted all remaining restrictions from 1 April. Since last month, travelers and Swiss people have been able to visit various public places and events without the need to wear a face mask and observe social distancing measures.

Note that Greece also canceled all its entry rules. Greek authorities have said that as of May 1, all travelers, regardless of their country of origin, are allowed entry without restrictions. This means that Greece no longer requires travelers to present a valid certificate of vaccination, recovery or tests upon arrival.

With the exception of Switzerland and Greece, 11 other countries have also already lifted their restrictions and allowed entry without restrictions to all incoming travelers. These are the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.

Patriarch Kirill of Russia to be sanctioned by the European Union

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Newsdesk
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Putin with Patriarch Kirill siting together
premier.gov.ru, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

According to an “in progress” article published by DW, the AFP Agency has had access to a document in which can be read that “the sanctions also reportedly target the head of the Russian Orthodox Church”.

Sanctioning head of Russian Orthodox Church for the “metaphysical” meaning of the war

The European Commission, DW reports, has recommended sanctioning the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, according to a document seen by news agency AFP.

The European Times has published a series of documented articles on how the Patriarch ( accused of being a KGB/FSP agent ) has been justifying the war in one way or another. There seems to be a link also on how some of the closest followers of Kiril have been interacting for years with France financed anti-cult organization FECRIS spreading radicalized messages that would “justify” the views on the Ukrainians, but also “against the west”. Now, how come France has been and is financing such an organization, with such strong links to the Patriarch and his anti “west” agenda is another story that the French government should look into as willingly or not, it could be that they have been feeding and institutionally supporting the propaganda machine that now showed to be a danger not only for the Ukrainians but the fundamental rights in Europe.

Back to the sanctions, the measures are part of a new blow of economic measures against Russian government, that were announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The details of the sanctions package are set to be published later in the day.

AFP has reported that the new sanctions list from the EU’s executive branch includes 58 individuals, including Russian military personnel. The proposal also includes the wife, daughter and son of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

New plan to accelerate clean energy access for millions globally

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United Nations News
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New plan to accelerate clean energy access for millions globally
Amid the global energy crisis and worsening climate emergency, the United Nations and partners on Wednesday launched two new initiatives to accelerate action towards achieving clean, affordable energy for all, and the ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions.
The UN-Energy Plan of Action Towards 2025 delivers on commitments made at a high-level meeting in September that laid out a global roadmap for energy access and transition by the end of the decade, while also contributing to net zero emissions by 2050.   

The UN-Energy partnership brings together some 30 organizations working on all aspects of energy and sustainable development. 

An Energy Compact Action Network was also launched to match governments seeking support for their clean energy goals with governments and businesses that have already pledged over $600 billion in assistance.  

Coalitions to support energy access and transition in Nigeria and in Santiago, Chile, were also announced, thus showcasing the Network’s potential. 

Sustaining the momentum 

The commitments will drive forward achievement of a just, inclusive energy transition, aimed at ensuring all people have access to clean and affordable energy, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Their announcement comes as the world faces what the UN has described as the interlinked triple crises of energy, food and finance arising from the war in Ukraine.  

Liu Zhenmin, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and Secretary-General of the 2021 High-level Dialogue on Energy, has welcomed the launch.  

“This will help us sustain the momentum by generating concrete action towards clean and affordable energy and net-zero emissions,” he said. 

Scaling up action 

The UN-Energy Plan of Action sets out a framework for collective action that includes doubling annual clean energy investment globally, and facilitating electricity access for 500 million people, as well as clean cooking solutions for one billion. 

It identifies seven areas for work, ranging from scaling up efforts to close the energy access gap, to leveraging the power of data, digitalisation and visualisation for strengthening monitoring, tracking, accountability and communication of results. 

The plan could not have come at a more critical time, according to Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN-Energy co-chair. 

“The current context has led to a wider understanding of how energy underpins the entire 2030 Agenda. It is paramount that the commitments taken at the 2021 High-Level Dialogue on Energy and COP26 are translated into actions on the ground – especially in support of the most vulnerable,” he said.  

