Author: Staff Writer

Source: Baha'i World News Service

http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/606

The Iranian Parliament is considering legislation that would institutionalize a series of gross human rights violations, affecting not only Baha'is but many others, even outside of Iran, the Baha'i International Community said today.

Of greatest concern is a section that would mandate the death penalty for anyone who converts from Islam to...

Author: Nafez Qawas

Source: The Daily Star

Author: Staff Writer

Source: AFP

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jaagAk_W4--fhhzdOqLwq22CuDwg

Almost 20 years after the fall of communism, Bulgaria wants to reverse widespread ignorance about religion fostered under the old regime by making religious studies compulsory in schools.

The government's proposal, however, has churned up some stormy opposition to this long-time taboo.

Georgy Bakalov, who heads a team...

Author: Ruth Gledhill

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3412734.ece

Freedom from religion in Britain is becoming as important as freedom of religion, according to a United Nations investigation.

A 23-page report by Asma Jahangir, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, says that the 2001 census findings that nearly 72 per cent of the population is Christian can no...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/7259848.stm

A Muslim group has called for clearer labeling by Walkers crisps as it said traces of alcohol can be found in some of its products.
l
Alcohol is used in small quantities as an agent to extract the flavour from an ingredient.

The Food Standards Agency said that as the amount of alcohol was so...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Fox News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332031,00.html

Belarusian authorities released an independent journalist from prison on Friday, his lawyer said, a decision that appeared to be part of the authoritarian president's efforts to improve ties with the West.

Alexander Sdvizhkov, a former deputy editor of the Zgoda newspaper, had been convicted in January of...

Author: Mark Sappenfield

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0222/p01s01-wosc.html

Hajji Ali Akbar wants his country to be governed by Islamic law.

Yet in Monday's elections in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), he and many others voted for a party that rejects religion in politics. It has led many to herald these elections as a victory for secular democracy and as a sign of the failure of Islamic...

Author: Gregg Krupa

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/SCHOOLS/802210392

Even on this famously liberal campus, some University of Michigan students wonder what Muslims wearing head scarves and beards are doing hanging out with some of the Jews wearing yarmulkes. Why are they spending so much time together? Are they supposed to be doing that?

I mean, like, is it even...

Author: MARK MACKINNON

Source: The Globe and Mail

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/pop-preacher-sings-of-a-tolerant-islam/article18445431/

'Here...

Author: NEIL MacFARQUHAR

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/education/21muslim.html?

Amir Mertaban vividly recalls sitting at his university’s recruitment table for the Muslim Students Association a few years ago when an attractive undergraduate flounced up in a decidedly un-Islamic miniskirt, saying “Salamu aleykum,” or “Peace be upon you,” a standard Arabic greeting, and asked to sign up...

Author: Jim DeBrosse

Source: Dayton Daily News

Author: WILLIAM J. KOLE

Source: AP

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPG24fVmi0a_uUbMtmF_X4iX_4hQD8UU9BP00

Kastriot Sadiku has a confession: Like a good Muslim, he was near a mosque when Kosovo declared independence. But like a good Kosovar, he was just around the corner, sipping suds at his favorite pub.

As minaret loudspeakers broadcast afternoon prayers, "I was having a beer," said Sadiku, 25. "In the entire Muslim...

Author: Mark Rice-Oxley

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0220/p07s01-woeu.html

When it comes to leadership in the Church of England, the former Bishop of Norwich once reportedly said: "If you want to lead someone in this part of the world, find out where they're going. And walk in front of them."

Rowan Williams, who celebrates five years as Archbishop of Canterbury next week, could never be accused of...

Author: FOSTER KLUG

Source: AP

A senior Chinese official is trying to calm U.S. misgivings ahead of Beijing's coming Olympic Games about what the Bush administration sees as religious intolerance.

In Washington, the director of China's religious affairs bureau met with U.S. officials and spoke at Georgetown University.

Ye Xiaowen told reporters Wednesday, after talks with Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky, that China's peaceful development depends upon its respect for human rights and...

Author: Bruce Nolan

Source: Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=15001

American culture's view of American Muslims and Islam is steadily deteriorating under an onslaught of "bigotry" on cable news shows, newspaper op-ed pages and in the blogosphere, an Arab-American activist told an audience at Tulane University here Tuesday.

That's a significant shift, said Hussein Ibish, founder of the Foundation for Arab-...