Stories about Religion from January, 2015
World Leaders’ Paris March Participation Provokes Wave of Criticism
Internet users responding to images of world leaders at the Paris march against terrorism earlier this month displayed what might be called a "consensus of mockery."
Caribbean Perspectives on the Charlie Hebdo Free Speech vs. Intolerance Debate
Two Caribbean bloggers discuss religious fundamentalism in the context of the Charlie Hebdo attack and wonder if the tragedy can be used as an opportunity to change the idealogical narrative.
Myanmar's Nationalist Monk Attacks UN Envoy in His Speech
The Buddhist nationalist monk is not happy over the UN rapporteur's statement concerning the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
One Month on, Pakistanis Pledge to #NeverForget the Horrific Peshawar School Massacre
Campaigners urged overseas Pakistanis to join “not just by sending funds, but by going to Pakistani embassies wherever they live” to send a strong message to the government.
Activists Urge Pope Francis to Drop Fossil Fuel Investments During Philippines Visit
In Tacloban, during an organized luncheon with victims from Typhoon Haiyan, the pope was hand delivered a letter including a call for the Vatican to divest from fossil fuels.
How Muslim and Christian Women in Nigeria Banded Together to Fight Violent Extremism
Pastor Esther Ibanga and local Muslim religious leader Khadija Hawaja founded Women Without Walls a few years ago in a bid to return safety and security to their communities.
Reports of Forced Religious Conversions Grab Headlines in India
On Christmas day, 59 Christians in Kerala reportedly were "converted" to Hinduism by two Hindu nationalist organizations with ties to the leading BJP party. What happened to religious tolerance?
How the Philippines Hid Social Injustice From Pope Francis
Activists, street children, and urban poor residents were some of those who were "hidden" by authorities during the state visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines.
Philippines Evicts Small Vendors Ahead of Pope's ‘Mercy and Compassion’ Visit
The Luneta street vendors have protested the eviction notice: "We love the Pope. We will not harm him. We are not terrorists."
The French Media’s ‘Charlie Hebdo’ Narrative Isn’t for Everyone in France
One schoolteacher pushes back against the French mainstream media's coverage of minority attitudes about the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo.
ISIS Claim Their Kazakh Children Are Murdering Russian Spies [UPDATED]
Radical group ISIS released footage today of what it says is a Kazakh child assassinating two agents of Russia's Federal Security Service. Should we believe it?
Twitter Mocks Anti-Muslim Comments with #FoxNewsFacts after ‘Expert’ Says Birmingham, England is ‘Totally Muslim’
Twitter users quickly got into the game, trending #FoxNewsFacts globally. Social search engine Topsy reports that the tag has been tweeted more than 400,000 times this week.
This Is No Joke: New Fatwa Prohibits Building Snowmen in Saudi Arabia
Back in 2008, clergyman Mohammed Minijed called for killing all rodents, including Mickey Mouse, during a television interview. Today, he strikes again with a fatwa prohibiting snowmen.
Charlie Is Ahmed. And Ahmed Is Charlie: Hashtags Emerging From the Tragedy in France
While we consume news from France, commenting on freedom of satirical expression, Islam and France as a society, the concept of French universalism and republicanism is left in the shadows.
British Islamist Anjem Choudary Doesn't Represent All Muslims (Someone Tell USA Today)
The idea of Choudary speaking for all Muslims is laughable, writes Jillian York.
#JeSuisCharlie: Muslims Have Nothing to Apologize For
Besides the actual attack, what bothered me the most was thousands of people asking, “why aren’t Muslims condemning this?”, writes Joey Ayoub.
What Drives Blasphemy Charges in the Middle East? (It's Not Just Religion)
Sentenced to death for his online writing, Mauritanian blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed is yet another victim of a repressive government using “apostasy” pretexts to crack down political speech.