IOM/Jorge Galindo

Hauwa’s solar lamp helps her cook and carry out other chores around her home in Nigeria, and it helps her children study.

Collaborating for transformation 

UN-Energy will support the Energy Compact Action Network, which brings together nearly 200 governments, businesses, and other civil society partners, to mobilize voluntary commitments made at the high-level dialogue. 

Damilola Ogunbiyi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and UN-Energy co-chair, highlighted the platform’s important role. 

“By creating opportunities for collaboration, the Network will transform the billions of dollars in finance and investment committed in the Energy Compacts into on-the-ground action towards the sustainable energy future that we urgently need,” she said. 

Powering the future 

The launch also featured announcements by several new or expanded coalitions, demonstrating how countries, cities, businesses, foundations, and other partners, can join forces through the Network. 

For example, SEforALL, UNDP and Husk Power Systems, are among partners that will support Nigeria’s commitment to provide electricity to 25 million people by 2023, through using solar home systems and mini-grids to power five million homes, schools, hospitals and other public utilities.  The move will also generate some 250,000 new jobs. 

In Chile, the government of the Santiago Metropolitan Region will work with the multinational energy company Enel, and the Universidad de Desarollo, to increase the end-use of electricity for transport and heating, including to raise the share of the city’s electric buses to 100 per cent by 2030. 

The Network will also advance or expand coalitions supporting green hydrogen and a stronger role for women in leading and benefiting from the energy transition. 

In this regard, a work plan to strengthen the role of women in the energy transition was launched by partners who include the Governments of Canada and Kenya, as well as the global youth-led organization Student Energy, coordinated by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Common charger: Parliament commits to reducing electronic waste

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European Parliament
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Common charger: Parliament commits to reducing electronic waste | News | European Parliament

Parliament is ready to start negotiations on a common charger to reduce e-waste and make the use of different mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras more convenient.

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee adopted its position on the amended Radio Equipment Directive on 20 April and a plenary announcement confirmed Parliament’s negotiating position on Wednesday morning. Parliament is now ready to start talks with EU governments on the final shape of the legislation.

The new rules would mean consumers no longer need a new charger and cable every time they purchase a new device, and can use one charger for all of their small and medium-sized portable electronic devices. Mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers that are rechargeable via a wired cable would have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the manufacturer. Exemptions would apply only for devices that are too small to have a USB-C port, such as smart watches, health trackers, and some sports equipment.

This revision is part of a broader EU effort to make products more sustainable, in particular electronics on the EU market, and to reduce electronic waste.

Clear information on charging

MEPs also want to see clear information and labelling on new devices about charging options, as well as whether a product includes a charger. This would help to avoid confusion and make purchasing decisions easier for consumers, who often own several different devices and do not always need additional chargers.

As wireless charging is used more and more, MEPs want the European Commission to present a strategy by the end of 2026 that allows for any new charging solutions to work in conjunction with each other. The goal is to avoid a new fragmentation in the market, to continue to reduce environmental waste, ensure charging solutions are convenient for consumer and avoid so-called “lock-in” effects created by a consumer being dependent on a single manufacturer.

Quote

Rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, MT) said: “With half a billion chargers for portable devices shipped into Europe each year, generating 11 000 to 13 000 tonnes of e-waste, a single charger for mobile phones and other small and medium electronic devices would benefit everyone. This truly comprehensive policy change builds on the Commission’s proposal by calling for the interoperability of wireless charging technologies by 2026 and improving information given to consumers with clear labels. We are also expanding the proposal’s scope by adding more products, such as laptops, that will need to comply with the new rules.”

Background

Parliament and its Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee have been asking for a common charger solution over the last decade, continuously calling on the Commission to act. The legislative proposal was tabled on 23 September 2021.

Ukraine war: UN signs framework to assist survivors of sexual violence

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Newsroom
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Ukraine war: UN signs framework to assist survivors of sexual violence

Pramila Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative working to end rape in war, was speaking at a press conference in the capital, Kyiv. 

Standing alongside Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, she expressed solidarity with survivors, saying they are not alone. 

