Politics & Human Rights in Africa. Politics and Human Rights in China. Politics & Society in India. Politics & Society in Japan. Politics & Society in North Korea. Politics & Human Rights in Pakistan. Politics & Human Rights in Russia. Politics & Human Rights in South America. The Monks Who Hate Muslims - By Francis Wade. In a small wooden office in the Mahamyaing monastery, Kyaw Linn rifles through a carrier bag of stickers emblazoned with 969, the logo that has come to represent Burma's budding anti-Muslim movement.
Six months ago the head monk, Oo Wi Ma La, ordered the first batch of stickers from a nearby printing company. Now they're hard to avoid. Taxis, buses, and shop fronts across Rangoon and other major towns now display what some observers consider a symbol of Buddhist extremism -- a symbol that sees Burma's Muslim community as a threat to the country and its dominant religion. This sentiment has unleashed waves of violence over the past several months that have left more than 40 dead, and 13,000 displaced in 2013 alone. The monastery in Moulmein, southern Burma, is credited as the birthplace of the resurgent 969 movement. The Pirate Party has just managed to legalise blasphemy in Iceland in support of Charlie Hebdo attack - Europe - World - The Independent. Previously under Icelandic law anyone found to be “ridiculing or insulting the dogmas or worship of a lawfully existing religious community,” could be punished with three months in prison or a fine.
However, following the murder of 11 people in Paris after the controversial satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohamad, the Pirate Party introduced a measure to repeal the 1940 law in January. Speaking in the Althing, Iceland’s parliament, yesterday each member of the small party took the floor – as voting took place – to declare: “I am Charlie Hebdo.”
READ MORE: Iceland's 'pots and pans revolution'Charlie Hebdo editor says fight against racism replaced by fight against 'Islamophobia'