Islam has tripled in France - but will likely face the same secularising threat as Christianity:
But laicite’s influence also has created a kind of identity crisis among younger generations of Muslim immigrants because they are raised in Muslim homes yet are exposed to a secular humanist environment, said Gracie Couloir, a Southern Baptist missionary from Virginia who has served in France for the past 17 years.
State defines religion: The High Authority for the Fight Against Discrimination and for Equality in France has ruled that the “burqa is a sign of the submission of women that surpasses its religious aspect and could be considered as a breach of republican values” (my emphasis).
Around half of teachers polled in a recent survey want religious symbols banned from British schools (unsurprisngly reported as a ‘ban on headscarves’ by The Torygraph).
Banning ‘religious symbols’ is, generally, a waste of time.
Chinese Muslims in the west of the country face curbs during Ramadan.
Looks like no (public, open) tarawih for them.
Another “religion-in-the-courtroom”* battle in the US.
*Jury room.
Somali converts to Christianity in say they “live in constant fear of persecution” from “fundamentalists”.
The man who forced two young boys to partake in a ritual flogging ceremony has been found guilty of child cruelty.
The BBC has some background on the practice.
This is Silvio Berlusconi’s superior civilisation: The xenophobic Northern League has proposed new legislation which would in effect halt construction of new Islamic mosques.
Four American Christians who had more than 300 Bibles confiscated by Chinese customs officials left Kunming airport after a 26-hour standoff, after realising the officials would not change their stance.
Politicians from the anti immigrant Northern League (part of Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right government) want to ban Muslims from a proposed multifaith prayer centre based in a palace founded by Crusaders.
George Bush called on China to respect religious freedom.
Bush also called on Russia to “respect Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty”, at which point most of the audience fell about laughing.
The Economist covers religious conversions, and has a longer article on Islam and apostasy.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree Monday ordering members of a minority Muslim sect to stop practicing their form of Islam or face arrest.
Turkey’s highest court says the government’s move to allow headscarves on university campuses is a violating of the constitution’s secular principles.
Four Algerian Christians have been given suspended jail terms and fines for worshipping illegally.
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