“My promise to you is that international law will not be an empty promise. Today’s documentation will be tomorrow’s prosecution. And I want you to know that your rights don’t end when wars begin,” she said.  

“Women’s rights don’t end when wars begin. Your bodies are not (a) battlefield and must never be treated as part of the battlefield.” 

Interventions and assistance 

Ms. Patten and Ms. Stefanishyna on Tuesday signed a framework for cooperation that supports the design and delivery of priority interventions in the areas of justice and accountability as a central pillar of deterrence and prevention. 

The agreement also addresses comprehensive service provision for survivors, including sexual and reproductive health services, medical and specialized mental health services, legal assistance, and livelihood support. 

Responding to a reporter’s question, Ms. Stefanishyna described sexual violence committed in war as “one of the most silent types of crime”, underlining the difficulty of gathering information on exact numbers. 

“Today we have started working to gather this information using volunteers, working with medical facilities, and documenting these cases outside the criminal proceedings,” she said, speaking through an interpreter. 

Ms. Patten added that “we cannot expect to have accurate bookkeeping on an active battlefield,” stressing she does not wait for hard data and statistics to act. 

Services for men and boys 

Although sexual violence is mostly perpetrated against women and girls, Ms. Patten has also received reports of cases involving men and boys in Ukraine, which the UN has not yet verified.

“I am working with the different UN agencies to ensure that there are services adapted to the needs of men and boys, because everywhere in many conflict situations, I have observed that there is a lack of services adapted to the needs of men and boys,” she said. 

Preventing human trafficking 

The framework with the Ukrainian authorities also covers gender-responsive security sector reform, as well as prevention of conflict-related trafficking, amid rising displacement. 

More than five million people have fled Ukraine since the war began just over two months ago, generating the fastest-growing refugee crisis since the Second World War, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. 

“It is a fact that conflict does exacerbate vulnerability to trafficking, and human trafficking of Ukrainian women can be a dangerous by-product of this conflict-fuelled refugee crisis,” said Ms. Patten, emphasizing the critical need for mitigation measures. 

UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, briefs UN Security Council meeting on women and peace and security (file photo).

Sparing no effort 

The UN official also responded to questions about “extremely disturbing” reports of Ukrainian women who were raped before being killed.  She has met with the country’s Prosecutor General and said there is “solid” forensic evidence of such incidents. 

“This is very serious, and the United Nations, through this framework of cooperation that we have signed, will not spare any effort to bring perpetrators to justice,” she said. 

Ms. Patten acknowledged that prosecution for cases of sexual violence committed in war comes with challenges, stating it is “never easy”.  

She reported on her meeting with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ukraine who have shared anecdotal reports. 

“One NGO representative was referring to cases where the perpetrator wore a mask, so identification becomes extremely difficult,” she said. 

Ms. Patten stated that “whatever reports are surfacing, they can only represent the tip of the iceberg,” highlighting the need to focus on reporting.  

‘Never again’ 

In this regard, she has also held discussions with the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights, which could establish “hubs” across Ukraine where people can report cases of sexual violence and also receive medical, psychological and other support. 

Having these safe spaces available would also avert the people, who don’t possess the adequate skillset required, interviewing victims, which carries the huge risk of re-traumatization and re-victimizing. 

“We have to learn lessons from the other conflicts where this has been the case, with victims interviewed over 10 times, 15 times, with all the inconsistencies in the reports which make their case not tenable in a court of law,” she said. 

“Every war, we say ‘never again’. I think this time we have to say, ‘never again” and mean it, and take the necessary action to give justice to these victims of sexual violence.”  

The world is watching 

The mandate of the UN Special Representative was established by the Security Council more than a decade ago, to tackle conflict-related sexual violence as a peace and security issue. 

International human law makes it clear that even wars have limits, said Ms. Patten, and sexual violence is beyond the scope of acceptable conduct even in the midst of combat. 

“Wartime rape can no longer be dismissed as an inevitable by-product of war. It must be recognized by all parties as a crime that can be prevented and punished,” she said. 

