Atheist Republic News Summary:Attacks on Nigerian Christians Claim 120Lives

1. A gunman entered the Majid Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and opened fire. Footage live streamed from a body camera was broadcast on Facebook by a man identifyinghimself as Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian. Another massacre was taking place at
Linwood mosque four miles away. In an online 74-page manifesto, the suspect said he had chosen New Zealand because of its location, to show that even the most remote parts of the world were not free of "mass immigration". In the days leading up to the attack, Tarrant posted photos to his Twitter account of what appears to be guns, ammunition and a military-style vest. The weaponry is scrawled with references to ancient battles and more recent attacks against Muslims. He appeared in court this Saturday and been remanded in custody until April 5. At least 49 people died.

2. Clayton Lucas, a 25-years-old Pennsylvania man choked the driver until he nearly passed out. He allegedly choked the driver who refused to stop singing out-of-season Christmas songs. Clayton was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

3. Rosa Alcides Rivera admitted to stabbing her 11 year old daughter Aleyda Rivera because she had a suspicion that her daughter was having sex. The mother said in an affidavit that was a way to make sure her daughter would go to heaven. She believed her daughter was having sex with men because she smiled "different" and by killing her she prevented her from having sexual relationships with men. 

4. Westboro Baptist Church was trying to protest an openly transgender lawmaker in Virginia but were drowned out by hundreds of metalheads playing kazoos loudly. The Westboro was driven out by a band called "Lamb of God" Westboro's members left after only 30 minutes. Only 6 members of the church attended before 9 a.m. and left about a half hour later.

5. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent Iranian human rights lawyer and women's rights defender, was sentenced to 33 years in prison and 148 lashes in a new case against her. It is the harshest sentence Amnesty International has documented against a human rights defender in Iran in recent years. Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested at her home on June 13, 2018. This week she was informed that she had been convicted on seven charges.

6. Alister Cogia, a 22 year-old man whose Facebook account is named 'Ayea', pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Jason Juga to five charges under Section 298A (1)(a) of the Penal Code, and five charges under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998. He has pleaded guilty to uploading on social media offensive materials about Islam and Prophet Muhammad. He was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison and a fine of RM50,000 or roughly USD12,000 for all 10 charges.

7. A Prime Minister has legitimized India's more militant groups and targeted attacks against religious minorities are on the rise. Last July, the pattern of killings of Muslims grew so dire—in 2018, there were thirteen fatal cow-related lynchings—that the Indian Supreme Court demanded that the legislature formulate laws against the practice, which it has yet to do. Last month, Human Rights Watch released a hundred-and-four-page report documenting the violence, and the inaction—and abuses—of the government officials charged with investigating the crimes. Killers are lauded in some quarters as heroes for defending the faith and eradicating Muslims.

8. A judge in Alabama is allowing an Alabama man and an embryo to sue the people that made it possible for a girl he impregnated to get an abortion. It is the first time an embryo has ever been treated as a human being with legal rights in a court of law. Ryan Magers says he wanted the 16-year-old high schooler he impregnated to have "Baby Roe" but she decided against it.  Magers and The Embryo are now suing the Women's Center for Reproductive Alternatives in Huntsville as well as a(n unknown) pharmaceutical company that made the abortion pill taken by the girl. Madison County Probate Judge Frank Barger gave it the green light to love forward with Magers representing the embryo's "estate"

9. Theresa May has warned that if MPs reject her Brexit deal next week "no one knows what will happen" and that the UK may never leave the EU at all. She tells Brussels "let's get it done".
She said: “Brexit does not belong to MPs in parliament. It belongs to the whole country. It belongs to the people who voted for it and want to see it implemented, so we can all move on to a prosperous future.

10. In Italy, children have been told not to turn up to school unless they can prove they have been properly vaccinated. Parents risk being fined up to €500 (£425; $560) if they send their unvaccinated children to school. Children under six can be turned away. Italian officials say vaccination rates have improved since it was introduced. They include vaccinations for chickenpox, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella.

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