Stories about Religion from January, 2011
Pakistan: Protest Against Incitement To Violence
Citizens For Democracy writes a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan requesting for Suo Moto action against a cleric of the Mohabat Khan mosque Peshawar who had offered a reward for the murder of Aasia Noreen if the Lahore High Court acquits her.
Morocco: What Legal Protection for Religions Other Than Maliki Islam?
Blogger and lawyer Ibn Kafka gives an insight into the legal dispositions provided by the Moroccan law [Fr] to protect cults and religions, other than Sunni Islam, the Maliki rite of which is officially adopted as State religion.
Egypt: Who's Who of Who's in Jail
On Twitter, Egyptian Ahmed Sabry writes (Ar): “The Egyptian government detains Salafists, Christians, Satan worshipers, activists, gays, seculars, communists and atheists. Only the vegetarians are left.”
Christmas in Armenia and Georgia… and on Twitter
While Christmas was observed in the West on 25 December, other countries instead celebrated it earlier this week. In Armenia, however, it even became a trending topic on Twitter .
Egypt: An Open Letter to Egyptian Christians
Egyptian blogger Sherif, also known as Ibn AbdelAziz, offers his condolences (Ar) to Christian Egyptians, after the deadly Alexandria church explosion on New Year's eve in this post Mohamed ElGohary translates from Arabic.
Japan: Firewalking Festival
A blogger at The Roving Ronin Report posted videos and pictures [en] of the Firewalking Festival (Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri) in Odawara, where “Buddhist Priests dressed as Yamabushi – mountain hermits – walked over hot coals.”
Iran: Christians under pressure
In Balatarin, a leading Iranian community website, several users reported that more than 20 evangelical Christians including a church leader were arrested on 24th of December.
Pakistan: There Is No Justification For Murder
Sana Saleem slams the people who are uttering words of sympathy for the killer of the Punjab governor Salman Taseer. She says: “there’s no justification for his murder, and every single one who instigated violence, has blood on their hands.”
Egypt: New Year's Eve Church Bombing Draws Condemnation
Egyptian bloggers react to the worst church bombing in over a decade, where 21 people were killed, and another 79 injured during a New Year’s mass in a Coptic cathedral in Alexandria in this post by Tarek Amr.
Nigeria: Attacks in Northern Nigeria are ethno-religious
Yomi Ogunsanya argues that attacks in Northern Nigeria are mostly ethno-religious: “My concern is with the deliberate denial, by Nigerian leaders and theocratic elite, that most, if not all the violence we have seen in, particularly, Northern Nigeria, are attributable to religion or ethnicity or both.”
Cuba: Three Kings Day
“In Cuba and possibly most Hispanic countries, the children would be getting up and opening gifts this morning. The gifts were delivered by the Three Kings”: My Big Fat Cuban Family blogs about The Day of the Three Kings.
Pakistan: A Nepali On The Assassination Of Salman Taseer
Nepali blogger Bhumika Ghimire comments on the recent assassination of the Punjab governor Salman Taseer: “Yes, the murderer was called a hero. I will not mention his name here, he does not deserve to be known. His deeds are enough to condemn him. But to honor this man by the...
Zimbabwe: 2011 SMS Resolutions
2011 SMS resolutions in Zimbabwe: “This morning we asked our email and SMS subscribers “Whats your resolution about how you’ll get involved in making change happen in 2011′?” Of the 70+ responses we’ve received so far, the most popular response from our subscribers is that they would vote (21 said...
Pakistan: Salman Taseer's Tragic Assassination And The Blasphemy Law
In one of the saddest moments of Pakistan's battered political history, the Governor of the Punjab, Mr. Salman Taseer was assassinated in cold blood by one his own body guards, who claims he did it because of the Governor's comments regarding the infamous blasphemy law.
Kazakhstan: Bloggers discuss religion
Because Kazakhstan does not have a clear religious policy, it has become the norm that everyone is entitled to his or her own perspective on faith. As it was twenty years ago, no one is really bothered by this multitude of views, which is evidenced by the debate on religion...
Lebanon: Banning land sale between religions
“This law is an insult to each and every one of us. It lays bare the state of bankruptcy that our sectarian democracy has reached,” states Mustapha in describing the draft law, authored by the Lebanese labor minister, that would prevent Christians and Muslims from selling property to each other...
Lebanon: Iraqi refugees and Lebanese sectarianism
“If I do not wear my cross, and I speak in the Iraqi dialect, automatically people think I am Shiite, and I get the very lousy treatment…”, said Joseph, an Iraqi refugee living in Lebanon, in an interview with Seif. The contact and interview for this post took place through Facebook.