Although deeply concerned about what she called “the emboldening effects of impunity”, Ms. Patten said it was “critical that all actors and parties know that the world is watching.” 

Two protests in favor of the European Parliament less than a year after the EP-resolution to suspend GSP+ for Pakistan

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Newsdesk
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Two protests in favor of the European Parliament less than a year after the EP-resolution to suspend GSP+ for Pakistan

1 year after the European Parliament passed a motion to review trade relations with Pakistan, there were 2 demonstrations in Brussels supporting this proposition. The demonstrators are asking the European commission to have more respect for the European parliament.

There were two protests in favor of the European Parliament less than a year after the European Parliament’s decision to suspend GSP+ for Pakistan.

Gary Cartwright is a journalist and colleague of mine. He has been investigating the atrocities people face in Pakistan for years. I have learned a great deal about human rights in Pakistan from him.”
— Andy Vermaut

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, May 2, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — On Thursday, April 28, Brussels was in chaos. No fewer than two demonstrations were planned for the morning regarding the European Union’s trade relations with Pakistan. The activists believe that the European Commission is being too lenient in granting Pakistan preferential trade status, despite the fact that Pakistan is not a model of a nation that respects its citizens’ human rights. The activists were successful in delivering their memorandum to Ursula von der Leyen and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis at the conclusion of the demonstration. Following an initial refusal by the European Commission’s services, the memorandum was received by an employee of the European Commission’s press service following telephone consultation.

Andy Vermaut, co-founder on behalf of the fundamental rights movement Postversa and the International Alliance for the Defense of Rights and Liberties (AIDL) on Schuman explains:”Indeed. On Thursday, April 28, 2022, there was not only an important manifestation at the European Parliament in Brussels in Place Luxembourg organized by the European Association for the Defense of Minorities under the leadership of Director Manel Msalmi. This was just prior to an important conference in the European Parliament by Willy Fautré of Human Rights without Frontiers on the GSP+ Status of Pakistan and this in co-organization with investigative journalist Gary Cartwright of EUtoday.net Parallel to this conference there was a second authorized manifestation on the Schuman Square in Brussels in front of the European Commission and the External Action Service where we, together with several activists including Meena Qasimi, Jamil Maqsood, Sajid Hussain and Malik Bazi demanded more respect for the efforts of the European Parliament. For us, April 28, 2022 was important in this, as it was precisely one year since the European Parliament made a resolution on Pakistan’s preferential trade status with the European union.”

Mutual cross-polination
Andy Vermaut:”When the European Parliament was established, it was intended to send a statement to the whole globe. Democracy, which is not just a Western term, is a concept that we can polish, enhance, and expand collectively by collaborating with people of other views, perspectives, and ideologies to achieve unity in diversity. A model that Europe propagates around the globe, where nations that strive to live by and uphold the same standards and values may profit from our unique model and from the moral leadership that it provides.Europe may sound fantastic on paper, but when it comes to respect amongst the institutions of the same European Union, we see that the European Commission ignores the European Parliament’s large majority.Not only do we have the world’s biggest parliament in Europe, we also have a jumble of centuries-old ideas and customs that we know originated in other civilizations; we refer to this as mutual cross-pollination. While democracy has been molded by Western thinking and practice in recent history, it has many essential qualities with the village assemblies that controlled the planet thousands of years ago.”

Courage and heroism
Andy Vermaut:”Additionally, all persons have some characteristics. Every single one of us is born into a family and a community. Each of us has an inherent sense of good and evil, a natural moral sensibility, and a conscience. We all appreciate and respect courage and heroism. The kid has an innate desire to satisfy his parents, and the parent has an innate desire to protect his child. This, without a doubt, is what we refer to as human nature. What makes man human is universal and serves as a link between them. Together, we work to guarantee that basic rights – freedom of speech, religion, movement, association, and respect of the law – are not the exclusive property of a set of nations or the distinguishing feature of one culture over another. They are widely applicable. They are at the core of democracy, as they are in Europe, when combined with representative governance.”

