Gangs reportedly control up to 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince, raising concerns that hunger is being used as a weapon to coerce local populations and hold sway over rival armed groups.
They control key routes to farming areas to the north and south and have disrupted the supply of goods, including food.
This in a country which has a predominantly rural farming population which some believe could be self-sufficient in food.
So, what’s gone wrong?
Here are five things you need to know about the current food security situation in Haiti:
Children in Haiti eat a hot meal provided by the UN and partners at school.
There are some 11 million people in Haiti and according to the most recent UN-backed analysis of food security in the country around 4.97 million, almost half the population, needs some type of food assistance.
Some 1.64 million people are facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity.
Children are particularly impacted, with an alarming 19 per cent increase in the number estimated to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2024.
On a more positive note, the 19,000 people who were recorded in February 2023 as facing starvation conditions in one vulnerable neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince have been taken of the critical list.
WFP is working with farmers to supply food for school-feeding programmes.
Why are people going hungry?
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell said the current “malnutrition crisis is entirely human-made”.
The key drivers of the current food insecurity are increased gang violence, rising prices and low agricultural production as well as political turmoil, civil unrest, crippling poverty and natural disasters.
An estimated 362,000 people are now internally displaced in Haiti and have difficulties feeding themselves. Some 17,000 people have fled Port-au-Prince for safer parts of the country, leaving behind their livelihoods and further reducing their ability to buy food as prices continue to increase.
Displaced people shelter in a boxing arena in downtown Port-au-Prince after fleeing their homes due to attacks by gangs.
The escalation of violence has resulted in economic crises, increased prices and exacerbated poverty. The gangs have disrupted food supplies by, at times, shutting down the economy by threatening people and mounting widespread roadblocks, known locally as peyi lok, as a deliberate and effective ploy to stifle all economic activity.
They have also blocked key transportation routes and levied extortionate, unofficial taxes on vehicles that attempt to pass between the capital and productive agricultural areas.
In one case, a gang leader in Artibonite, the country’s main rice growing area and a relatively new focus for gang activity, issued multiple threats on social media, warning that any farmers returning to their fields would be killed. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported in 2022 that there had been a notable decrease in cultivated land in Artibonite.
Meanwhile, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that in 2023, agricultural production plummeted by around 39 per cent for maize, 34 per cent for rice and 22 per cent for sorghum compared to the five-year average.
How did we get to this point?
While the current hunger crisis in Haiti has been exacerbated by the control the gangs exert over the economy and daily life in Haiti, it has its roots in decades of underdevelopment as well as political and economic crises.
Deforestation partly due to poverty and natural disasters like flooding, drought and earthquakes, have also contributed to food insecurity.
Trade liberalization policies introduced in the 1980s significantly reduced import taxes on agricultural products, including rice, maize and bananas, undercutting the competitiveness and viability of locally produced food.
What is the UN doing?
The UN humanitarian response continues in Haiti in coordination with the national authorities, despite the tense and volatile situation on the ground, especially in Port-au-Prince.
One of the key food-related activities is the distribution of hot meals to displaced people, food and cash to those in need and lunches for school children. In March, WFP said it reached over 460,000 people both in the capital and across the country through these programmes. UNICEF has also provided assistance, including school meals.
FAO has a long tradition of working with farmers and has been delivering essential support for the upcoming planting seasons, including cash transfers, vegetable seeds and tools to support agricultural livelihoods.
The UN agency also continues to support Haitian-led national agricultural policies and the implementation of development programmes.
What about the long term?
Ultimately, the aim like in any underdeveloped country in crisis is to find the path towards long-term sustainable development which will include building resilient food systems. It’s a complicated situation in a country so dependent on humanitarian support provided by the UN and other organizations.
The goal is to reduce import dependency on food and link humanitarian responses with long-term action on food security.
So, for example, WFP’s home-grown school feeding programme, which provides lunches to students, is committed to buying all of its ingredients locally rather than importing them, an initiative which will support and encourage farmers to grow and sell crops that will improve their livelihoods and in turn boost the local economy.
UN Haiti/Daniel Dickinson
Cacao fruit grow on a tree in Haiti.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has worked with farmers in the southwest of the country to grow highly nutritious breadfruit. Around 15 tonnes of flour have been milled, some of which is supplying WFP programmes.
ILO has also supported cacao farmers who have exported 25 tonnes of the valuable commodity in 2023.
Most agree, however, that without peace and a stable, secure society, there is little chance that Haiti will be able to significantly reduce its dependence on external aid while ensuring that Haitians get enough to eat.
Dogs are extremely inventive when it comes to strange antics. If your pet scratches your sheets, for example, it can leave you confused: why does the animal do it?
Possible reasons why the dog scratches your sheets
Here are some of the main reasons why your dog may have decided that digging a hole in your sheets is a good idea:
• Creating a comfortable place
It is possible that your pet has decided that there is something about the way you have arranged his bed that he does not like. So he starts scratching, pulling and poking under your covers until he makes the place more comfortable and comfortable for himself.
• Temperature regulation
If your dog is too hot, he may try to cope with the heat by rubbing against your sheets. Conversely, if it’s chilly outside, your pet may want to snuggle for warmth.
• Dominant behavior
Your dog may be scratching the sheets to show dominance. Kind of like marking a territory.
• Dealing with anxiety
When your dog is anxious, scratching can help him calm down.
• Instinct
Dogs love to dig. Sometimes they do it because of their natural instincts, and sometimes because they are bored.
How do I protect the sheets from my dog?
If you’re wondering how to protect your sheets from your dog’s paws, there are a few things you can do.
• Bet on cheap sheets
If you’re worried about your sheets being destroyed, a far more predictable option is to rely on cheaper ones. So you will certainly not be upset if you notice traces of your pet’s nails on them.
• Don’t let him sleep in bed with you
Simple, but extremely effective. If your pet regularly destroys your sheets and it stresses you out, don’t let them sleep in bed with you.
• Regular nail trimming
No dog owner likes to trim their dog’s nails. However, this is an essential part of the animal’s health. And it will help keep your sheets safe from your pet’s sharp claws.
In conclusion, a dog scratches your sheets for a variety of reasons. The most common of these include creating a safe place to sleep, cooling or warming, displaying dominance behavior, anxiety or general comfort. And while scratching on the sheets may be confusing or meaningless to us, it makes perfect sense to our four-legged friends!
Illustrative Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-dog-relaxing-on-bed-247968/
“It’s important we don’t let the violence spill over from the capital into the country,” said Ulrika Richardson, briefing journalists at UN Headquarters via videolink from Haiti.
She said orchestrated gang attacks on prisons, ports, hospitals and the palace have unfolded over the past weeks, but in the past few days these heavily armed groups have been advancing into new areas of the capital.
“There is human suffering at an alarming scale,” she said, describing daily tension, sounds of gunshots and fear rising throughout the capital.
Abhorrent human rights violations are ongoing, with more than 2,500 people killed, kidnapped or injured, she said, stressing that sexual violence is rampant, with the use of torture and “collective rape” against women.
