Stories about Religion from January, 2010
Haiti: Bastion of Music Education Destroyed
Africlassical is sad to learn that the earthquake in Haiti destroyed the country's École Sainte Trinité, where Julio Racine taught music.
Nigeria: Nigerian bloggers take on would-be bomber Umar Abdulmutallab
On December 25th, the world was taken by surprise when news broke that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian citizen, had nearly succeeded in detonating explosives on a Northwest Airlines flight between Amsterdam and Detroit. At first, many Nigerians reacted with shock and disbelief, some even doubting whether Abdulmutallab was truly a Nigerian.
Egypt: Bloggers arrested over Naga Hammady Visit
Egypt today arrested 20 bloggers who were visiting Naga Hammady in Upper Egypt to pass their respects to those killed in a sectarian outburst on January 7. Seven people were shot dead and several injured when an assailant gunned down Christian Copts leaving a church after the Christmas mass. The bloggers visit was to show a united front against sectarianism.
Haiti: Experiences of the Earthquake
So far the casualty reports from Haiti's earthquake have focused on the terrifying statistics, but very few names had been attached to those numbers. Here is a look at some of the experiences that the survivors of this natural disaster are sharing online...
Haiti: Aftershock
The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog writes a hair-raising post about the aftermath of the earthquake: “I cannot imagine what the next few weeks and months will be like. I am afraid for everyone. Never in my life have I seen people stronger than Haitian people. But I am afraid for them.”
Church attacks in Malaysia
Several Christian churches were attacked in Malaysia following a court ruling which overturned the government directive banning non-Muslims from using the word Allah in their teachings and publications. Here are some reactions from the Malaysian blogosphere
Madagascar: New Threats to Protestant Church and Free Speech
The beginning of the year in Madagascar has been marked with yet more protests where protesters have been fired upon and the harassment of those perceived as close to the former regime of Marc Ravalomanana, including several journalists and the protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar.
Iraq/Saudia Arabia: The Clerics War
Saudi-Iraqi relations have plummeted to a new low following remarks by Saudi Sunni cleric Mohammad al-Ureifi against Iraqi Shia Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani during a Friday prayer sermon. Bloggers react to the development in this round up by Tarek Amr.
Arab World: Article on polygamy causes a stir
Nadine al-Bedair's article entitled "Me and My Four Husbands" has caused controversy and outrage amongst the Arab and Muslim blogosphere. However, there are also those that have defended her piece. Katharine Ganly explores these reactions.
Bermuda: The Family Unit
Vexed Bermoothes suggests that the soaring crime rate might just have something to do with “Bermuda’s low marriage rate and the large number of children that are raised in lone parent households.”
Russian Orthodox Church Condemns Web Anonymity
Russian Orthodox Church spokesperson Vsevolod Chaplin expressed concerns with “extremist ideas” that spread out on the Internet and called for the limitation of Web anonymity, Securitylab.ru reports [RUS]. The statement provoked heated discussions [RUS] on RuNet.
Poland: Charity Initiative Criticised by a Catholic Radio Station
Today is the day when Poland unites in an enormous charity event called The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, organized for the 18th time by Jurek Owsiak to help children with cancer. This time, however, there has been strong criticism of the initiative's transparency by listeners of Radio Maryja, a Catholic radio station led by Father Rydzyk.
Russia: Death Penalty Moratorium Extended Indefinitely
Russia has indefinitely extended a moratorium on the death penalty that was due to expire on Jan. 1. Numerous comments were posted on RuNet, and they essentially reflect the returns of opinion polls on the death penalty issue.
Puerto Rico: Three Kings Day
Gil the Jenius is disheartened that “on Three Kings Day, the traditional Puerto Rican day for sharing gifts and celebrating the (extended) joy of Christmas, the death toll by murder on My Island this year stands at 19.”
Egypt: Naga Hammady Massacre
Egyptian bloggers express shock and rage at the killing of Coptic Christians on the eve of their Christmas celebrations in Naga Hammady, in Upper Egypt. An unknown criminal opened his fire randomly on people there after they finished their prayers and were on their way back to their homes.
Japan: Witnessing a Tibetan sky burial
Blogger Huixing assisted to witnessed a Tibetan sky burial [en] in Litang. At his blog [ja] a sequence of pictures document the traditional funerary practice wherein a human corpse is exposed to birds of prey.
Azerbaijan: A bad start to a new year
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines says that the start of a new year has not been kind to Azerbaijan with several stories breaking that the blog describes as gloomy. In particular, it mentions new charges against an imprisoned journalist, threats to cut electricity supplies to households that have not paid...
Bnagladesh: Secularism And Constitution
Bangladesh has proceeded to annul the fifth amendment to the constitution, which will lead to the ban of religion-based politics in the country. Indus Asia Online Journal (iaoj) commented that Pakistan should follow the same to save the country from the misuse and abuse of religion.
Lebanon: Bloggers Participated in “Kolena Laila”
"Kolena Laila"(We are all Laila) is an online initiative that aims to spread awareness about the Arab women in the Middle East and North Africa. In its fourth year, "Laila" got to be Lebanese. Here are some of the Lebanese bloggers' contributions.
Japan: New Year customs
Lee from Tokyo Time posts photos of Japanese new year customs.
Pakistan: Suicide Bomber Targets Playground
Alertpak informs that on the first day of new year a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of a volleyball playground in Lakki Marwat (NWFP) in Pakistan. The death toll reported was 47 (including 10 minors) and the number is rising fast.