Overwhelming majority
Andy Vermaut:“Thursday 28 April 2022, we have organized a requested demonstration on the Schuman Square in Brussels, alongside the International Alliance for the Defense of Rights and Liberties (AIDL), Postversa asbl, the European Association for the Defence of Minorities, and UKPNP, in which we call on the European Commission to also respect the resolutions adopted by an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament and to refrain from ignoring the European Parliament. Today, when I talk about Pakistan, my heart aches profusely. I observe a deterioration of basic rights and liberties, as well as a populace oppressed by a feudal society. A year ago, the European Parliament voted an overwhelming majority motion calling for a review of Pakistan’s GSP status, citing a “alarming” rise in the use of blasphemy accusations and an increase in online and offline assaults on journalists and civil society groups. Our European Parliament (EP) now has 705 members and represents over 450 million Europeans (including President). The European Parliament is expected to represent the peoples of the Union’s 27 member states and, above all, to look out for the Union’s overall interests. Our European Commission might be thought of as the EU’s ‘everyday administration.’ The European Commission’s members are referred to as ‘Eurocommissioners’. Each Eurocommissioner is in charge of a single or more policy areas. Eurocommissioners are now 27 in number, one for each member state. They compose the College of European Commissioners collectively. Eurocommissioners are responsible for the European Union as a whole, not only for their home nation.”

Sinister powers?
Andy Vermaut:”Despite the vast majority, both the External Action Service (our European Minister of Foreign Affairs) and the European Commission ignored the European Parliament’s decision, thereby discrediting the European Parliament. Why is the European Commission disregarding a piece of work that was unanimously approved by the European Parliament? What sinister powers are at work here? That is why we were demonstrating outside Schuman’s office, inquiring as to why the European Parliament is being neglected. We want adherence to the European Parliament’s decision and wish to place the review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status on the European Commission’s agenda.With a rise in the number of blasphemy claims and assaults on journalists and civil society groups, the European Parliament has voted a resolution asking for a review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status. Is the European Union a contributor to the continued poverty of developing economies? Could it be that low-income nations in a specific area are conducting a price war because they would lose all incentives if Pakistan is awarded GSP+ status despite its human rights violations? Is GSP+ only a negotiating instrument for the EU to get greater economic advantages at the price of workers’ rights in countries such as Pakistan, where feudal institutions persist and favour landlords and owners? Since 1947, Pakistan’s minority population has plummeted from 20% to fewer than 5% due to governmental coercion. How justified is the EU in retaining Pakistan’s GSP+ status? Please, Ursula von der Leyen, promote democracy and fight for human rights; respect the European Parliament and refrain from abusing your authority; take a position for human rights and oppose GSP+ for Pakistan, says Andy Vermaut.”

Resolution
Andy Vermaut explains a bit more about the conference in the European Parliament that was organized at exactly the same time as his support manifestation at the Schuman square in front of the European Commission:”Yes. As a result of Pakistan’s human rights violations, the European Parliament (EP) held an informal hearing on April 28th to inquire about what the European Commission has done in response to the 28 April 2021 EP Resolution asking for Pakistan’s GSP+ preferential trade status to be suspended. Only three MEPs had objected to the adoption of the resolution, which had been supported by 681 MEPs. “To immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal” and “to report on this matter to the European Parliament as soon as possible,” it was requesting the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS). Fulvio Martusciello, MEP, presided over the session (EPP group). Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, Willy Fautre was a fantastic moderator of this event. I also want to thank Manel Msalmi for all her efforts to make this possible and Gary Cartwright who was our motivator for this conference and our manifestations in Brussels. Gary Cartwright is an investigative journalist and colleague of mine. He has been investigating the atrocities people face in Pakistan for years. I have learned a great deal about human rights in Pakistan from him. Willy Fautre is also a man after my own heart. For years, he has been standing on the barricades for religious freedom in Pakistan and fighting against the oppression that Christians and moderate Ahmadi Muslims have to endure there. The European Parliament should therefore be proud to have such people on their side, fighting for justice for the people of Pakistan. They are the real friends of Pakistan, because they dare to confront them with the truth. Manel Msalmi on the other hand has been fighting for years for the recognition of minorities in Pakistan. I think that the European Commission should also learn to really listen to these people. They have the best interests of the people of Pakistan and the European Union at heart. We want everyone there to fully enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms. That is our ultimate dream, because we all love Pakistan,” concludes Andy Vermaut.