“Time is running out” –
UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti
A total of 5.5 million Haitians needed assistance, more than three million of them children. Food security remains a grave concern, with malnutrition being reported in a growing number of youngsters. In addition, 45 per cent of Haitians do not have access to clean water.
Around 1.4 million Haitians are “one step away from famine”, she warned, calling for urgent support for the humanitarian response plan, which requires $674 million but is only six per cent funded.
With more funds, “we can do more” to help the people of Haiti, she said, saying that “time is running out”.
Lifesaving supplies urgently needed
The Humanitarian Coordinator said UN-backed flights to Haiti have brought some shipments of lifesaving supplies, including blood transfusion bags for hospitals treating growing numbers of gunshot victims.
At the same time, the airport is closed to commercial traffic, making it impossible to import essential goods, including medicines. The national port is operational, but accessing it is challenging, as the surrounding areas are controlled by gangs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that less than half of health facilities in Port-au-Prince are functioning at their normal capacity, and there is a pressing need for safe blood products, anaesthetics and other essential medicines.
According to the World Food Programme, 1.4 million people are facing emergency levels of hunger and need assistance to survive.
WHO calls for swift funding
Elaborating on the health conditions, the UN health agency said the cholera outbreak, which has been declining since the end of last year, could flare up again should the crisis continue.
Cholera response activities and data surveillance have already been affected by the recent violence, and the situation could worsen significantly in the coming weeks if fuel becomes scarce and access to essential medical supplies is not improved soon, according to WHO.
The WHO chief called for swift support for efforts to help those trapped in a deteriorating situation.
“We call on all partners and the public not to forget the people of Haiti,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also calling for safe and unhindered humanitarian access, health workers’ safety to be guaranteed and the protection of health facilities.
WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are supporting the Ministry of Health and other partners with supplies and logistics, including water, sanitation and hygiene and disease surveillance in centres for displaced persons, he said.
UN chief: Support mission remains ‘critical’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for all efforts to maintain the momentum and work towards implementing transitional arrangements agreed upon last week following the prime minister’s resignation, said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq on Thursday.
The UN chief welcomed reports that Haitian stakeholders have all nominated candidates to the Transitional Presidential Council, he said, adding that the UN, through its office in Haiti, BINUH, will continue to support the country in its efforts to restore democratic institutions.
“The swift deployment of the multinational mission remains critical to ensure that the political and security tracks can advance in parallel as only complementary efforts can be successful,” he said.
Security Council condemns gang attacks
In a statement released on Thursday, the Security Council strongly condemned the violence and the attacks carried out by the armed gangs and stressed the need for the international community to redouble its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the population and to support the Haitian National Police.
That includes through building the capacity to restore law and order and through the swift deployment of multinational security support mission, which the Council authorized by resolution 2699 (2023) in October, according to the statement.
Rokaya needed time to recover after illness forced her to quit as a live-in maid in Malaysia and return home to Indramayu, West Java. However, under pressure from her agent who claimed two million Rupiah for her initial placement, she accepted an offer of work in Erbil, Iraq.
There, Ms. Rokaya found herself responsible for taking care of a family’s sprawling compound—working from 6 a.m. until after midnight, seven days per week.
As exhaustion worsened the headaches and vision problems that had originally forced her to leave Malaysia, Ms. Rokaya’s host family refused to take her to a doctor and confiscated her mobile phone. “I was not given any day off. I barely had time for a break,” she said. “It felt like a prison.”
The hardships Ms. Rokaya endured will be familiar to the 544 Indonesian migrant workers the UN migration agency (IOM) assisted between 2019 and 2022, in association with the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union (SBMI). Many of them experienced physical, psychological and sexual abuse overseas. That caseload comes despite a moratorium Jakarta imposed on work in 21 countries in the Middle East and North Africa in 2015, following Saudi Arabia’s execution of two Indonesian maids.
To mitigate the humanitarian impact of trafficking in person, IOM works with Indonesia’s Government to shore up the regulatory environment on labour migration; trains law enforcement to better respond to trafficking cases; and works with partners like SBMI to protect migrant workers from exploitation – and, if necessary, repatriate them.
Rokaya stands in front of her house in Indramayu, West Java.
“Cases like Ms. Rokaya’s underscore the need for victim-centric approaches and for strengthening the protection system to prevent migrant workers from falling prey to trafficking in persons,” says Jeffrey Labovitz, IOM’s Chief of Mission for Indonesia.
After a clandestinely recorded video of Ms. Rokaya went viral and reached SBMI, the government intervened to get her released. However, she says her agency illegally extracted the cost of her return airfare from her wages and—with a hand around her throat—forced her to sign a document absolving them of responsibility. She now knows better: “We need to really be careful about the information that is given to us, because when we miss key details, we pay the price.”
Ms. Rokaya is relieved to be back home, she adds, but has no recourse to claim the money extorted from her.
Indonesian fishers.
A fear of failure
It is an all-too-common situation, says SBMI’s chairman Hariyono Surwano, because victims are often reluctant to share details of their experience overseas: “They fear being seen as a failure because they went overseas to improve their financial situation but returned with money problems.”
It is not only victims’ shame that affects the slow progress of trafficking case prosecutions. Legal ambiguity and the difficulties authorities face prosecuting cases also pose obstacles, compounded by the police sometimes blaming victims for their situation. SBMI data shows around 3,335 Indonesian victims of trafficking in the Middle East between 2015 and the middle of 2023. While most have returned to Indonesia, only two per cent have been able to access justice.
Around 3.3 million Indonesians were employed abroad in 2021, according to Bank Indonesia, on top of more than five million undocumented migrant workers the Indonesian agency for the protection of migrant workers (BP2MI) estimates are overseas. More than three quarters of Indonesian migrant labourers work low-skill jobs that can pay up to six times more than the rate at home, with some 70 per cent of returnees reporting that employment abroad was a positive experience that improved their welfare, according to the World Bank.
“I’m willing to keep going, even if it takes forever,” says fisherman Mr. Saenudin, a trafficking survivor.
Unpaid 20-hour days
For those who become victims of trafficking, the experience is rarely positive. At SBMI’s Jakarta headquarters, fisherman Saenudin, from Java’s Thousand Islands, explained how in 2011 he signed a contract to work on a foreign fishing vessel, hoping to give his family a better life. Once at sea, he was forced to work 20-hour days hauling in nets and dividing catch and was only paid for the first three of his 24 months of gruelling labour.
In December 2013, South African authorities detained the vessel off Cape Town, where it had been fishing illegally, and held Mr. Saenudin for three months before IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped him and 73 other Indonesian seafarers to repatriate.
In the nine years since, Mr. Saenudin has been fighting to recover 21 months of missing pay, a legal battle that forced him to sell everything he owns except his house. “The struggle tore me from my family,” he says.
