Islam

Church Gives Generously to a Centre for all Faiths

February 22, 2008

Author: Ruth Gledhill

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3412722.ece

A diocese of the Church of England is giving an unprecedented £250,000 towards a multifaith building in which the largest amount of worship space will be reserved for Muslims.

The Guildford diocese is one of the wealthiest in the UK. The Bishop of Guildford, the Right Rev Christopher Hill, gave the £250,000 cheque...

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Shops Raided in Azerbaijan’s Southern Region

February 22, 2008

Author: P. Aliyeva

Source: Trend News

http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1141326&lang=EN

Eighteen Muslim Shops in the south regions of Azerbaijan – Bilasuvar, Jalilabad, Masalli and Lankaran, have been raided, Miryahya Badirov, the head of the South Office of the Azerbaijani State Committee for Religious Organizations, said to Trend News.

Last year, the State Committee for Religious Organizations...

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Draft Iranian Law Threatens Gross Human Rights Violations

February 22, 2008

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...

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Bulgaria Debates Bringing Religious Studies Back into Schools

February 22, 2008

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...

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'Most Britons Belong to No Religion'

February 22, 2008

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...

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Belarus Frees Journalist Jailed for Printing Islamic Cartoons

February 22, 2008

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...

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Islamic Stronghold in Pakistan Goes Secular

February 22, 2008

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...

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Faith Unites Jewish, Muslim Students

February 21, 2008

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...

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For Muslim Students, a Debate on Inclusion

February 21, 2008

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...

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