Young witnesses discuss abuse, Moscow bans Islamic sacrifice ritual for Eid, Ritual Chicken Slaughter Draws Fire in Brooklyn

Young witnesses discuss abuse
Thursday, October 2, 2014
By Greg Jordan FOR THE REGISTER-HERALD

PRINCETON — A teen girl and her younger sister testified Wednesday in Mercer County Circuit Court about a Bluefield man who allegedly used a claim of having magical powers to sexually abuse them.

James Rolan Irvin, 57, of Bluefield, faces 18 charges, including sexual abuse first-degree, sexual assault first-degree and sexual abuse by a parent or guardian. During an interview in April with Detective K.L. Adams of the Bluefield Police Department, the teen stated her mother was practicing wiccan and pagan practices with Irvin and “believed him to be a magical warlock,” according to the arrest report.

The 17-year-old teen testified Wednesday she was approximately 10-years-old when Irvin began to sexually abuse her, recalling that the year was 2006 or 2007. Irvin, who was living in Bluefield with the girls and their mother, said the acts were happening in order to help her mother, the teen stated when being questioned by Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney George Sitler....

The attorneys representing Irvin, William Huffman and Natalie Hager, have countered that the case was the result of a custody battle between the girls’ parents, and that the father has tried to portray Irvin as a wiccan and pagan. Hager said in her opening statement Tuesday that Irvin does not practice those belief systems....

Later the second sister, now 11 years old, took the stand; she was approximately 3 years old when the alleged abuse occurred....

“I don’t like him. The stuff that he said and the stuff that he did. He tried to use witchcraft on me,” she replied. In later testimony, she recalled Irvin touching her breasts and private areas.
http://www.register-herald.com/news/article_2d215e5c-4a30-11e4-834a-d7e1011ca568.html 

Moscow bans Islamic sacrifice ritual for Eid  02 October 2014 Thursday
World Bulletin / News Desk

Muslims in the Russian capital Moscow have been denied the right to celebrate the upcoming Eid al-Adhu (Feast of the Sacrifice) Islamic holiday after local authorities banned them from carrying out the traditional slaughter ritual.

The second of the two Eid holidays in the Islamic calender, Muslims typically celebrate the occassion by slaughtering a lamb, a cow or a camel and distributing its meat to relatives, neighbors and the poor.

However, a spokesman for the city's inter-regional cooperation, national policy and religious organizations department, told Interfax on Wednesday that the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals will be banned in Moscow during the holiday.

Muslims will be allowed to fulfil the regilious rite in villages outside of the main city, he added....
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/145548/moscow-bans-islamic-sacrifice-ritual-for-eid    


Ritual Chicken Slaughter Draws Fire in Brooklyn
By NICK DIVITO  Thursday, October 02, 2014

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CN) - A Yom Kippur atonement ceremony involving the sacrifice of live chickens has drawn a lawsuit from animal rights activists.
     Crown Heights resident Rina Deych filed the action Tuesday in Kings County Court as a member of the Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos.
     The 33-page complaint defines as "an event that involves the torture and slaughter of chickens on public streets and sidewalks."

     "It is veiled under the guise of a 'religious activity' of the Jewish faith, but this definition is questional at best," the complaint continues. "In fact, many observers of the Jewish faith have denounced this practice as barbaric and primitive, and label it as nothing more than a pure act of animal torture and abuse."

     The practice a person waving a live chicken - or sometimes a sack of coins - over his head leading up to Yom Kippur, a day of atonement and the most holy day for the Jewish faithful....
The practice is a "public nuisance, poses a health hazard, and involves dangerous and illegal activity," according to the complaint.

     Kaporos events cause "litter, blood, garbage, dirt, feces, urine, feathers and other unsafe, unsanitary and hazardous debris to be strewn on public areas," the complaint states.
     "Moreover, illegal makeshift slaughterhouses are erected and utilized on open public property under temporary tents," it continues....
http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/10/02/72075.htm