An IOM survey of more than 200 prospective Indonesian fishers provided actionable insights to the government for enhancing recruitment processes, associated fees, pre-departure training, and migration management. In 2022, IOM trained 89 judges, legal practitioners, and paralegals on adjudicating trafficking in persons cases, including the application of child victim and gender-sensitive approaches, as well as 162 members of anti-trafficking task forces in East Nusa Tenggara and North Kalimantan provinces.
For Mr. Saenudin, improvements in case handling can’t come soon enough. Still, the resolve of the fisherman shows no cracks. “I’m willing to keep going, even if it takes forever,” he said.
After 13 years of waiting, BulgariaandRomania officially entered the vast Schengen area of free movement at midnight on Sunday 31 March.
From that date, controls at their internal air and sea borders will be lifted, although they will not be able to open their land borders. On the roads, controls will remain in place for the time being, much to the dismay of lorry drivers, due to a veto by Austria motivated by fears of an influx of asylum seekers.
Despite this partial accession, limited to airports and seaports, the step has strong symbolic value. “This is a great success for both countries”, declared the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, referring to a “historic” moment for the Schengen area.
With the double entry of Bulgaria and Romania, the area created in 1985 now has 29 members: 25 of the 27 European Union states (excluding Cyprus and Ireland), as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland.
“Romania’s attractiveness has been strengthened and, in the long term, this will encourage an increase in tourism”, rejoiced the Romanian Minister of Justice, Alina Gorghiu, convinced that this standardisation will attract investors and benefit the country’s prosperity.
Following this first stage, a further decision should be taken by the Council to set a date for the lifting of controls at internal land borders.
Pope Francis at Urbi et Orbi (31 March 2024) (VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto)
Following the Easter Sunday Mass, Pope Francis delivers his Easter message and blessing “To the City and the World,” praying especially for the Holy Land, Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria, Lebanon, and Africa, as well as for victims of human trafficking, unborn children, and all experiencing hard times.
Pope Francis gave his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message on Sunday, appearing from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica overlooking the Square below where he had just presided over the Easter morning Mass.
The Mass and “Urbi et Urbi” (from the Latin: ‘To the city and the world’) message and blessing went out live on broadcasts around the world.
The Holy Father began his remarks by joyfully wishing all those following, including the some 60,000 pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square, “Happy Easter!”
Today throughout the world, he recalled, there resounds the message proclaimed two thousand years ago from Jerusalem: “Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, has been raised!” (Mk 16:6).
The Pope reiterated that the Church relives the amazement of the women who went to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week.
While recalling the tomb of Jesus had been sealed with a great stone, the Pope lamented that today, too, “heavy stones, block the hopes of humanity,” especially “stones” of war, humanitarian crises, human rights violations, human trafficking, among others other stones as well.
From Jesus’ empty tomb, all begins anew
Like the women disciples of Jesus, the Pope suggested, “we ask one another: ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ This, he said, is the amazing discovery of that Easter morning, that the immense stone, was rolled away. “The astonishment of the women,” he said, “is our astonishment as well.”
“The tomb of Jesus is open and it is empty! From this, everything begins anew!” he exclaimed.
“The tomb of Jesus is open and it is empty! From this, everything begins anew!”
Moreover, he insisted, a new path leads through that empty tomb, “the path that none of us, but God alone, could open.” The Lord, he said, opens the path of life in the midst of death, of peace in the midst of war, of reconciliation in the midst of hatred, and of fraternity in the midst of hostility.
Jesus, the way to reconciliation and peace
“Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is risen!” he said, noting He alone has the power to roll away the stones that block the path to life.
Without the forgiveness of sins, the Pope explained, there is no way to overcome the barriers of prejudice, mutual recrimination, the presumption that we are always right and others wrong. “Only the risen Christ, by granting us the forgiveness of our sins,” he said, “opens the way for a renewed world.”
“Jesus alone,” the Holy Father reassured, “opens up before us the doors of life, those doors that continually we shut with the wars spreading throughout the world,” as he expressed his wish today, “first and foremost, to turn our eyes to the Holy City of Jerusalem, that witnessed the mystery of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, and to all the Christian communities of the Holy Land.”
Holy Land and Ukraine
The Pope began by saying his thoughts go especially to the victims of the many conflicts worldwide, beginning with those in Israel and Palestine, and in Ukraine. “May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions,” he said.
“In calling for respect for the principles of international law,” he continued, “I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for the sake of all!”
“In calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: for the sake of all.”
Humanitarian aid to Gaza, release of hostages
The Pope then turned to Gaza.
“I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on 7 October last and for an immediate cease-fire in the Strip.”
“I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on 7 October last and for an immediate cease-fire in the Strip.”
The Pope appealed for an end to current hostilities that continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, and above all, on the children.
“How much suffering we see in their eyes! With those eyes, they ask us: Why? Why all this death? Why all this destruction?
The Pope reiterated that war is always “a defeat” and “an absurdity.”
“Let us not yield to the logic of weapons and rearming,” he said, stressing that “peace is never made with arms, but with outstretched hands and open hearts.”
Syria and Lebanon
The Holy Father remembered Syria, which, he lamented, has, for thirteen years, suffered from the effects of “a long and devastating” war.
“So many deaths and disappearances, so much poverty and destruction,” he insisted, “call for a response on the part of everyone, and of the international community.”
The Pope then turned to Lebanon, noting that for some time, the country has experienced institutional impasse and a deepening economic and social crisis, now aggravated by the hostilities on its border with Israel.
“May the Risen Lord console the beloved Lebanese people and sustain the entire country in its vocation to be a land of encounter, coexistence and pluralism,” he said.
The Pope also remembered the region of the Western Balkans, and encouraged the discussions taking place between Armenia and Azerbaijan, “so that, with the support of the international community, they can pursue dialogue, assist the displaced, respect the places of worship of the various religious confessions, and arrive as soon as possible at a definitive peace agreement.”
“May the risen Christ open a path of hope to all those who in other parts of the world are suffering from violence, conflict, food insecurity and the effects of climate change,” he also said.
Haiti, Myanmar, Africa
In his latest appeal for Haiti, he prayed that the Risen Lord assist the Haitian people, “so that there can soon be an end to the acts of violence, devastation and bloodshed in that country, and that it can advance on the path to democracy and fraternity.”
While turning to Asia, he prayed that in Myanmar “every logic of violence may be definitively abandoned,” in the nation, which, he said, has been for years now “torn by internal conflicts.”
The Pope also prayed for paths of peace on the African continent, “especially for the suffering peoples in Sudan and in the entire region of the Sahel, in the Horn of Africa, in the region of Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the province of Capo Delgado in Mozambique,” and for bringing “an end to the prolonged situation of drought which affects vast areas and provokes famine and hunger.”
Precious gift of life and discarded unborn children
The Pope also remembered migrants and all experiencing difficulties, praying the Lord offer them consolation and hope in their moment of need. “May Christ guide all persons of good will to unite themselves in solidarity, in order to address together the many challenges which loom over the poorest families in their search for a better life and happiness,” he said.
