Ex-Liberian dictator ‘practicing Judaism’
Former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, who is set to go on trial for war crimes in the Special Court for Sierra Leone, has decided to convert to Judaism, one of his wives told the BBC. Taylor apparently discovered Judaism in prison in the Netherlands.
“He’s now a Jew. He’s practicing Judaism,” Victoria Taylor told BBC Radio June 2 after a three-week visit with her husband. “When he got to the Hague, he got to know that he really, really wanted to be a Jew.”
Victoria Taylor said her husband “does believe in Christ,” and that “he hasn’t rejected Christianity. He has always been a Christian. He just decided to become a Jew. He wants to follow the two religions.” — jta
Canadian panel to probe anti-Semitism
The Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism, under the leadership of two members of Parliament, has been established to probe anti-Semitism.
Conservative Scott Reid and Liberal Mario Silva will lead the commission, with 18 other lawmakers from across party lines sitting on the body.
The commission will begin by accepting written submissions of up to 2,000 words from any individual or group no later than July 31. This will be followed by hearings in the fall to gather testimony, culminating in a final report by the spring of 2010. — jta
Brazilian teams to play ‘peace match’ on Palestinian soil
Brazil’s two major soccer teams will hold a “peace match” in the Palestinian Authority. Officials from the Flamengo and Corinthians clubs declared this week that the match will be carried out “in Palestine” this year on a date and place to be announced soon. The first edition of the “peace match” was held in Haiti in 2004, when Brazil’s squad beat the host country, 6-0.
“The federal government supports this second peace game,” said Vera Cintia, Brazil’s foreign ministry sports coordinator. “Brazil has no better greeting card than soccer. We will try to deliver a good message to that suffering region.”
Flamengo, based in Rio, is Brazil’s most popular soccer team and Sao Paulo-based Corinthians is the second most popular. — jta