In the News, June 11, 2015

June 11, 2015

Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: poverty in Sarajevo, a virtual reconstruction of a cultural icon, and a Muslim girl's basketball team changing the game.
BERKLEY CENTER IN THE NEWS
Child Poverty: A View From Sarajevo
by Katherine Marshall
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-marshall/child-poverty-a-view-from_b_7557868.html
Pope Francis visited Sarajevo last weekend, marking two decades of fragile peace in that part of the Balkans. I was there also, on a different mission, part of a Japanese led global effort to further the ideal of ending global poverty for children. What the two visits had in common was a focus on the links between war and poverty, on the vital role of young people in changing the dynamics for peace, and the complicated, uneasy role in this dynamic of conflict and reconciliation of religious beliefs and institutions.

AROUND THE WORLD
Pope Urges Putin to Make a ‘Great Effort’ to Resolve the Crisis in Ukraine
by Jim Yardley
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/11/world/europe/vladimir-putin-on-visit-to-italy-criticizes-ukraine-sanctions.html?ref=todayspaper
They met for 50 minutes and discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Vatican officials said Francis told Mr. Putin that “a sincere and great effort” was needed to achieve peace and called for all parties to comply with the Minsk accords. (...) Mr. Putin and Francis also discussed the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, an issue of mutual concern.

Muslim School Teacher Builds Saraswati Temple And Even Teaches Pooja
by Betwa Sharma
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/06/10/hindu-muslims-india_n_7555324.html?utm_hp_ref=religion&ir=Religion
After three decades of teaching in his Hindu-majority village, Muslim school teacher Abdul Vora used most of his savings to build a temple honouring Goddess Saraswati, who is revered by Hindus as deity of knowledge.

Afghanistan's Buddhas Rise Again
by Edward Delman
Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/06/3d-buddhas-afghanistan/395576/
The two Buddhas of Bamiyan were constructed in the sixth century, at a time when the area was a site of pilgrimage and learning for Buddhists. After their destruction by the Taliban in 2001, 3-D projection technology has helped resurrect these ancient cultural icons.

Hopi Sacred Masks Auctioned Off in Paris Despite Tribe’s Protests
Reuters FaithWorld
http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/11/hopi-sacred-masks-auctioned-off-in-paris-despite-tribes-protests/
Despite calls for the sales to be cancelled, a collection of sacred masks and statues belonging to the Native American Hopi tribe were auctioned off on Wednesday in Paris.

Sunni Islam's Spiritual Leader: "At War With ISIS"
by Francesca Paci
Real Clear World
http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2015/06/11/sunni_islams_spiritual_leader_at_war_with_isis_111261.html
Considered by many to be the highest authority in Sunni Islam, Ahmed el-Tayeb is the Grand Imam of Cairo's Al Azhar University--which is sometimes called the Vatican of the Sunni World. While he was in Italy for an inter-religious dialogue hosted by the Catholic Community of Sant'Egidio, La Stampa spoke to el-Tayeb about the Sunni-Shia conflict, ISIS, and the decline of political Islam.

The Wide World of Rabbi Zev Vagner: Spreading Judaism Across Continents
by Tzippy Koltenyuk
Real Clear Religion/Chadad.org
http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/2972047/jewish/The-Wide-World-of-Rabbi-Zev-Vagner-Spreading-Judaism-Across-Continents.htm
A rabbi and editor of the Encyclopedia of Russian Jewry, Moscow-born Zev Vagner travels throughout the former Soviet Union and Israel, deeply entrenched in outreach and helping to bring Jews back to Judaism.

DOMESTIC
Muslim Girls Design Their Own Culturally Appropriate Basketball Uniforms
by Joseph Erbentraut
Huffington Post Religion
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/muslim-girls-basketball-uniforms_n_7556034.html?utm_hp_ref=religion
Frustrated by interferences caused by wearing traditional Muslim apparel during games and practices, the Cedar Riverside girls’ community basketball team in Minneapolis has designed new culturally and religiously appropriate uniforms that will no longer inhibit their play.

Thirteen-year-old Cambridge Girl Sumaiya Mahee Takes on Islamophobia
by Nate Homan
Metro.us
http://www.metro.us/boston/you-re-not-who-you-say-you-are-cambridge-girl-takes-on-islamophobia/zsJofi---LY4foLhYZn1EA/
Tired of the prejudice and alienation she encounters daily due to her faith and heritage, Sumaiya Mahee is on a mission to build dialog and understanding in order to combat negative Muslim stereotypes.
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