“On this day when we celebrate the life given us in the Resurrection of the Son,” he said, “let us remember the infinite love of God for each of us: a love that overcomes every limit and every weakness.”
“And yet,” he lamented, “how much the precious gift of life is despised! How many children cannot even be born? How many die of hunger and are deprived of essential care or are victims of abuse and violence? How many lives are made objects of trafficking for the increasing commerce in human beings?””
Appeal to spare no efforts
On the day “when Christ has set us free from the slavery of death,” the Pope appealed to all who have political responsibilities to “spare no efforts” in combatting “the scourge” of human trafficking, by “working tirelessly to dismantle the networks of exploitation and to bring freedom” to those who are their victims.
“May the Lord comfort their families, above all those who anxiously await news of their loved ones, and ensure them comfort and hope,” he said, as he prayed that the light of the Resurrection “illumine our minds and convert our hearts, and make us aware of the value of every human life, which must be welcomed, protected and loved.”
Pope Francis concluded by wishing all the people of Rome and of the world a Happy Easter.
Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Geir Pedersen said that recent spike in violence, including airstrikes, rocket attacks and clashes between armed groups, underscored the urgent need for a political resolution.
In addition, protests continue in some regions over unaddressed grievances and the presence of six foreign armies in the country are raising fears further fragmentation and destabilization.
“There is no military route to resolving these myriad challenges – only a comprehensive political solution can do that,” Mr. Pedersen said.
Having held discussions with Government officials as well as Russian, Iranian, Turkish, Chinese, Arab, American and European counterparts, his message is clear, added the Special Envoy.
“The political track, blocked and dormant, needs to be unstuck.”
Special Envoy Geir Pedersen briefing the Security Council.
The ramifications of political impasse reverberate far beyond the negotiating table, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis gripping the nation.
Over 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, including seven million who remain displaced from their homes, and more than half the population require food assistance.
“More people need humanitarian aid in Syria now than at any point in the crisis. And yet funding for our humanitarian appeal has fallen to a record low,” Joyce Msuya, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, informed ambassadors.
The lack of resources is devastating, she added, noting that UN agencies, such as the World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to reduce its emergency food assistance programme from three to one million people per month.
Doing what we can
Ms. Msuya noted that UN humanitarians are doing what they can to bridge the gap, recalling the $20 million allotment to Syria through the Organization’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
“But far, far more is needed in order to meet such massive levels of need and avert even more painful cuts in vital support. The scarcity of resources only reinforces how critical it is to deliver aid through all available routes,” she said, stressing the importance of cross-border aid deliveries from Türkiye into northern Syria.
“It allows us to deliver life-saving relief, provide essential protection, health and education services, and conduct regular assessment and monitoring missions to Idleb and northern Aleppo,” she added.
Protect civilians
The senior UN humanitarian official recalled the Secretary-General’s statement marking the 13th year of the crisis, stressing the need to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
She emphasized the need for sustained and unhindered humanitarian access through all modalities, as well as the necessary funding to sustain critical aid programmes.
“Once again, we call for renewed and genuine commitment to a political solution to end the conflict, in the hope that next year, the people of Syria will have a peaceful Ramadan, with fewer impossible choices to make.”
Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya briefing the Security Council.
The 32-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested last March in Yekatarinburg on espionage charges and is being held at the infamous Lefortovo prison in Moscow.
“Russian authorities have yet to provide any credible evidence to substantiate the egregious espionage claims against Gershkovich,” they said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the Moscow City Court extended his detention for another three months, until June.
“This fits a well-documented pattern of Russian authorities using politically motivated administrative and criminal charges that allow for multiple renewals of pre-trial detention, targeting dissidents and independent voices opposed to Russia’s war on Ukraine,” they said.
The experts voiced deep concern that Mr. Gershkovich has not been brought to trial even after a year, a situation which “raises serious concerns about the presumption of innocence and the overall fairness of the legal process.”
‘A disturbing trend’
They stressed that anyone arrested or detained on criminal charges must be brought promptly before a judge and tried within a reasonable time, or released.
“Gershkovich’s arrest is indicative of a disturbing trend in Russia, which has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of journalists—both Russian and foreign citizens—imprisoned for their work,” they charged.
They noted that since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the number of imprisoned journalists in Russia has reached an all-time high, underlining the Government’s intention to control the narrative both domestically and internationally.
Furthermore, 12 of the 17 foreign-national journalists detained worldwide are being detained in Russia, according to recent reports.
Appeal for international support
Mr. Gershkovich’s detention is emblematic of the general crackdown on free speech and journalism in Russia, particularly in relation to independent reporting on the war against Ukraine, they said.
“As journalists face imprisonment and threats, public access to independent and critical information has diminished,” they added. “We urge the international community to support independent journalists who courageously carry out their work both in Russia and from abroad.”
At least 30 journalists are known to be detained and facing lengthy prison sentences, they continued, including on spurious charges of so-called crimes such as “disseminating false information” and “discrediting” the actions of the Russian armed forces.
Release all journalists
Another journalist with US citizenship, Alsu Kurmasheva, has also been arbitrarily detained in Russia since 18 October.
Ms. Kurmasheva, who worked for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, is accused of violating the provisions of the Russian law on “foreign agents” and may face additional charges.
“Gershkovich, Kurmasheva and all other journalists imprisoned for reporting from Russia must be released immediately and unconditionally,” the experts said, strongly condemning flagrant violations of international human rights obligations by Russian authorities.
Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.
The experts are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organisation.
They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
Chapter 12. 1 – 12. Exhortations for open confession of faith. 13 – 21. The parable of the foolish rich man. 22 – 34. On the gathering of earthly treasures. 35 – 48. On vigilance and faithfulness. 49 – 53. About the struggle that Christ’s followers will have to endure. 54 – 59. About the signs of the times.
Luke 12:1. In the meantime, when a crowd of tens of thousands had gathered, so they were crowding one another, He spoke first to His disciples: beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
In the next part (up to verse 13), the evangelist Luke adheres to the Gospel of Matthew or to that source which was close to this Gospel (cf. Matt. 10:17-33).
“beware of the leaven of the Pharisees”, (cf. Matt. 16:6).
“which is hypocrisy”. i.e. beware, because that leaven which permeates the entire nature of the Pharisee is hypocrisy (cf. Matt. 6:2).
Luke 12:2. There is nothing hidden that will not be discovered, and nothing secret that will not be known;
What is the relationship of the speech to the preceding verse? Undoubtedly, the Lord now points out the futility of hypocrisy: the truth will surely come to light in time anyway (cf. Matt. 10:26 – 27).
Luke 12:3. therefore what you have said in the dark will be heard in the open; and what you have spoken by ear in secret places shall be proclaimed from the housetops.
Some interpret this as applying it to the preaching of the apostles, which was at first concealed, and then, with the victory of Christianity, proclaimed openly. But it is simpler and more natural to see here a continuation of the story about the futility of hypocrisy: no matter how much the hypocrite hides his state of mind, in the end it will still be revealed to everyone.
“in sight”, i.e. in daylight.
