"Santa Claus" Kills Christian Leader In Israel

Let us pray 2012 will have less violence against religious persons.

A leader in Israel's Greek Orthodox Christian community was for example stabbed to death by an unknown assailant during an Orthodox Christmas march in Jaffa.

Clerics identified the victim as Gabriel Cadis, and eyewitnesses said the murderer was dressed as Santa Claus, according to Worthy Christian News.

Six locals were arrested in connection with the murder, Church and police officials said Saturday, January 7.

Gabriel Cadis was the head of the Jaffa Orthodox Church Association, and a prominent Israeli Arab.

Cadis was rushed to Wolfson Medical Center in nearby Holon where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Jerusalem cleric Atallah Hanna said, "We wish that the perpetrator will be found as soon as possible, especially since he was dressed as Santa Claus when he murdered Gabe Cadis. He also killed our Christmas joy".

A Somali woman, who converted from Islam to Christianity, was nursing her injuries Wednesday, January 11, after she was reportedly paraded before a cheering crowd and publicly flogged as a punishment for embracing a "foreign religion".

And Churches in a mining area of Burma's northern Kachin state have taken in many refugees, since New Year's Day, after the Burmese military reportedly attacked a Church and killed several people.