Stories about Religion from December, 2013
Twin Acts of Terror for Russia's New Year
Little information about the perpetrators is known, but as usual the RuNet is rife with speculation.
Celebrating Christmas (Bara Din) in Bangladesh
Karim at Amader Kotha writes about how Christmas is celebrated in Bangladesh, a Muslim majority country: The Christian community in Bangladesh may be a minority when compared to the number of people following other religious pathways in the country, nevertheless Christmas in Bangladesh, which is a public holiday, is celebrated...
South Korean Election Scandal Brings Three Religions Together
Opposition against the current administration's election manipulation scandal grows stronger every day, even enough to inspire conservative Protestant Christian groups to join the protest movement [ko] following the trails of Catholic leaders and Buddhist monks. On Christmas, this rare scene took place: in front of a Christmas tree which stood in...
Pussy Riot Free to Tweet at Last!
Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are already micro-blogging up a storm.
The State Of Freedom Of Religion in Maldives
The Maldives ranks high on the list of governments that restrict religious freedom. Maldivian citizens have to be Muslim and cannot practice any religion other than Islam. Non-Muslim foreigners cannot vote, worship publicly, obtain citizenship, and hold public positions. Journalist Hilath Rasheed notes that Maldives perhaps will not be able...
Bahrain Preacher: “Celebrating National Day is a Sin”
Bahraini blogger Manaf Al Muhandis tweets from a sermon before Friday prayers in Bahrain, in which the preacher declares that celebrating National Day is a sin.
Jihadists Online: The Dark Side of the Internet
Islamist Jihadists are online. Lebanese blogger – and occasional satirist – Karl Sharro tweets: I honestly sometimes can't tell anymore if I'm watching news from Syria or a period drama from early Islamic history. — Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) December 16, 2013 Syrian Noor Al Ali replies: @KarlreMarks Have you come...
Pashto Singer Ghazala Javed's Ex-Husband Sentenced to Death for Her Murder
During her lifetime, Ghazala Javed bravely defied Taliban pressure to stop singing and spoke up against creeping Talibanization in her hometown Swat.
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Declares Executed Bangladeshi War Criminal Molla a Martyr
Farhan at Guppu.com informs: Jamaat Islami Pakistan has declared Bangladeshi Jamaat Islami leader Abdul Qadir Molla a martyr and his execution a judicial murder. Jamaat maintains Molla was punished because of his ‘love for Pakistan’. Jamaat has also announced on its official Facebook page that Jamaat Islami Pakistan’s top leaders...
Bangladesh Executes Islamist Leader Abdul Quader Mollah for War Crimes
Abdul Quader Mollah was the first to die for war crimes committed during Bangladesh's struggle for independence. His execution sparked a wave of deadly violence from supporters, leaving several dead.
Bangladesh: Where Will The Non-Muslim Go?
Subrata Shuvo at Banglablogging platform Amra Bondhu (We are friends) shares the fear and plights of Non-Muslims as racial attacks on them are on the rise, especially during the political disturbances. He shares a story from Chittagong: পঞ্চাশ টাকা দিয়ে এক মাতালকে বলেছিল মসজিদে ঢিল মারতে। মাতাল কথামতন তাই করল।...
China: 100-year-old Buddhist Temple Was Force-Demolished
Offbeat China translated a local report and some netizens’ reaction on the forced demolition of a 100-year-old Buddhist Temple in Fuzhou city, Fujian.
Visible Discrmination Against Ahmadis in a Shop In Pakistan
Farhan Janjua at Guppu reports a hate speech against Ahmadis. A mobile shop displayed this message “Caution: Qadianis (Ahmadis) are banned from entering.” The Ahmadi Muslims are religiously persecuted as a consequence of professing their faith.
The Caucasus Network: Personable Blogger, Svetlana Anokhina
Svetlana Anokhina—a 50-year-old journalist, writer, and community manager from Makhachkala, Dagestan—is as personable and undoubtedly real as netizens get.
Christian Orthodox Old Believer Community Exhibit Charms Visitors in Lithuania
An exhibit dedicated to Old Believers in Lithuania opened in the public library in Klaipėda with a display of photographs by the cinematographer and photographer Vasiliy Degtyarev.
Facebook Refused to Delete a Video on How to Make a Petrol Bomb
During the recent political violence in Bangladesh there were many instances of petrol bomb attacks on public transport full of passengers which killed and injured many. A video emerged in Facebook [bn] last May posted by a radical person on how to make a petrol bomb and throw it to...
Croatian Citizens Vote Whether to Block Same Sex Marriage
On December 1, 2013, Croatian citizens voted on a referendum that proposes the introduction of defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman into the country's constitution.
BBC, Guardian, Play Cricket With Facts: The Real Tendulkar-Taliban Story
The Taliban say they did not give a warning against praising Indian cricketer Tendulkar and are upset that they have been misquoted so far and wide since November 28, 2013.