Luke 12:4. And to you, My friends, I say: do not be afraid of those who kill the body and then can do nothing more;
(Cf. the interpretation of Matt. 10:28-31).
Hitherto the Lord has spoken of the hypocrites, and now He addresses His friends. From them He expects not hypocritical devotion, but open and honest, fearless service.
Luke 12:5. but I will show you whom to fear: fear Him, who after killing has power to cast into Gehenna; yea, I say unto you, fear Him.
He then encourages them by reminding them of what He Himself experienced and what opposition He encountered. Let them not be afraid of their mission. God Who cares even for the smallest birds when they fall to the ground, Who counts even the very hairs of the head, God Who holds in His hand not merely life and death, but eternal life and eternal death, and of Whom therefore we must to be feared more than the wolves of the earth, dwells with them. He will recognize those whom His Son has recognized and reject those whom He has rejected.
Luke 12:6. Aren’t five sparrows sold for two asari? And not one of them is forgotten by God.
Luke 12:7. And the hairs on your head are all numbered. Therefore, do not be afraid: you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Luke 12:8. And I say to you: whoever confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him before the Angels of God;
Luke 12:9. and whoever denies Me before men, he will be denied before the Angels of God.
Here the Lord exhorts the disciples to a firm confession of their faith and indicates the reward that awaits them for this.
“before God’s Angels”. The Evangelist Luke speaks of “angels” as servants who surround the throne of the heavenly King. Matthew speaks directly about the Heavenly Father, before whom Christ acknowledges His faithful confessors as His.
Luke 12:10. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; and the one who speaks blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
(Cf. Matt. 12:31-32).
From those who profess Christ, the speech passes to the unbelievers in Christ, who will speak against the Son of Man, and from them to the blasphemers of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:11. And when they bring you to the synagogues and to the rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what to answer or what to say;
He warns them that they will have to suffer much during this and especially during their future apostolic activity, because they will be judged and scourged in the synagogues, they will be brought before rulers and kings; but nevertheless they should not be troubled how and what to say, for in that hour they will be given more to say.
Luke 12:12. for the Holy Spirit will teach you in the same hour what you should say.
Luke 12:13. Someone from His people said: Master, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.
After the Feast of Tabernacles there were two months before the other solemn Jewish festival, namely, the Renewal of the Temple, and Christ took advantage of this interval of time to visit His native Galilee again, and there, amidst native nature and a small assembly of believers, to the soul To give him a break from the worries he has experienced. His stay there was marked by a number of new and striking parables and miracles. In the parables one cannot fail to notice the echo of the experienced trials, since in them the excessive attachment to the goods of this world is exposed to the point of God and the soul were forgotten, and at the same time that spirit of dead Pharisaism was clearly rebuked which blinded the leaders of the Jewish people to such an extent that they were unable to understand what the greatest good they were depriving themselves of by rejecting the promised Messiah in the person of Christ.
The occasion for the rebuke of excessive attachment to the goods of this world is an occasion when, during the preaching of Christ, one of the listeners suddenly interrupted His discourse and asked Him to help him to achieve a favorable division of property with his disagreeable brother. Such an inappropriate request clearly showed to what extent this man was a miserable slave of this world, and to show the unreliability and vanity of the goods of this world, the Saviour, refusing, of course, to take part in deciding the question of the division of the inheritance, told the parable of a rich man who, having obtained an exceedingly large harvest, did not know what to do with this wealth.
Luke 12:14. And He said to him: Man, who appointed Me to judge or divide you?
Only Luke records this remarkable event. One of Christ’s listeners—at any rate not a disciple of Christ, for a disciple would scarcely have dared to address such a question to Christ in the presence of the people—someone, apparently extremely busy with his work, interrupts Christ with a question or request: “Teacher , tell my brother…”. Apparently, his brother had appropriated for himself the entire inheritance left by the father and wanted the Great Teacher of the people to intercede for him. Perhaps, he thought, his brother would listen to the Master. But the Lord answered him briefly that he was not appointed to deal with the division of properties.
“man” (ἄνθρωπε) – this is the correct translation, not as rendered in our (Russian) version: “He said to this man…”. The Lord calls the one who appeals to Him “man” – an address that indicates a certain disapproval of the request itself (cf. Rom. 2:1, 9:20).
“who hath set Me.” The Lord expressly refuses participation in matters of a purely civil nature. He has come to preach the Gospel, and once it has established itself in the hearts of men, it will itself transform and change the whole order of social life. On the basis of the Gospel, quite just Christian legislation could be developed – internal renewal must lead to external, civil renewal (see: Rozanov N.P. Social – economic life and the Gospel, pp. 1 – 5).
Luke 12:15. And he said to them: watch and beware of self-interest, for the life of man does not consist in multiplying his possessions.
The Lord points out that the motive of the request spoken by “man” is greed, and he exhorts us to fear this feeling.
“from covetousness” (πάσης πλεονεξίας) – from all covetousness in the Greek text, covetousness.
“because life”. Which life? Ordinary physical life or eternal life? From verse 20 it is clear that only the first can be meant here – ordinary existence, the duration of which does not depend on how much wealth a person has managed to accumulate for himself: God suddenly ends the life of the rich and continues the life of the poor.
Luke 12:16. And he told them a parable, saying: a rich man’s field was very fruitful;
After saying that man’s life is not prolonged by the abundance of possessions, the Lord also gives a parable to prove His words. And see how He portrays to us the insatiable thoughts of the foolish rich man. God worked out his purpose and showed special kindness. Because there was a good harvest not in one place, but all over the rich man’s field; and he was so unfruitful in charity, that before he received the harvest, he already kept it to himself. (Blessed Theophylact)
Luke 12:17. and he pondered within himself and said: what shall I do? I will not gather my fruits.
“I have nowhere to gather my fruits”. The rich man, of course, knew that there were thousands of needy people to whom he had to give the surplus of the harvest, but he did not seem to consider himself at all bound to help his fellow men, and thought only of himself, so that calm about the future when there might not be a harvest.
Luke 12:18. And he said: this is what I will do: I will pull down my granaries and build larger ones, and I will gather there all my food and my goods,
Following his own foolish advice, the rich man reasoned that he alone should receive everything, so that he deprived everyone of the benefit, not noticing that not only for his sake, but also for the sake of those in need, his field yielded a good harvest and not for that he should acquire its fruits, and to distribute them also to the poor. For if only for his sake the field yielded a good harvest, then only what was sufficient for him would grow. (Evthymius Zygaben)
Luke 12:19. and I will say to my soul: soul, you have many goods prepared for many years: rest, eat, drink, be merry.
“I will tell my soul”. The soul is here taken as the “‘seat of the sensual'”: it will feel the pleasure that wealth will give to man (“soul” in Greek ψυχή is precisely the lower side of the soul life, as opposed to πνεύμα, the higher side of this life).
Luke 12:20. But God said to him: fool, tonight they will ask for your soul; and what you have prepared, who will have it?
