Anyone who thinks that the differences between these sects are minor is invited to read about the wars, massacres and persecutions that erupted between them in the 16th and 17th centuries.
—
Kenneth Seeskin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2026
The international film community—including the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice festivals and the American Cinematheque—spoke out against these persecutions.
Tykes get slapped around, shot with arrows and dangled in traffic — tortures that are played seriously, but the shock of them allows you to guffaw.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
But such judgments often come from a place of distance—from people who have never lived under a theocracy that imprisons, tortures, and kills with impunity.
The everyday realities of life under the occupation, including the hassles and harassments of bureaucratic delays and security checkpoints, can suddenly become matters of life and death.
Violent crime is practically non-existent, with just 110 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2024.
—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
11 July 2026
Many of those convicted committed only minor offenses, such as traffic violations, according to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.
So too did Trump spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain, who compared the president’s torments to those of Jesus.
—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
In the face of such grave concerns, Alyoshka’s torments seem self-indulgent and frustrating, but his problem—whether to leave or stay—is far from insignificant.
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