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Andy Vermaut, in front of the European Commission:”We indirectly subsidize regimes that export terror over the globe from Europe.”

article Two protests in favor of the European Parliament less than a year after the EP-resolution to suspend GSP+ for Pakistan

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EVENT: Abusive Taxation and Denial of Justice in Taiwan: The Case of Tai Ji Men

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TaiJiMen
TaiJiMen

Conference at the Press Club in Brussels on 4 May, 3pm – 5pm

Tai Ji Men is a menpai (similar to school) of qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation, and its shifu (master) and dizi (disciple) have long been committed to international cultural exchanges, spreading the concepts of love, peace, and conscience, purifying people’s hearts, and practicing world peace. It has been highly praised by Taiwanese presidents, vice presidents, and foreign ministers.

Since its inception in 1966, Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy has never had any tax problem; however, in 1996, it was persecuted during a political purge in the name of a religious crackdown. Prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen fabricated witnesses and evidence to falsely accuse Tai Ji Men of fraud and tax evasion. Shih Yueh-sheng, the witness who cooperated with the prosecution and committed perjury, revealed before his death that the case was led by Hou Kuan-jen and that he was asked to testify at the time only for formality. This proves that the Tai Ji Men case was fabricated and framed from the very beginning, and the subsequent criminal prosecution, heavy taxes and penalties, as well as compulsory enforcement were all serious violations of Taiwan’s constitution, human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR, and the ICESCR, causing serious harm to Taiwan and its people.

In 2002, the Control Yuan investigated prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen’s handling of the Tai Ji Men case and listed eight major violations of the law by the prosecutor and referred the case to the Ministry of Justice for taking disciplinary action against him.

The Control Yuan, which is the supervisory and auditory branch of the Taiwanese government, stated that the indictment contradicted the evidentiary information and that the prosecution on such a basis was not in accordance with the law of evidence. The prosecutor admitted during the Control Yuan’s investigation that he failed to investigate the matter in accordance with his authority. This proves that the indictment was unlawful in the first place.

The second investigation by the Control Yuan in 2009 also concluded that the National Tax Bureau (NTB) had committed seven major violations of the law in its handling of the Tai Ji Men case, and the NTB admitted during the investigation that it had made mistakes! Once again, it was confirmed that Tai Ji Men should not have been prosecuted and taxed in the first place.

In 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that Tai Ji Men was innocent of all charges and did not owe any taxes, that the hong-bao (red envelopes) given by the dizi to the shifu were gifts and tax-free, and that the collective procurement of their uniforms and other items was not for profit. Afterwards, the defendants that were detained received compensation for unlawful imprisonment by the state. This again demonstrates that there are no tax liabilities, and the National Taxation Bureau should have revoked all the illegal tax bills in accordance with the law.

Additionally, the Ministry of Finance and the National Taxation Bureau publicly promised to withdraw the enforcement and conclude the Tai Ji Men tax case within two months during a public hearing in the Legislative Yuan in 2010.

In 2012, the National Taxation Bureau conducted a public survey in accordance with the resolution of the inter-ministerial meeting of the Executive Yuan, and 7401 pieces of evidence were collected, confirming that the red envelopes were gifts, which was consistent with the criminal decision and again confirmed that there was no tax debt.

However, the National Taxation Bureau reneged on its promise, disobeyed the inter-ministerial meeting resolution, ignored the Supreme Court’s decision finding Tai Ji Men not guilty and not owing taxes, and disregarded the two letters issued by the Taipei High Administrative Court on May 5 and July 23, 2020, requesting the withdrawal of the enforcement under Article 40 of the Tax Collection Act.