“God said to him”. When and how is not said; these ambiguities are characteristic of parables in general (blessed Theophylact).
“they will ask you” (ἀπαιτοῦσιν, lit. demand). Again not told who. It is possible, of course, to see Angels here – “the Angels of death, who tear away the soul of the resisting lover of life” (blessed Theophylact; cf. Luke 16:22).
Luke 12:21. So it is with the one who gathers wealth for himself and does not become rich in God.
“gets rich in God” (εἰς θεὸν πλουτῶν) does not mean: collects wealth in order to use it for the glory of God, because in this case the preceding expression “gathers wealth” (θησαυρίζειν) would not be there, and the opposition would consist only in the various purposes of enrichment, while doubtless the Lord opposes “enrichment in general” to total indifference to the accumulation of property.
It cannot be a question of gathering up the unsearchable riches – the goods of the Messianic kingdom, because that would still be gathering up treasures “for oneself”, though of a different kind. Therefore, there is nothing left but to accept the interpretation of B. Weiss, according to which “to be rich in God” means to be rich in goods that God himself recognizes as goods (cf. the expression of verse 31: “seek first the Kingdom of God” ).
Luke 12:22. And he said to his disciples: therefore I say to you: do not worry about your soul, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will wear:
This and the following sentences, which reveal the idea of the parable of the foolish rich man, are placed in the Gospel of Matthew in the Sermon on the Mount (see the interpretation of Matt. 6:25-33).
Luke 12:23. the soul is worth more than food, and the body than clothing.
Luke 12:24. Look at the crows, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no hiding place, no granary, and God feeds them; and how much more precious are you than the birds!
Luke 12:25. And which of you, by taking care, can add a cubit to his height?
Luke 12:26. So if you can’t do the least, why bother with the rest?
Luke 12:27. Look at the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, nor betray; but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like any one of them.
Luke 12:28. And if the grass of the field, which today is there, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, God so clothes, how much more you, you of little faith!
Luke 12:29. Therefore you also do not seek what to eat or what to drink, and do not worry,
“do not worry” (μὴ μετεωρίζεσθε) – it is more correct to translate “don’t worry too much” about your demands on life in general.
Luke 12:30. for all these things seek the Gentiles of the world; and your Father knows that you need it;
Luke 12:31. but seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:32. Fear not, little herd! Because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
“Fear not, little herd.” These words are found only in the evangelist Luke. Here the Lord gives assurance to His disciples that their pursuit of the kingdom of God (verse 31) will achieve its goal. And they may have feared precisely that they might not enter that kingdom, because in any case they were only an extremely small circle (“little flock”), while in the Old Testament, according to the then generally accepted understanding, the kingdom of the Messiah was intended for all the chosen people. “What do we actually represent? – maybe the apostles thought. – What will this “kingdom” be like, in which there will be only us and a few more followers of Christ?”. But the Lord dispels all their doubts by pointing out the “favor” of God: The Kingdom will open before you (cf. Luke 22:29ff.) – of course, the glorious Heavenly Kingdom of the Messiah.
Luke 12:33. Sell your possessions and give alms. Prepare purses that do not wear out, treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where a thief does not come near, and which a moth does not damage;
“Sell your properties”. This goal is so important that you must sacrifice your earthly possessions for it. This already applies not only to the apostles, but also to all Christ’s followers (cf. Matt. 6:19-21).
“Get ready”. To others you will give your earthly possessions, but take care of yourself too – try to acquire the heavenly treasure, i.e. entering Christ’s glorious kingdom. However, we should not think that this will be achieved only by giving away one’s property to the poor or only by giving alms. Almsgiving, the giving away of possessions, will only free man from the obstacle which wealth presents to man seeking to acquire the Kingdom of Heaven, but the seeker of the Kingdom must apply all his strength to achieve his goal.
“cases that do not become obsolete”, i.e. such storehouses of heavenly treasures as never wear out, and of which nothing is lost.
Luke 12:34. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Then, inasmuch as not all treasures are robbed, the Lord adds a still greater and absolutely irresistible reason: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Let it be so, says He, that neither a moth eats it, nor a thief come near, but the very enslavement of the heart with the treasure buried in the earth, and the casting into the earth of the godlike being of the soul—what punishment is this worthy? Is not the punishment greater for the one who has a mind? Where your treasure is, there is your heart. If the treasure is in the earth, the heart is in it; if the treasure is in heaven, and the heart is above. Who would not choose to be above and not underground, to be an angel and not a mole that lives in underground holes?
Luke 12:35. Let your cross be girded, and your lamps kindled;
In close connection with the speech about the future glorious kingdom of the Messiah are the words in which Christ exhorts the apostles to be especially watchful in anticipation of the opening of this Kingdom.
“let your cross be girded.” That is, to be fully prepared to welcome the coming Messiah. Servants had to walk quickly when serving their master, and so they had to gird their clothes so that they did not get tangled in their feet. Likewise, when they met their master at night, they were to hold lamps in their hands. The master is represented as coming “from a wedding” – not his own, but simply someone else’s wedding.
Luke 12:36. and you will be like those men who wait for their master when he returns from the wedding, so that they will immediately open to him when he comes and knocks.
Luke 12:37. Blessed are those servants whose master finds them awake when he comes; verily I say unto you, he will gird himself, and make them sit down, and coming in, he will serve them.
“Blessed of those servants” (δοῦλοι). By this adjective the Lord wishes to emphasize the certainty of the just reward that all His faithful servants will receive at the inauguration of the glorious kingdom of the Messiah: the master himself will pay such attention to such servants as they do to him, just as the Messiah will reward His slaves who keep watch.
Luke 12:38. And if he comes on the second watch, and on the third watch he comes and finds them like that, blessed are these servants.
“on the second watch and on the third watch”. On the first watch, that is. at the beginning of the night, a few slaves could stay awake and clean the house. But staying awake during the second and third watches meant staying awake thoughtfully. Here the Evangelist Luke adheres to the ancient Jewish division of the night into three parts or watches, and the Evangelist Mark in Mark 13:35 adheres to the later, Roman division of the night into four watches.
Luke 12:39. Know this also, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
“Know this also” (cf. Matt. 24:43-44).
Luke 12:40. Be ye therefore also ready, for at an hour which you think not, the Son of Man shall come.
Luke 12:41. Then Peter said to Him: Lord, are you telling this parable about us, or about everyone?
The question of the apostle Peter is transmitted only by Luke. Peter wonders if the parable of the servants waiting for their master applies only to the apostles or to all believers. In response to Peter, the Lord tells the parable that is also given in Matthew (Matt. 24:45 – 51).
Luke 12:42. And the Lord said: who is that faithful and prudent host, whom his master has placed over his servants, to give them the appointed food at the right time?
If in the parable in Matthew it is about “slave” and here about “householder”, this is obviously not a contradiction, because in the East the householders were for the most part from among the slaves. Moreover, further on (in verse 46) the evangelist Luke says that the fate of the slave will be the same as that of unfaithful people in general, and Matthew (Matt. 24:51) uses the word “hypocrites” instead of “unfaithful”.
