Stories about Religion from April, 2012
The State And The Religion In South Asia
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the 5th President of Sri Lanka, posts in Groundviews an analysis on the state and the religion in South Asian countries.
Sri Lanka: Monks Demand Demolition of a Mosque
Last Friday around 2,000 Buddhist monks and local residents staged a violent protest in Dambulla town in Sri Lanka demanding that a mosque along with a Hindu temple situated in an area designated as a Buddhist sacred zone be demolished.
Iran: Pet Dogs Seized by Security Forces Once Again
The Iranian Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals report that last week about 20 dogs in Pardisan Park in Tehran were arrested as their owners walked them.
Malaysia: Religion, Academe, and Freedom
Hwa Yue-Yi tackles the issue of academic freedom and religious freedom in a Muslim-dominated society like Malaysia
Egypt: Should the Grand Mufti Have Gone to Jerusalem?
On April 18 Ali Gomaa, the Egyptian grand mufti and one of the highest religious authorities in the Islamic world, visited Jerusalem for the first time. The visit is controversial since it is seen by many as a step towards normalised relations with Israel.
Sri Lanka: Monks Calling For Demolition Of A Mosque
“Monks should be meditating, not making territorial claims”, comments Indi.ca on the protests by Monks calling for demolition of a mosque in Dambulla.
Video: Better Aid and Development Discussions Through Islam Crash Course
An ongoing discussion over at the Uncultured Project has been the relationship between the lack of knowledge on what Islam is about and how aid and development organizations relate to the Muslim community. Shawn Ahmed shares a simple and short video explaining what Islam is in an attempt to pave the road to better understanding of a large group of people who could be Aid recipients.
Cuba: What Did Pope Benedict XVI Leave Behind?
Two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI left the island, Cuba returns to normalcy. Elaine Diaz offers a review of the different conversations and debates after the Pope's visit that have appeared on Cuban digital blogs and social media.
Pakistan: Hazara Community Targeted for Killings
In the recent past, targeted violence against the Hazara community in Balochistan has increased. Last year sectarian militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi distributed pamphlets threatening Hazaras to leave Pakistan by 2012.
This Week in the Caribbean Blogosphere
It has been another interesting week in the Caribbean blogosphere, with netizens discussing everything from crime to upcoming elections…
Spain: Christ Dances to Brazilian Pop Hit in Religious Procession
During the religious procession marking the end of the Christian Easter week in Alhama de Murcia, Spain, the image of the Resurrected Christ was struck by the Telomania, when the brotherhood carrying the image decided to play and dance to Michel Teló's international hit "Ai Se Eu Te Pego".
Cuba: No Calm After Papal Storm
“The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Cuba left a storm of arrests, blocked phone lines, and beatings against non-violent dissidents”: Cuban bloggers note that dissidents are suffering in the aftermath of the papal visit.
Topics of Interest in the Caribbean Blogosphere
The Caribbean blogosphere has been talking about an array of different issues over the last week or so. Here's a look at some of them…
Greece: Abbot Released Over Ecclesiastical Real-Estate Scandal
Mixed online reactions have met the news that Elder Ephraim, abbot of Vatopedi monastery on Greece's Mount Athos, who was implicated in a scandal arranging land swaps between Vatopedi and the state, has been released from jail after only four months of detention. The scandal cost the Greek government millions of euros.
Mali : Opinions of a Blogger on the Military Coup
On his blog Askia Mohamed [fr] reviews the military coup of March 21, 2012 and in a post entitled Un peuple-Un but-Une foi [fr] (‘One people – One Aim – One Faith’), following a brief summary of the current situation, puts the Tuareg rebellion in an historical context.
Guatemala: Photos of Holy Week in Antigua
AntiguaDailyPhoto posts a slideshow with photos of Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala taken by Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos.
El Salvador: Photos of Holy Week Carpets
Hunnapuh shares photos [es] of the carpets (“alfombras” in Spanish) made for this year's Holy Week in El Salvador. Tim explained more about these carpets in his blog back in 2008: “The alfombras are made by families, groups or organizations with salt and sand and make intricate, and temporary, works...
Cuba: Unholy Actions
Pedazos de la Isla reports on the “wave of terror” that plagued the island's dissidents over Holy Week, here and here.
Uruguay: Documentary on Jewish Immigration in Uruguay
A documentary [es] on the development of Jewish Town in Montevideo, Uruguay was shared by the Latin Americanist in honor of the recently celebrated Passover.
Overview of Buddhism in Vietnam
tomosaigon provides a brief introduction of the various Buddhist sects in Vietnam.
Lebanon: Palm Sunday and Easter Celebrations
In Lebanon two Christian celebrations took place on April 8, 2012 as churches following the Gregorian calendar celebrated Easter Sunday and churches following the Julian calendar celebrated Palm Sunday.
