Religion News on the Web
Selected religion-related news from around the Web
March 09, 2011
- The Associated Press
AP: Dalai Lama says he'll give up political role
The Dalai Lama said Thursday that he will give up his political role in the Tibetan government-in-exile and shift that power to an elected representative, as the 76-year-old Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader struggles with growing worries about who will succeed him when he dies.
March 08, 2011
- The Associated Press
AP: Chinese official touts softer line on restive west
The new Communist Party chief for China's restive western region debuted
a softer line on the remote area Tuesday, calling for less
discrimination against its largely Muslim population and more
initiatives to help win their trust and support.
February 28, 2011
- The Korea Herald
Korea Herald: Protestants scupper Islamic bond bill
Legislation to exempt taxes on Islamic bonds and tap into the Islamic
finance market missed the boat again amid fierce opposition from
Protestant leaders, one of whom threatened to topple President Lee
Myung-bak.
February 22, 2011
- The Associated Press
AP: Medvedev sees `fires for decades' in Arab world
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday predicted decades of instability in the Arab world if protesters whom he called fanatics come to power, adding no such scenario will be permitted at home.
February 17, 2011
- The Economist
The Economist: A Muslim democracy in action
“VOTE for AK. Write Your Own Constitution.” This is the slogan under
which Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development (AK) party will launch its
campaign for the general election that is to be held on June 12th.
February 13, 2011
- Newsweek
Newsweek: Intolerant Indonesia
In a jerky video that’s shaken up Indonesia, young men take turns
whacking three prostrate, nearly naked bodies with wooden sticks. The
blows land with sickening thumps. Rocks follow.
February 06, 2011
- Los Angeles Times
LA Times: Terrorism meets xenophobia in Russia
If current demographic trends continue, within the next half-century
Muslims will constitute a sizable part, perhaps even a plurality, of
Russia's population; indeed, Moscow currently has more Muslim
inhabitants than any other European city.
February 05, 2011
- The New York Times
NYT: Afghan rights fall short for Christian converts
The jail commander had remained silent as the prisoner, Sayed Mussa,
told a reporter about his journey from Islam to Christianity: his secret
baptism nine years earlier, his faith in Jesus Christ and the promise
of heaven.
January 29, 2011
- The Australian
The Australian: Malaysia steers moderate course with Najib at helm
Although he probably wouldn't approve of
the term, among Muslim heads of government, and in the context of
Malaysian politics, Najib is a liberal. He has recast Malaysia's foreign
policy, reached out to its ethnic minorities with a "1 Malaysia" slogan
and campaign, and set the economy on a path of reform and hi-tech
growth.
January 24, 2011
- The Weekly Standard
Weekly Standard: Blasphemy in Pakistan
Over the past 30 years, under Pakistan’s laws criminalizing blasphemy
against Islam, hundreds of Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, Sikhs, and
unorthodox and reformist Muslims have been tried and imprisoned by the
state or killed by extremists.
January 18, 2011
- The New York Times
NYT: A dress code for Russians? Priest chides skimpiness
A top official for the Russian Orthodox Church on Tuesday proposed
creating an “all-Russian dress code,” lashing out at women who leave the
house “painted like a clown” and “confuse the street with striptease.”