Luke 12:43. Blessed is that servant, whose master, when he came, found him doing thus;
Luke 12:44. verily I say unto you, that he shall set him over all his possessions.
Luke 12:45. And if that servant says in his heart: My master will not come soon, and begins to beat men and women, to eat and drink and get drunk, –
Luke 12:46. the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect, and at an hour he does not know, and will separate him and subject him to the same lot as the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47. And that servant who knew the will of his master, and was not ready, and did not act according to his will, will be beaten very much;
Verses 47-48 were added by the evangelist Luke. The servant who knew all that his master desired and yet did not prepare the necessary will be severely punished. One who did not know the will of his master would not be so punished in case of failure to fulfill that will, but would still be punished for having “done something worthy of punishment” (and what exactly – God does not say ).
Luke 12:48. but he who did not know and did something worthy of punishment, will be beaten a little. And from everyone to whom much is given, much will be required, and to whom much is entrusted, more will be required of him.
“from everyone to whom much is given”. See the commentary on Matthew 25:14 et seq. Money ought not to lie idle with him to whom it is given: evidently it is given to be increased by trade, and therefore when it is returned to him who gave it, the increase must be given with it to her. In a figurative sense here, of course, are meant those followers of Christ who have received some special spiritual or external advantages through which they are to serve for the growth of the Church (Eph. 4:11-13).
Luke 12:49. Fire I came to pour on the earth, and how I wish it had already kindled!
The Lord has just said that His faithful servants must keep on the watch. Now He justifies this by pointing out what His appearing among mankind will cause: with His coming there must come a time of hard struggle, which will be waged among men in deciding whether to side with Christ or to go against Him.
“I came to pour fire on the earth”. Under this “fire” should not be understood either the Holy Spirit (the old church interpretation), nor the word of God with its cleansing power, nor the fire of persecutions that tests the believers, nor the kindling of the Spirit that arose in some people under the influence of Christ’s teaching , nor the discords, which are further presented (v. 51 et seq.) as an all-consuming element. In all these interpretations the nature of the fire itself is not sufficiently taken into account, and against the last interpretation speaks the fact that strife is further represented not as destroying, but as dividing men. The essence of fire is that it destroys things and destroys everything that can be destroyed, and that which is indestructible, not subject to its destructive action, is purified from all superfluous impurities. Defining more closely the meaning of fire, as it is here understood, we must see in it the spiritual power which destroys the present order of the world, destroys in it all that is corruptible and anti-divine, and thereby purifies the essence of this world and transforms into a new one capable of eternal existence.
“how I wish it was already on fire”. More precisely: “and how much I would like…” (καὶ τί θέλω).
Luke 12:50. By baptism I must be baptized; and how sorrowful I am until this is done!
“I must baptize myself with baptism.” This fire will be kindled only when Christ has fulfilled His ministry for which He came to earth. Here, of course, is meant baptism by suffering, so to speak immersion (βάπτισμα) in suffering (cf. Mark 10:38).
“how much I am sad”. To grieve (συνέχεσθαι) means to have constant anxiety, sadness in the soul (cf. Luke 21:25; 2 Cor. 2:4). Here Christ expresses the purely human feeling of depression of spirit at the thought of impending suffering (cf. John 12:27; Matt. 26:37).
If in this way Christ says that he has come to “throw” (in Russian “take down” is a weaker expression) fire on the earth, and desires that this fire should already be kindled, and then continues that he must be baptized with suffering , the thought of which makes His soul faint, thus He makes it clear not only that His suffering will precede the kindling of this fire, but that it is necessary, that without His suffering the fire will not be kindled. From here we can conclude that under the fire, which will burn only after His suffering and death, the Lord had in mind the preaching of the Cross, which for those who perish is a temptation, and for those who are saved – the power of God (1 Cor. 1: 18), and which indeed, like fire, must purify the world from all sinful things. The flame of this preaching will burn until sinners are finally consumed in the final fire of God’s judgment and until a new heaven and a new earth will appear in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:7, 12-13).
Just as Christ, by the baptism He received at the very beginning of His messianic ministry, took upon Himself the guilt of all mankind, so in the baptism of suffering He bore the responsibility of this guilt and restored the righteousness of mankind, for by accepting His merits by faith, we are indeed made righteous before God… Such is the causal connection between the sufferings and death of Christ on the one hand, and the kindling of the fire on the other.
Luke 12:51. Do you think I came to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but – parting;
Reason so for the discords which Christ foretold, if we consider first the Jewish hearers of Christ, lies within the Jewish people themselves. This people did not want to admit that with the coming of Christ the long-awaited messianic time had come. That is why the Lord reproaches them for their unwillingness to understand the great meaning of the events happening before them – the works of Christ. Christ rebukes the people with the same words with which he once addressed the Pharisees (cf. Matt. 16:1-4).
Luke 12:52. for henceforth five in one house shall be divided, three against two, and two against three;
Luke 12:53. father shall be against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Luke 12:54. Speak also to the people: when you see a cloud rising from the west, then you say: it will rain; so be it;
“cloud … from the west”, i.e. from the Mediterranean, a cloud full of moisture.
Luke 12:55. and when you see a south wind blowing, you say: it will be hot; and it should.
Luke 12:56. Hypocrites, you know how to recognize the face of the earth and the sky, but how do you not know this time?
“hypocrites”. So, quite justly, the people should have been called, because they did not lose their common sense, but nevertheless did not want to understand the meaning of what Christ was doing before their eyes.
Luke 12:57. And why don’t you judge for yourself what is right?
“why don’t you judge for yourself”. Here the power of thought lies in the word ἀφ´ ἑαυτῶν. The Lord reproaches people for their unwillingness to recognize “by themselves”, that is independently, the meaning of the signs of the time in which they live, without being guided by the harmful suggestions of the Pharisees.
Luke 12:58. When you go with your adversary to the authorities, try to free yourself from him on the way, so that he does not take you to the judge, and the judge does not hand you over to the torturer, and the torturer does not throw you into prison;
“When are you going”. With the help of the parable, the Lord further emphasizes the idea that it is necessary to take advantage of the signs of the times that are happening now, and the content of the parable is again taken from everyday life.
He does well who, without bringing a case to court, hastens to make peace with his adversary or creditor, for the court will not have mercy on an insolvent debtor and hand him over to the tormentor (πράκτωρ), whose duty among the Greeks was to collect all debts.
So also the Lord by this parable advises His hearers to do as soon as possible what is required of them in the present state of things, viz. to repent as soon as possible for their stubbornness, with which they did not want to recognize in Christ the Messiah sent by God, and in this way to save themselves from the judgment of God that threatens them (the same instruction is also found in Matt. 5: 25 – 26, but here it is more appropriate than there).
