Stories about Religion from January, 2016
Facebook Finally Suspends ‘Pegida Macedonia’ Anti-Muslim Page
Despite numerous user report of Islamophobic hate speech, Facebook stated several times that the page did not violate its Community Standards.
How Netizens Are Pushing Back Against ISIS’ Social Media ‘Propaganda Machine’
Alongside the efforts of big companies and governments, many independent groups and individuals are making their own efforts to combat ISIS' activities online.
Checkmate: Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Declares War on Chess
Checkmate. After Saudi Arabia's grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh declared playing chess is forbidden in Islam, netizens turn to Twitter to vent off
First Russian Pastafarian Gets Driver's License Photo Wearing A Colander
Russian Pastafarians are celebrating: for the first time, an adherent of the religion managed to get his driver's license photo taken wearing a pasta strainer—Pastafarians' obligatory headgear.
Don’t Laugh, But Dubai’s Deputy Police Chief Would Like to Tell You About Obama’s ‘Shia Roots’
Dubai's deputy chief of police reasons the Iran Deal happened because Obama is Shia. Arab and Iranian social media users can‘t contain their laughter.
ISIS Destroys Dair Mar Elia, Iraq's Oldest Christian Monastery
Iraq's oldest Christian monastery, Dair Mar Elia, has been destroyed by the ISIS. The monastery, built in 595, is located in Ninawa, just south of Mosul.
The Three Kings Is One of Puerto Rico's Most Loved Traditions
One of the main traditions associated with the Three King's Day are the 'Promesas', or the tradition of asking the Kings to intervene in a moment of need
The Conflict in the Middle East Is Not Between Sunnis and Shias and Doesn't ‘Date Back Millennia’
"Has the region been sectarianized? Yes. Are the differences real? Yes. Is the current war posturing an ancient theological dispute? No," tweets Iyad El-Baghdadi about the so-called Sunni-Shia rift.
Signs of Islamic Law Taking Root in The Gambia
President Yahya Jammeh said his country will be an Islamic state last year. What changes will 2016 bring?
A Revolution of Music and Poetry From Behind the Computer Screens of Nicaragua
Blogger Heydi Ortega argues that today's Nicaraguan youths are in a unique position, beset with a new generation's troubles, and poised for revolutionary actions, if they're willing.
ISIS is Alive and Well in Pakistan Despite Persistent Government Denials
As the world was gearing up to celebrate New Year, news broke in Pakistan that twenty people from Lahore, including women and children, had travelled to Syria to join ISIS.
Saudi Arabia Executes Top Shia Cleric Nimr Al Nimr Under “Terrorism” Charges
Saudi Arabia today announced it had executed 47 people on "terrorism" charges, among them top Shia cleric Nimr Al Nimr.