On August 21, 2020, the National Taxation Bureau, in cooperation with the Administrative Enforcement Agency, unlawfully auctioned Tai Ji Men’s land intended for a self-cultivation center and nationalized it in an attempt to obtain performance credits and bonuses, seriously undermining the shifu’s and dizi’s missions to improve global citizens’ spiritual health, and depriving them of their freedom of religion or belief, as well as their other basic human rights, such as the right to choose cultural life, equality, non-discrimination, and effective remedy, which are explicitly guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR, the ICESCR, and Taiwan’s constitution.

The Tai Ji Men case has been referred to as a “magical mirror that reflects Taiwan’s legal and tax problems” and “Legal and Tax 228” by scholars and human rights experts. It has been listed by the Control Yuan as a landmark case of human rights violations, and more than 300 legislators of all political parties gave countersignatures, made proposals, questioned government officials, or called press conferences, public hearings, and coordination meetings, pointing out that the National Taxation Bureau broke the law.

In a year or so, over 100 experts and scholars in Taiwan and other countries voiced their support for Tai Ji Men, and more than 100 articles on the Tai Ji Men case were published on human rights platforms, such as Bitter Winter and Human Rights Without Frontiers. The case was also discussed during the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. in 2021 and at an international press conference in Washington, D.C. on December 7, 2021, drawing a lot of attention. An international NGO even submitted two written reports on the Tai Ji Men case to the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2021, condemning the Taiwanese government for its unfair treatment of Tai Ji Men. Twenty-five international scholars and human rights experts even co-signed a letter to President Tsai Ing-wen, expressing their concern and calling on the Taiwanese government to stop violating Tai Ji Men’s human rights.

The Tai Ji Men culture, the human rights of Tai Ji Men’s shifu and dizi, and their freedom of thought and belief have been severely harmed in Taiwan for a quarter of a century.

A peaceful volunteer in support of Tai Ji Men was even illegally investigated and arrested by the police, and the tactics utilized, such as false accusations and smear campaigns, were similar to those used by prosecutor Hou Kuan-jen in the Tai Ji Men case, demonstrating that the authoritarian era’s legacy lives on, persecuting the people.

The Tai Ji Men case is not an isolated case of state violence against the people. We call on the Taiwanese government to:

  1. implement transitional justice, revoke the illegal tax bills, return Tai Ji Men’s sacred land;
  2. restore the reputations of Tai Ji Men shifu and dizi, clear their names, and return justice to them;
  3. severely punish the unscrupulous officials to prevent similar cases from happening again so that Taiwan can become a true democracy respecting the rule of law, freedom, and human rights.

Other article on the case published by The European Times

Icon of Matrona and Stalin

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The icon “Matrona and Stalin” (“Blessed Matrona blesses Joseph Stalin” [) is an icon depicting the Holy Matrona of Moscow (1885-1952) and I.V. Stalin. In 2008, for some time from November 26, she was in the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga in Strelna, Petrodvorets district of St. Petersburg. The author of the icon is the icon painter I. I. Pivnik.

The plot of the icon is common in the hallmarks of the hagiographic icons of St. Matrona, available in the churches of Moscow, Pskov, Kursk and some other cities. According to the initiator of the creation of the icon, priest Eustathius (Zhakov), the icon is “canonical, since it has all the attributes of a holy image.”

The fact of the appearance of the icon in St. Petersburg caused a wide public outcry. According to the statement of the representative of the St. Petersburg diocese: “This is an unauthorized image, since the conversation between St. Matrona and Stalin is just a legend and does not correspond to the real state of affairs.”

Description of the icon

According to the information provided on the official website of the St. Petersburg Metropolis, after the October Revolution, Matrona moved to Moscow. “I lived where I had to – with friends and acquaintances. There is a version that when the Germans threatened to take Moscow, Stalin visited her. The saint said: “The Russian people will win, victory will be yours. You will not leave Moscow alone from the authorities.”

On the icon, the blessed Matrona blesses Stalin for the defense of Moscow. Stalin on the icon is depicted in a full-length overcoat. The icon was created on the initiative of the rector of the temple, hegumen Evstafiy (Zhakov).

