“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.
The US-led draft, which took weeks to reach a vote, stated the “imperative” for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides”, facilitating “essential” aid delivery and supporting ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas militants to create a sustainable end to the hostilities, tied to the release of hostages.
10:36 AM – The meeting has adjourned and there is speculation that ambassadors may return to the Chamber this afternoon in New York in emergency session to debate the new draft which both Russia and China indicated they would support.
Here are the highlights of all this morning’s intense diplomatic action.
A US-proposed draft to end the war in Gaza was vetoed by permanent Council members China and Russia, in a vote of 11 favour to three against (Algeria, China, Russia) and one abstention (Guyana)
Several ambassadors voiced their support for a new draft proposed by the “E-10” group of 10 non-permanent Council members, which calls for an immediate ceasefire
The vetoed draft would have made imperative an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, with an “urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance” to all civilians and lifting “all barriers” to delivering aid
Council members disagreed over elements of the draft, and some highlighted glaring exclusions despite having raised multiple concerns with the US during negotiations
Ambassadors largely supported swift action to bring food and lifesaving aid at scale into Gaza, where a UN-backed report on Monday raised alarms about famine as Israel continues to block and slow walk shipments into the besieged enclave
Some Council members called for pursuing the two-State solution to the ongoing conflict
Israel’s ambassador was invited to speak, calling the draft’s failure to pass and condemn Hamas “a stain that will never be forgotten”
For summaries of this and other UN meetings, visit our colleagues at the UN Meetings Coverage in English and French
Arab Group condemns continuing ‘genocide’ in Gaza
Representatives of the Arab Group of nations at the UN, went to the media stakeout outside the Security Council following the vote and said they backed the words of Algeria’s Ambassador in the chamber earlier.
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine, said that the Group was united and condemned in the strongest terms “this genocide inflicted on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip”. Watch the full remarks below:
10:20 AM
Israel lets aid into Gaza, yet Council fails to condemn Hamas, says Ambassador
Ambassador Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to UN, addressing the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said the draft would have marked the first time any UN body condemned Hamas’s attack on his country, but its failure to be adopted is “a stain that will never be forgotten”.
Knowing that Hamas cannot win militarily, it uses Gazans as human shields to maximize civilian casualties so the Council will pressure Israel to ending its military operation and issues false statistics and numbers, he said.
“Every civilian death in Gaza is tragic, but the only one to blame is Hamas,” he said.
Likewise, the “libelous famine” in Gaza is just “Hamas propaganda”, he claimed, emphasizing that according to his Government, 341,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid in hundreds of trucks have entered the enclave.
The only way to achieve a ceasefire is to demolish all Hamas battalions, and “the road to a ceasefire passes through Rafah,” he said.
The war may be in Gaza, but it extends further that a battle against Hamas, and Iran remains determined to wipe Israel off the map, he added.
10:00 AM
Disaster cannot end without an immediate ceasefire: Guyana
Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, addressing the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Guyana abstained because the resolution did not call for an immediate ceasefire, said their Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Given the appalling toll of death and injuries and destruction of Gaza “this man-made disaster cannot be halted without an immediate ceasefire, and it’s this Council’s responsibility to unequivocally demand one, even as it acknowledges the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States.”
She said a ceasefire should not be linked to the taking of hostages. “The Palestinians should not themselves be held hostage for the crimes of others.”
09:49 AM
Council has ‘dragged its feet’ over clear and immediate ceasefire: China
China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun said that the most urgent action the Council should take is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, in line with the wishes of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General.
Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China, addressing the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
He said the Council had dragged its feet and wasted too much time in this regard.
With a view to safeguarding the UN Charter and the “dignity” of the Council, together with the view of Arab States, China therefore voted against the US draft.
He pointed to the new draft resolution from the 10 elected Council members now circulating: “This draft is clear on the issue of a ceasefire and is in line with the correct direction of the Council action and is of great relevance. China supports this draft.”
He said criticism by the UK and US of China’s veto was hypocritical, and if they were serious about a ceasefire, they should support the new draft.
09:45 AM
France will propose new draft initiative
French Ambassador Nicholas de Rivière said the Security Council must continue to act at the catastrophic situation in Gaza worsens daily. Having voted for the draft, he called for the comprehensive respect of international law and for crossing points into Gaza to be opened for aid shipments.
France remains opposed to an Israeli incursion in Rafah and emphasized the urgent need to delivery ample much-needed aid into the enclave. Underlining the importance of realizing a two-State solution to the conflict, he said France will propose an initiative to the Council in this regard.
