Mississippi has become the most recent state to join 13 others in pursuing a “Personhood Amendment.”

A press release by Personhood Mississippi states they already have enough votes to put their measure on the 2011 election ballot as an Amendment to the Mississippi Constitution.

Fetal sonogram

What is a Personhood Amendment?
“Personhood” amendments are pro-life measures being proposed at state-level legislatures.

The goal is to recognize, within the states’ constitutions, that every unborn child has the same inherent rights, dignity and value as every living human from the beginning of their biological development.

Another aspect being pursued in some states is to assure dignity and human rights to every physically or mentally disabled or elderly person; to prevent the notion of involuntary euthanasia.

The “Personhood Movement” is an official nationwide pro-life movement.This  website clarifies that Personhood Amendments can also be called Human Life Amendments.

A list of participating states and where they are at in the process can be seen here at Personhood.Net – a subsidiary of the Georgia Right to Life Committee. Georgia was the first state with such a proposal in 2007. It hasn’t resulted in being placed on a voters’ ballot.

Joining those states that have already constructed or proposed Personhood Amendments between 2007 and April 2010, approximately 26 other state legislatures are taking action to draft similar wording.

Additionally, Personhood.Net carries information regarding ongoing attempts to get enough petition signatures to file a Federal Personhood Amendment to the United States Constitution.

In September 2009, The Underground reported on Florida’s “Personhood Amendment” movement .

Update: The Florida movement continues to press forward. The proposed Personhood Amendment, if enough votes are collected, would be placed on the next Florida election ballot for citizens’ votes.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh (last name posted as Esmaeilabad in some reports) were released from Iran’s Evin prison on Wednesday, November 18. They’d been held there since their arrest in March on various charges in connection with their Christian faith. On trial during the summer, neither would recant their Christianity even at the promise of being set free (see The Underground’s original report here).

There was no bail demanded for their release, but the two still face court hearings. In October, a judge dropped the charge that the women were “anti-state.” But they are still accused of trying to spread Christianity, which carries the charge of apostasy against Iran’s formally recognized religion of Islam. So the prayers of Christians everywhere are still needed.

Evin prison has been noted for human rights violations. According to Charisma Online, Rustampoor and Amirizadeh’s health suffered with ailments from infected teeth, headaches and back pain to severe food poisoning. Solitary confinement and repeat interrogations also took their toll.

Although Iran is watched for human rights violations by the United States Government as a “nation of concern,” not much action is being taken. It was a group called Open Doors that actively pursued the release of the women. Open Doors is an organization dedicated to rescuing and praying for persecuted Christians around the world.

Iranian-based intimidation of Christians has been increasing since the late 1970’s. Read about the Iranian Christian Church, its history and persecution, here at Elam Ministries.

“You will be persecuted and brought before syngagogues and prisons…this will lead to an opportunity to present your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13, NAS excerpts).

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

The Chinese government has launched a major crackdown against human rights attorneys, canceling or refusing to renew the licenses of at least 21 attorneys who have challenged the Communist government’s abuse of Chinese citizens.

Many of the attorneys have been working closely with ChinaAid’s legal defense efforts for religious freedom cases.

“These human rights lawyers should be rewarded for their brave active efforts in promoting rule of law and advancing citizens’ civil and human rights according to both the international standard and China’s own Constitution, ” said Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid.

“Ironically, the rights of the rights attorneys are now in jeopardy.”

Three leading lawyers have called ChinaAid expressing their concern and requesting ChinaAid to
solicit the help of the international community.

This is an unusual request from human rights attorneys who, in the past, have tried to walk a fine line within the framework of Chinese law. One lawyer told ChinaAid, ‘The Chinese government already broke the bottom line by forcing our lawyers to fight to survive to earn a living.”

ChinaAid has received reports of human rights attorneys who have been recently kidnapped, beaten, and tortured by officials for practicing normal legal defense work.

Gao Zhisheng is a Christian human rights attorney who was last seen on February 4, being hauled away by Chinese officials.

To date, the Chinese government has continually refused to release information regarding Gao’s whereabouts or condition.

Gao, himself, accurately predicted that every human rights lawyer in China would eventually become a human rights case.

ChinaAid notes that at the same time international pressure is being applied, particularly from the U.S.
government, regarding Gao’s kidnapping, and the Chinese government has replied with an official
denial of knowledge about his situation, behind the scenes, the government has responded with a crackdown on those attorneys following in Gao’s steps, who have been interacting with the U.S.

Bob Fu stated, “The crackdown against the human rights attorneys simply shows how much progress in
the Chinese government human rights record has been made, since the bloody massacre in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago.

We call upon the Chinese authorities to restore the licenses of these 21 attorneys.”

Be Sociable, Share!

•