According to Father Evstafiy, the icon of the Matrona of Moscow in the church of St. Nicholas, located between the buildings of the Russian State Library in Moscow, prompted him to create the icon. This icon is located near the entrance to the church, and next to it are images of key moments in the life of the saint, and on one of these images the Matrona of Moscow is depicted in the company of Stalin. According to the Dean of the Churches of the Central District of Father Vladimir, the Church of St. Nicholas received the icon as a gift, and it could have been painted by one of the icon painters of the Intercession Monastery, where the relics of St. Matrona are buried.

Hegumen Evstafiy, in an interview with Konstantin Erofeev, spoke about the circumstances of Stalin’s meeting with Matrona:

“In the history of the country and the Russian Orthodox Church there is a certain invariant – a blessing to the saints or a saint of a commander or leader. Let us remember Dimitry Donskoy, blessed by St. Sergius, Minin and Pozharsky, blessed by St. Hermogenes, Mikhail Skobelev, blessed by St. Philaret of Moscow. What is wrong with St. Matrona blessed the leader, who did not leave Moscow and became the organizer of the defense of the capital. Moreover, it is very strange that the Germans did not enter Moscow, although on some days they had every opportunity to occupy the city. The strange actions of the German generals, which cannot be explained logically, as well as the coming frosts – all this reveals the effect of the prayer of St. Matrons. And in the 70s I knew an old woman, Anastasia, who came to visit Valentina Katushkina, a well-known believer in Ivanovo, who had letters of thanks from Archbishop Ambrose. Muscovite Anastasia witnessed the visit of I.V. Stalin to St. Matrona. However, Stalin himself did not want, of course, wide publicity, and Anastasia told this story almost in a whisper, although it was already the 70s. At one time, Anastasia’s story simply shocked me. Stalin’s visit to St. Matrona is an event from the life of a saint. The icon does not lie, it tells the pious truth about the patroness of Moscow.

Public response to the creation of the icon

Individual representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church condemned the actions of hegumen Evstafy Zhakov. In particular, the head of the press service of the Moscow Patriarchate, priest Vladimir Vigilyansky, noted: “Talking about the holiness of Stalin is blasphemy against the memory of the martyrs who died during the Stalinist regime, because under Stalin no one suffered as much as the clergy, who were exterminated by almost a hundred percent. A disciplinary violation has occurred: a cleric has no right to hang a non-canonical icon in the church. The ruling bishop (Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir) will deal with the act of the priest.”

Some representatives of the St. Petersburg diocese called the actions of the hegumen “sectarianism”, since “one or another character can be venerated as a saint in the church only after canonization.” The head of the missionary department of the diocese, Archpriest Alexander Budnikov: “I think the metropolitan will deal with this priest. We have such church extremists, unfortunately. It is unacceptable to exhibit even non-canonized saints in the temple, and what can we say about such personalities as Stalin. This is a temptation, this self-made, arbitrariness. It confuses people. We cannot confuse believers with such icons. In the near future, this icon from the temple should disappear.”

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov): “There is a myth that I. Stalin came to the blessed old woman Matrona. This is absolutely impossible to assume from what we know about the life of this wondrous saint of God. In 1997, the hierarchy instructed me to prepare materials for the canonization of Matrona Nikonova. I had to collect bits and pieces of information about her. There is nothing that could confirm Stalin’s visit to her. She was driven. Any day I was ready to be arrested. This situation continued until her death on May 2, 1952. An attempt to present a cruel persecutor of the Church as a believing Christian and a benefactor of the Church is dangerous and can only bring spiritual harm. This blurs the boundaries between good and evil.

According to media reports, many parishioners refused to venerate the icon.

In their open letter, received by the Russian Line Orthodox News Agency, the parishioners of the temple note that “in the ongoing persecution, newspapers and television not only distort the facts, but are not embarrassed by outright lies.” The open letter also notes that journalists use their “favorite trick” when “with references to the parishioners of the church, whose names are not named, false information is given that discredits our church and its rector.” According to Vladimir Vigilyansky, this is a very small group of parishioners, “an exception that confirms the rule.

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