09:40 AM
US resolution would have given green light to ‘continuing bloodshed’: Algeria
Algeria’s Ambassador Amar Bendjama said that had the Council passed its resolution of late February, thousands of innocent lives could have been saved.
Algeria’s Ambassador Amar Benjama addressing the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
He said since the US circulated its draft over a month ago, Algeria had proposed reasonable edits to achieve a “more balanced and acceptable text”. He acknowledged that some of their proposals had been included but “core concerns remained unaddressed.”
Algeria has emphasized the urgency of an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life but regrettably the draft fell short and his country had therefore voted against it.
The immense suffering endured by the Palestinian people over five months, has resulted in the tragic loss of life of more than 32,000 people in Gaza. More than 74,000 have been injured, with 12,000 suffering permanent disabilities.
These figures represent lives, dreams and “hopes that have been destroyed”, he said, stressing that the US text made no mention of Israel’s responsibility for their deaths.
The Arab and Islamic world needs acknowledgement that Israel will be held accountable, he said.
Emphasizing “measures” to reduce civilian harm and talk of “operations” implies a license for continuing bloodshed for Israel. The operation in Rafah would have devastating consequences if it goes ahead, he added.
9:30 AM
UK will ‘do everything we can’ to get aid into Gaza
United Kingdom Ambassador Barbara Woodward said her delegation voted “yes”, as Palestinians are facing a devastating crisis that requires immediate aid. As such, she expressed disappointed in China and Russia for vetoing the draft, especially since the draft would have been the first time the Council spoke out against Hamas.
Meanwhile, the UK will “do everything we can” to get desperately needed aid into Gaza by land, sea and air, she said.
09:26 AM
Alternative resolution fails to support diplomatic talks: US
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield addressing the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
Russia has put politics over progress in vetoing the resolution, throwing stones when it lives in a glass house, said the US ambassador.
She said Russia and China were doing nothing meaningful to advance peace.
She said the new text fails to support sensitive diplomacy in the region and could give Hamas an excuse to walk away from the deal that is on the table. She said the US would continue to work for peace alongside Qatar and Egypt in the ongoing talks.
09:22 AM
Russia and China veto US resolution
The votes are in, and there were three against, including Russia and China, which means the US draft has been vetoed. There were 11 votes in favour.
09:13 AM
Before the vote, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the US had promised an agreement to end the fighting time and time again.
Now, the US has finally recognized the need for a ceasefire, when more than 30,000 Gazans have already died.
He said the US was trying to “sell a product” to the Council by using the word imperative in its resolution.
“This is not enough” and the Council must “demand a ceasefire”, he declared.
He said there was no call for a ceasefire in the text, accusing US leadership of “deliberately misleading the international community.” The draft is just playing to US voters, he said, “to throw them a bone” with a false ceasefire call.
“If you pass this resolution,” he told ambassadors, “you will cover yourselves in disgrace.”
He said that an alternative draft resolution, which was a “balanced and apolitical document”, was being circulated by some other members of the Council.
09:08 AM
Speaking before the vote, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said her delegations wants to see an immediate and sustained ceasefire, but “we have to do the hard work of diplomacy” to make that aim a reality, and it has to be made “real on the ground”.
This is why the negotiations are going on in Qatar which will lead to a sustainable ceasefire, she said, adding that “we are close, but we are not there yet unfortunately.”
She said the draft resolution would help put pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal on ending the fighting and releasing hostages.
She argued that the resolution would at long last condemn Hamas, but also alleviate the terrible suffering and violence wracking Gaza. It also highlights that an invasion of Rafah would be a mistake.
09:06 AM
Japan’s Permanent Representative is inviting the representatives of Israel and Palestine to join the meeting.
09:00 AM
Japan has the presidency this month, and their Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki is due to gavel the meeting open very soon.
08:50 AM
After weeks of behind the scenes negotiations among Security Council members in New York, the US draft marks a shift in position from the last time members met on 20 February when the US used its veto to quash an Algerian resolution which demanded an immediate ceasefire.
The US resolution, crucially, is not calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, rather stating the imperative for one.
Back then, 13 countries were in favour of the resolution, with the UK abstaining. The US based it opposition on the need to not interfere with “sensitive ongoing negotiations” and introduced a separate resolution condemning Hamas which would work towards a temporary ceasefire, based on the release of hostages.
What’s the US resolution calling for?
