· February, 2009

Stories about Religion from February, 2009

Jamaica, Guyana: Action or Reaction?

Both Active Voice [Jamaica] and Guyanese blogger C.D. Valere (writing at Baiganchoka) continue the discussion about recent attempts by the Jamaican Broadcasting Commission to “clean up” the airwaves.

26 February 2009

Malaysia: Operation Valentine

Malaysian police arrested 26 unmarried Muslim couples in hotel rooms during Operation Valentine to curb premarital sex. The crime of “khalwat,” or “close proximity” forbids unmarried Muslims to meet behind...

25 February 2009

Egyptians on the verge of insanity

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Egyptians are struggling to maintain their sanity, faith, and stability. Marwa Rakha presents the following selection from Egyptian blogs which discuss dreams, suicide, unemployment and the gruesome murder of a woman and her children - at the hands of her husband.

25 February 2009

Pakistan: Honor Killings And Islam

Imam Zaid Shakir at GOATMILK: An intellectual playground reminds us that “the practice of honor killings has absolutely no sanction in the Qur’an, the Prophetic practice, or in the evolved...

23 February 2009

Jordan: Questions to God

Jordanian blogger Hareega asks: “Why did God create earth, humans and the whole world? Did he have to? Did he want to? Can God regret something he's done a very...

21 February 2009

Iraq: The Walk to Karbala

Laith walks for 67 miles from Baghdad to Karbala to mark the 40th day anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), who was killed in...

21 February 2009

Palestine: The Story of a Gazan “Martyr”

The death of anyone close to you is painful, but how do you cope with it if that person has actively sought death? Gazan blogger Samaher Al Khazandar has written about her nephew, Mu’min Musa Al Khazandar, who joined the military wing of Hamas, and was determined to die as a martyr while fighting for Palestine.

19 February 2009

Pakistan: The Taliban Truce Deal

There is a civil war going on in Swat valley in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan for more than half a year between the Pakistani army and the pro-Taliban...

19 February 2009

Egypt: Bloggers Take on the “Sons of Zion”

The bombs on Gaza may have stopped falling, but a fierce cyber battle continues, with bloggers on both sides of the fence mobilising their troops to 'obliterate' the presence of the other - at least online. Marwa Rakha taps into the Egyptian blogosphere to present to us another facet of this war.

18 February 2009

China: Religious demography and house churches

Last November (21-22, Nov 2008), the China State Council Development Research Center organized a seminar on “Christianity and Social Harmony — Special Session on House Church”. This is the first...

18 February 2009

Kazakhstan: Ban on Scientology Church

KZBlog reports that the public prosecutor of Karaganda oblast is seeking to close its Scientology Center on charges that they cause physical and psychological harm to people.

18 February 2009