India implements citizenship law opposed by Muslims before election
New Delhi, India Reuters India moved on Monday to implement a 2019 citizenship law that has been criticised as discriminating against Muslims, weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a rare third term for his Hindu nationalist government. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) grants Indian nationality to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who […]
Essay: Three anniversaries will force issues of religious persecution at the UN General Assembly
Whether world leaders grapple with interconnecting issues of religion and global affairs remains to be seen, but, KNOX THAMES, a former special envoy for religious minorities at the US State Department and senior fellow at Pepperdine University, says they cannot afford to ignore them…
List Afghanistan as religious liberty violator, report urges US State Department
United StatesRNS The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that Afghanistan be added to the State Department’s list of worst religious freedom violators, citing the changes that resulted when the Taliban took control of the country last year. The federal panel said in its annual report released on Monday that the regime change has […]
Essay: The killing of Pastor William Siraj reminds us that Pakistan must do much more to protect its religious minorities
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, says the recent killing of a pastor in Pakistan was a “painful reminder” of the religiously motivated extremist violence which has plagued Peshawar…
Essay: As we face a Christmas like no other, we mustn’t forget those for whom Christmas has never been ‘normal’
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, says it’s important – even as many around the world face an different Christmas this year – to remember those for whom Christmas isn’t something they’ve been able to experience for many years…
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ release in Eritrea a rare sign of religious toleration
Nairobi, KenyaRNS In Eritrea, members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses group who had been serving long prison sentences were set free on Friday, a surprising development for the east African country, where freedom of religion or belief is severely suppressed. The denomination announced that two women and 26 men had been freed after spending between five […]
Nationalism “must not prevail”, Pope Francis says, addressing the United Nations
Vatican CityRNS In a video message to the United Nations, Pope Francis said the COVID-19 pandemic has put the international community at a crossroads and that it’s up to UN leaders to decide whether to choose the path of multi-lateralism and dialogue or nationalism and individualism. “We are faced, then, with a choice between two […]
ESSAY: US CONGRESS MUST REAUTHORISE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AGENCY FOR PRISONERS OF FAITH
ANDREW BRUNSON, in an article first published on Religion News Service, explains how the work of US Commission on International Religious Freedom is not only critical in “sounding the alarm” on religious persecution” but also in advocating for people, who, like he was, are imprisoned for their faith…
ESSAY: POMPEO’S ‘CHRISTIAN LEADER’ SPEECH GOES ONLY AS FAR AS TRUMP ALLOWS
ERIC ATCHESON, author and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister, grapples with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent speech to the American Association of Christian Counselors and how his words on Christian leadership stack up…
PERSECUTION: TRUMP AIMS TO PROTECT CHRISTIANS BUT SOME AREN’T SURE HE’S HELPING
With the plight of religious minorities around the world in the spotlight following last week’s US State Department summit on the issue, JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, reports on claims by some advocates and experts that the Trump administration’s policies have, for some, made their situation worse…