Makes imperative an immediate and sustained ceasefire with an “urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian assistance” to all civilians and lifting “all barriers” to delivering aid at scale to Gazans
Israel and all armed groups must comply with their obligations under international law, providing protection for humanitarian workers and medical personnel
Condemns all acts of terrorism including the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October, the taking and killing of hostages, murder of civilians, sexual violence and condemns the use of civilian buildings for military purposes
Rejects any forced displacement of civilians in Gaza
Demands that Hamas and other armed groups immediately grant humanitarian access to all remaining hostages
Underscores the Council’s full support for the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator Sigrid Kaag, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, so they can establish the new UN aid mechanism under previous resolution 2720
Stressed the importance of the Senior Coordinator leading efforts for the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza
Demands all parties respect humanitarian notification and deconfliction mechanisms in place to prevent civilian deaths
Rejects any action by Israel that could “reduce the territory of Gaza” and condemns calls from some Israeli ministers for the resettlement of Gaza or demographic changes
Reaffirms condemnation of the ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen on shipping in the Red Sea
Reiterates the Security Council’s “unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution”
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS from the last time the Council held a vote on Gaza on 20 February:
US uses veto power to quash Algeria’s draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and presents rival text that would condemn Hamas but also support a temporary ceasefire
The US is expected to circulate its own draft later on Tuesday but news reports suggest negotiations will be far from easy, with both Russia and China voicing strong opposition to the third use of a veto by the US on ceasefire resolutions
Council members lament continued suffering in Gaza and lambast possible Israeli military operation into Rafah
Algeria’s ambassador says it will continue to “knock at the Council’s door” to maximize pressure on Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire which will end the bloodshed
“This veto does not absolve Israel of its obligations,” says the ambassador for the observer State of Palestine
A ceasefire would be “a death sentence”, for Israelis and ordinary Gazans alike, says Israel’s ambassador
Qatar’s ambassador, speaking for the Gulf Cooperation Council, says her delegation will continue its facilitating efforts to free all hostages, protect civilians and secure a ceasefire
UN News spoke to Commissioner Aina Randriambelo, who described what efforts her country is making to promote gender equality and a better understanding of what constitutes sexual exploitation and abuse.
Commissioner Aina Randriambelo, Madagascar’s Chief Inspector of Police.
“I was really surprised when I heard that a 12-year-girl who had attended one of our school-based sensitisation sessions had revealed to a police officer that she had been allegedly raped over a period of two years by her 40-year-old stepfather.
She was courageous enough to explain that she had been a victim of this abuse, given the stigmatisation that entails in our society. In some cases, families do reject children who make these types of allegations.
She is a minor, so we had to tell her mother, who said she knew nothing of this abuse, that she had the legal obligation to make this accusation, which she did. We explained her legal position, but also the fact that as a mother, she was the first line of protection for her daughter.
I have been working on gender-based violence issues for over 20 years, and while it is important for me to retain my professionalism, these events do affect you. But, but I am also pleased that we were able to make a difference by acting very quickly to stop this abuse.
The police reported this on social media as a warning to others and to alert other victims who are in the same type of situation of abuse. The man is now in prison awaiting trail, and if he is found guilty, he faces a sentence of up to 12 years.
The national police set up a protection of minors department 20 years ago and in 2017 established protocols for dealing with gender-based violence. These protocols include access to medical care.
We also have instituted nine local women-only brigades of police officers to support victims of abuse. Moreover, there are new laws in our penal code which enable the quick prosecution of cases involving abuse.
As a society, we still have work to do to ensure people recognise the rights of individuals, especially in domestic situations. Some women do not even understand the concept of consent. Men often don’t understand the difference between showing parental authority within their family and being violent, and there is a sense that what goes on at home is a private matter. So, violence is often accepted as a normal part of family life. People are often unwilling to denounce it, so it will take time to change the mentality of people.
The police in Madagascar have publicised the arrest of an alleged abuser.
Human rights training sessions
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported training sessions on human rights issues. This is important as it is only when people understand their rights that they are able to realise that their rights have been abused. So, a victim may not know she is a victim and so will not come forward to report a possible abuse.
From a police perspective, I look forward to justice being served
We are also ensuring that women and children recognise the importance of a medical examination after sexual violence has been perpetrated. This is a key piece of evidence in any case brought to trial.
UNICEF has helped us to establish a centre for the care of child victims of sexual violence, which includes the package of integrated care services they need: psychosocial support and accompaniment by social workers deployed by the population department and medical care by hospital doctors.
There are police officers on hand to take complaints because if victims go back home, it is possible that they will retract their statements especially if they are threatened with reprisals.
UNICEF has also supported the training of social workers.
I’m told the young girl is doing well, but I do ask myself how she may be affected in the long term. Will she be able to have sexual relations, will she be stigmatised and what type of counselling will she receive to deal with her trauma?
From a police perspective, I look forward to justice being served.”
