Stories about Religion from February, 2009
Afghanistan: “Copyright on God’s Words”
Amila Bosnae reacts to the news of a death sentence given to two Afghans who “translated the Quran into one of their country’s languages.”
Saudi Arabia: On relationships and divorce
From Saudi Arabia, American Bedu answers a reader's questions on relationships with Saudis, the consequences on divorce on women and whether Saudi men can live in a relationship without being married.
Jordan: What I dislike about religion
Jordanian blogger Nizar discusses what he dislikes about religions in this post.
Jordan: The meaning of Jihad
Jordanian blogger Ali Dahmash discusses the meaning of the word Jihad – and how it is misconceived around the world, including the Middle East.
Armenia: Repressive Religious Laws
Writing for the new Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online's Caucasus Editor examines three new controversial pieces of legislation which raise serious concerns about religious freedom in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Jordan: Bloggers Reflect on Valentine's Day
Bloggers' reflections on Valentine's day in Jordan varied between wishes for a happy day, and raising important issues about the holiday. Here is what some of them had to say....
El Salvador: A New Archbishop in San Salvador
The new Archbishop José Luís Escobar Alas recently took possession of his archdiocese of the capital city of El Salvador writes Carlos X. Colorado in a guest blog post at Tim's El Salvador Blog, where he also writes that the new Archbishops offers, “a striking contrast both in style and...
Pakistan: Wearing Taweez
Mohammad Yusha at Chowrangi writes about the tradition of Muslims wearing Taweez for protection from black magic.
Hong Kong: Network Mobilization Against Religious Hegemony
Yesterday (Feb 15), more than 800 people participated in a demonstration against Christian Right Wing in Hong Kong. The rally has no traditional NGO back up and it is mainly mobilized via facebook groups. Sidekick reported about the rally via twitter during the rally and put the messages together in...
Jordan: Mourning Rituals
Kinziblogs, from Jordan, discusses mourning traditions and rituals in Jordan, in this post, written as she prepares to meet mourners visiting her home to pay respect for her father-in-law.
India: Religions and Fundamentalists
M.J. Akbar makes a point that all religions are not same, but fundamentalists are.
Armenia: New and old traditions mix on St. Valentine's Day
Founded in 301 AD, Armenia’s longest surviving institution, the Apostolic Church, is considered the world’s oldest national Christian order. But, over 1,700 years years later, pagan traditions remain alive in the country even if now absorbed into the Christian calendar. While much of the world marked St. Valentine's day, Armenians also celebrated one such tradition -- Trndez.
Ethiopia: “St. Mary” thrown out of monastery
An Ethiopia woman who claims to be St. Mary has been thrown out of a monastery in Ethiopia where she started her own sect.
Lebanon: A Civil Marriage Valentine
Renewed calls for Lebanon to allow civil marriages were made in a Valentine ceremony at a Beirut bar over the weekend. Several inter-religious couples staged mock weddings at a bar in Beirut's trendy Gemmayze district to protest the country's stiff marriage laws. Antoun Issa has more in this post.
Bahrain: How much longer for Valentine's Day?
Bahraini blogger Farah Mattar imagines a scene in the future where Valentine’s Day is banned by Bahrain’s MPs: “We have received many complaints from individuals that their neighborhoods were turning into rose infested slums.”
Brunei: Think Big ICT Business Plan Competition
The 'Think Big ICT Business Plan Competition' aims "to motivate local entrepreneurs to realise their ideas in the field of information and communications technology with the opportunity to develop their business ideas and enhance their creativity; as well as to provide a platform for identifying, nurturing and showcasing entrepreneurial talents in Brunei."
Iran: A letter to the Baha’i community
ZaneIrani writes that a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world wrote a letter to the Baha’i community to say that they are ashamed of 150 years of oppression against Baha'is in Iran.
Pakistan: Using Radio To Spread Fundamentalism
Ambreen Kazmi at Chowrangi reports that a cleric in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan is using FM radio to influence the minds of an illiterate society especially the women, who are largely his listeners.
Bahrain: A ban on pork?
Bahraini blogger Ammaro cannot believe some MPs have called for banning pork: “Banning something doesn't make people more religious…Oh, and this may shock you MPs, but the people who usually purchase pork AREN'T USUALLY MUSLIM.”
Italy: In Defense of the “Right to die”
A legal battle over a young woman's 'right to die' after 17 years in a coma has spurred both vast online commentary and activism in Italy. Mostly in defense of "Eluana Englaro's choice", Italian netizens have signed petitions, organized protests, and made YouTube videos of their own 'living will' testimonies, in defiance of both prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Vatican.
Egypt: Time to lift the Gaza blockade
Rantings of a Sandmonkey, from Egypt, says its time to lift the Gaza blockade and explains his reasons here.