Stories about Religion from March, 2010
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Eye on T&T
Jamaica's Active Voice admits she's “quite fascinated by the goings on in Trinidad and Tobago over the last couple of days”, saying, “I'd like to see how the ruling party extricates itself from what appears to be damning evidence of guilt…”; Jumbie's Watch, meanwhile, has “perused the overall picture and...
Malaysia: 3 women caned for having illicit sex
Three women were caned in Malaysia after a Shariah court found them guilty of having “sex out of wedlock.” They were the first Muslim women to be caned for committing Shariah violations. Bloggers react
Syria: Bloggers Discuss Secularism
The Middle East is often associated with Islam, not only as a faith but also as a political ideology and a system of governance. Can secularism ever be implemented in the region? Is it any good? And what is secularism really? These are a few of the questions some Syrian bloggers have been trying to answer.
India: Nithyananda Scandal On Twitter
Blogadda compiles the reactions of some Twitter users on the recent scandal of Swami Nithyananda, a Karnataka based spiritual leader.
Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Getting Kicks
This Beach Called Life thinks that politics and good governance in Trinidad and Tobago are “entertainment as usual”, while across in Barbados, B.C. Pires is also amused by the goings-on in his homeland.
Poland: Students Suing Former Minister of Education
Last year, two Wroclaw students signed a petition asking the headmaster to remove religious symbols from their school building - but he refused. The minister of education called these students "spoiled brats" - and they are suing him now. Magda Pilat reports on Polish bloggers' reactions.
Palestine: Outrage At Israeli Announcement About Ibrahimi Mosque
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently announced his government’s intention to designate Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and the Ibrahimi Mosque/Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, both in the occupied West Bank, as Jewish heritage sites. The statement has led to outrage amongst Palestinians. Mays Dagher tells us more in this post.
French Muslims: From Colonisation to Citizenship
As Francophone Africa is celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from France or Belgium, and with the still rumbling "National Identity" debate as a backdrop, a new generation of French documentary makers have decided to tackle themselves, as Muslims and French citizens, what it means to be both in secular France.
India: The Taslima Nasrin ‘article’ that cost two lives
Sans Serif discusses about the controversial article on the burqa by Taslima Nasrin, the exiled Bangladeshi author. After the article was published in the weekly magazine section of a Kannada daily, protests erupted and two persons had died.
Is India Intolerant To MF Hussain?
“Does MF Husain accepting Qatari citizenship mean India is intolerant?” Rabble Rousing Random Ramblings says a resounding no to that.
Bahamas: International Women's Day
“I'm sure not one civic leader, not one business leader, not one religious leader, will give IWD a thought, much less a word. Bahamian women will be silent too”: Still, Womanish Words holds out hope “that we'll hear the voices of some good writers…speaking up with me in celebration and...
Trinidad & Tobago: Holi
Repeating Islands reports on the celebration of Holi in Trinidad and Tobago.
Bulgaria: A Debate on Islam
On Feb. 26, some 40 people attended a debate titled "Islam as a threat - again in fashion?", held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Ruslan Trad translates some of the blog notes on the issues discussed.
Morocco: In Meknès, a Devastating Accident
On February 19, devastating news from Morocco: the minaret of the Bab Berdieyinne Mosque (also known as the Lalla Khenata bint Bekkar Mosque) in the UNESCO heritage city of Meknès, Morocco, had collapsed during Friday prayers. Bloggers are sharing local stories and condolences with the people of Meknès.
