· July, 2013

Stories about Religion from July, 2013

Bangladeshi Blogger Writes About Prison Experience

  28 July 2013

Bangladeshi Blogger and activist Asif Mohiuddin, the winner of the best social activism blog from the Deutsche Welle Best Of Blogs Awards 2012, was arrested last April on charges of “hurting religious sentiment of Muslims through writing”. He has been released under bail and is now writing about his experiences...

State of Islam in Southeast Asia

  23 July 2013

Murray Hunter of the University Malaysia Perlis discusses the situation of Muslim-majority societies in Southeast Asia as well as the issues associated with the rise of Islam in the region. Poverty, literacy, education, displacement, feudalism, unemployment, suppression, and control is dispossessing Muslims within ASEAN. Government and Ulama are trying to...

Poland Bans Ritual Slaughter of Animals

  21 July 2013

Online magazine Commentary and many others have been discussing the decision of the Polish government to ban ritual slaughter of animals, in accordance to humane slaughter practices, which many EU countries have recently been leaning towards. For Poland however, this decision is a controversial one, in light of its history...

Sixty Killed During Fighting in Nzérékoré, Guinea

  19 July 2013

Guinee News reports the latest death toll – 60 – from the killings in Nzérékoré, Guinea [fr] : Les cinquante deux corps qui étaient non identifiables ont été enterrés dans une fosse commune hier. Les autres corps reconnaissables ont été remis à leurs familles. 52 non-identified bodies were buried in a mass...

VIDEO: Historic Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque Bombed in Syria

Protect Syrian Archaeology posted photographs on its Facebook page [en, ar] and videos on YouTube, recording the moment the historic Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque (7th century) was bombed in Homs, Syria. Homs – Results of the bombing of Khalid ibn al-Walid mosque#حمص – أثار القصف الذي تعرض له مسجد الصحابي خالد بن الوليد” This 5-minute video takes you inside...

Teen Activist Malala Yousafzai Impresses UN, Polarizes Pakistan

  14 July 2013

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban on her way to school less than a year ago, celebrated her 16th birthday by delivering a powerful speech to world leaders at the United Nations headquarters in New York. A symbol for child education and women empowerment around the world, some in Malala's country Pakistan continue to spin conspiracy theories to malign her.

Several Blasts Shake Buddhist Temple In Northeastern India

  10 July 2013

The Mahabodhi temple complex, a Buddhist pilgrimage site in northeastern India, was hit by multiple explosions, leaving two people believed to be Tibetan monks injured. The attack was condemned by Buddhists in India and its neighboring countries. The temple is one of the four main pilgrimage sites of the Buddhists.

Pakistani Mother, Daughters Gunned Down for Dancing in Rain

  2 July 2013

A mother and her two teenage daughters were shot dead after five masked men broke into their house in the small town of Chilas in Pakistan, in what appears to be an honor killing. A mobile video of the sisters dancing in the rain had been circulating locally, which was seen as an affront to the family's honor.