God, however, leaves it to the people themselves to apply this parable to themselves. This is not difficult to do, because the times in which this nation lives really resemble a business relationship between a debtor and a creditor. Already John the Baptist preached repentance and announced the coming of the Lord in judgment, and then Christ Himself testified to Himself before the people as the Redeemer from sin and suggested the idea of the strict responsibility to which all who disobeyed His admonitions would be subjected . If men now neglect all the means offered to them to free themselves from their guilt before God, God will deal with them as with the debtor in the parable.
Luke 12:59. I tell you: you will not get out of there until you return the last penny.
Source in Russian: Explanatory Bible, or Commentaries on all the books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments: In 7 volumes / Ed. prof. A.P. Lopukhin. – Ed. 4th. – Moscow: Dar, 2009. / T. 6: Four Gospels. – 1232 pp. / Gospel of Luke. 735-959 p.
Namiq and Mammadagha’s Story Exposes Systematic Religious Discrimination
It has been almost one year since best friends Namiq Bunyadzade (32) and Mammadagha Abdullayev (32) left their home country of Azerbaijan to flee religious discrimination because of their faith. They are both members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, a new religious movement severely persecuted in Muslim-majority countries for beliefs considered heretical by mainstream Muslim religious scholars.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Community founded in the 19th century by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad within a Sunni context, with which it has no relations) is a new religious movement that finds its roots in Twelver Shia Islam.
After enduring violent attacks by members of their local mosque, receiving threats from their neighbors and family, and finally getting arrested by the Azeri authorities for peacefully proclaiming their faith, Namiq and Mammadagha embarked on a perilous journey to safety and finally made it to Latvia, where they are currently claiming asylum. Their story sheds light on the challenges faced by the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light adherents in Azerbaijan, where practicing their faith comes at a steep price.
About the liberal practices of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light
Members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, with its beliefs differing from mainstream Islam, have been the target of discrimination, violence, and oppression in Azerbaijan. Despite the country’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, they find themselves marginalized and persecuted for peacefully practicing their faith.
As believers in the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, their adherence to doctrines considered heretical by mainstream Islam led to arrests and threats to forcefully recant their faith. Ultimately they were forced to flee their country.
The Ahmadi Religion has distinctive beliefs which challenge conventional Islamic teachings. It has therefore long been a source of contention in Azerbaijan. Followers of this faith, comprising a minority in the predominantly Muslim nation, have faced discrimination, harassment, and violence at the hands of both societal and state actors.
The persecution of the Ahmadi Religion stems from its core teachings that diverge from certain traditional beliefs within Islam. These teachings include the acceptance of practices such as consuming alcoholic beverages, though moderately, and recognizing the choice of women regarding the wearing of the headscarf. Additionally, members of the faith question specific prayer rituals, including the notion of mandatory five daily prayers, and hold the belief that the month of fasting (Ramadan) falls in December each year. They also challenge the traditional location of the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, asserting it is in modern-day Petra, Jordan, rather than Mecca.
The persecution of Namiq Bunyadzade and Mammadagha Abdullayev
Namiq and Mammadagha’s ordeal began when they openly embraced the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in 2018, spreading their beliefs through social media and engaging with their local community in Baku. However, they were met with backlash and animosity, particularly after the release of their holy book, “The Goal of The Wise,” in December 2022.
Their local mosque turned against them, mobilizing its members to ostracize and intimidate them. They were the target of Friday sermons, warning the congregation against their “misguiding teachings.” Threats were hurled, their business suffered, and they faced physical and verbal abuse, all because of their religious beliefs. Their grocery shop, once a thriving business, became a target of boycotts and threats orchestrated by local religious leaders. Mammadagha recounts:
“We were in the shop when a mob of men from the local masjid came in, and called us heretics who are spreading satanic beliefs. When we refused to give in to their threats, they started throwing items off the shelves and warned:‘Continue and you will see what we will do. We will burn you and the shop to the ground’.”
The situation reached a tipping point when neighbors and local community members started filing police reports against Namiq and Mammadagha. Eventually, they were arrested by plainclothes policemen on April 24, 2023, under trumped-up charges. Interrogated and threatened with severe consequences including beating and assaults, they were coerced into renouncing their beliefs to secure their release, signing a statement promising to cease all religious activities related to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
Despite their compliance, the harassment continued, with surveillance and intimidation becoming a daily reality. Fearing for their safety and unable to practice their faith freely, Namiq and Mammadagha made the difficult decision to flee Azerbaijan, seeking asylum in Latvia.
Persecution of other members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Azerbaijan
Fleeing Persecution, The Plight of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light members in Azerbaijan 5
Their story is not an isolated incident. In Azerbaijan, where Ahmadi Religion members are a minority, many face similar challenges. Mirjalil Aliyev (29), was arrested with four other members of the faith one evening after leaving the studio that they had set up to produce YouTube programs about the faith. At the police station, they were threatened with imprisonment if they ever spoke publicly about the faith again. But Mirjalil, like so many other members of the faith in Azerbaijan, considers it his religious duty to openly talk about and propagate his religion.
According to reports, there are currently 70 believers in the country, with many subjected to physical abuse and harassment by intelligence agencies or police. Many have been threatened under legal provisions, such as Article 167 of the criminal law which prohibits the production or distribution of religious material without prior permission.
In May 2023, followers of the faith in Azerbaijan protested the police harassment against members of the faith in Azerbaijan. They were stopped by police officers and prevented from continuing the march. The members who participated in the peaceful demonstration were detained by the police or State Security Service for charges related to disrupting public order and spreading a non-recognized religion in the country.
On the road to exile
Namiq, Mammadagha, Mirjalil, and 21 other Azeri members of the faith fled to Turkey. They were part of the 104 members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light who attempted to claim asylum at the official border crossing point with Bulgaria but were violently pulled back by Turkish authorities who beat them and forcefully detained them for five months in appalling conditions.
Deportation orders were issued against them, prompting the interference of the United Nations and other international human rights organizations which recognized them as a persecuted religious minority. The public attention the case received ultimately led to the Turkish court ruling in favor of the group, dropping all deportation orders against them and stating that their action by the border was fully within the scope of the law. But this publicity posed danger for the Azeri members of the faith once more. Believers like Mirjalil who had been coerced to sign a document forbidding them to publicly practice and propagate their faith had now broken the agreement and were at even more danger to return to Azerbaijan.
The persecution against members of the faith in Azerbaijan is not an isolated event, but is rather part of waves of persecution that unleashed against this religious minority ever since the release of the official gospel of the religion “the Goal of the Wise” authored by the head of the religion Aba Al-Sadiq.
In Algeria and Iran members have faced arrest and prison sentences and were forbidden from exercising their rights to religious freedom, and in Iraq they have suffered gunned attacks on their homes by armed militias, and scholars have called for them to be killed. In Malaysia, the religion has been declared “a deviant religious group” and social media accounts with content of the religion have been blocked.
For Namiq and Mammadagha, despite being detained unjustly in Turkey for over five months, they remain steadfast in their commitment to practicing their faith peacefully. Now residing in Latvia, they aim to rebuild their lives and enjoy their newfound freedom of religion and belief.
