Source: AllAfrica Global Media

http://allafrica.com/stories/200312220483.html

On December 22, 2003 AllAfrica Global Media reported, "President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed the need for inter-religious harmony and peace among the various religious believers in the country. He spoke at the N100 million fund raising ceremony of Owu at the weekend, where over N20 million was realised for the development of the Mosque still under construction. According to the President,...

Source: The Scotsman

http://www.news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1400842003

On December 22, 2003 The Scotsman reported, "Chancellor Gerhard Schröder yesterday came out against allowing teachers in public schools to wear headscarves, saying in an interview that the Islamic dress has 'no place' among civil servants...Until now, the German chancellor has not commented on the issue, but in an interview published yesterday in Bild am Sonntag, Mr. Schröder said...

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/21/nyregion/21LONG.html

On December 21, 2003 The New York Times reported on Protestant churches on Long Island that have opened their doors to Jewish congregations. The Times notes that "for Protestant congregations burdened with high costs of maintaining churches, renting out space - to other faiths, or, more commonly, to other Protestant denominations - has become crucial to making ends meet... But the...

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-12/21/article05.shtml

On December 21, 2003 IslamOnline.net reported, "Canterbury Archbishop lambasted Sunday, December 21, the detention without trial of British Muslims inside the kingdom and in Guantanamo as well as the mooted ban on hijab in French public schools...The leader of the worldwide Anglican Church, who maintains improving dialogue with Islam as a top priority, warned that...

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V4200.AP-France-Head-Sca.html

On December 21, 2003 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran an Associated Press article that reported, "Thousands of people, mainly Muslim women shouting 'The veil, my choice,' marched through Paris on Sunday against presidential proposals to ban Islamic head scarves from public schools and...

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/19/1071337155688.html

On December 20, 2003 the Sydney Morning Herald ran a story on Australian attitudes toward the headscarf, in the wake of France's proposed ban of conspicious religious symbols in schools: "Among Sydney's 13 Islamic independent schools, the hijab is generally compulsory for girls of high school age, according to Medenia Abdurahman, secretary of the Australian Council for...

Source: Maclean's

http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/life/article.jsp?content=20031222_71973_71973

On December 19, 2003 Maclean's ran a feature section on how different faiths celebrate or recognize Christmas in Canada. Stories included an article from a woman reflecting on her attempt to explain what Santa Claus has to do with the birth of Jesus ("my six-year-old daughter is still trying to sort out some relationship issues. To wit: if Santa...

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16370-2003Dec19.html

On December 19, 2003 The Washington Post ran an article on the reactions and possible consequences of the proposed law in France that would ban "conspicious religious symbols" from public schools, citing some Muslims who agreed with the proposal to keep religion "private" and "in the home." The article went on to say, "Outside Paris's main mosque, in a...

Source: The Bellingham Herald

[bellinghamherald.com/stories/20031219/TopStories/168888.shtml]

On December 19, 2003 The Bellingham Herald reported on how Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and Pagans celebrate the Christmas holiday season. Interviews reveal that many local Sikhs exchange gifts, that some local Muslims put up Christmas trees, and that Jews sometimes celebrate secular Christmas along with Hannukah. Pagan celebrationsoften involve time for introspection and a ritual commemorating the winter solstice.

Source: International Herald Tribune

https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/19/opinion/IHT-ban-the-croissant-secular-and-religious-rights.html...

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--muslimsociety1219dec19,0,784492,print.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

On December 19, 2003 The Associated Press reported, "The nation's largest black Muslim organization, decimated in recent months by the resignation of founder Warith Deen Mohammed and other leaders, has hit bottom but can still be salvaged, according to a Newark...

Source: Yahoo! News

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/19/politics/19RELI.html

On December 18, 2003 The New York Times reported, "The Bush administration on Thursday gently criticized a French proposal to ban head scarves and other conspicuous religious items from the public schools, saying that such displays constitute 'a basic right that should be protected.' In the first public comment by a United States official about the controversy, John V. Hanford, the...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3329563.stm

On December 18, 2003 the BBC News posted excerpts from French President Jacques Chirac's speech supporting a law banning "conspicious" religious symbols from public school classrooms. Chirac said, "The debate on the principle of secularism goes to the very heart of our conscience. It concerns our national cohesion, our ability to live together, our ability to unite on what is essential...All of France's children,...

Source: Akron Leader

http://www.akron.com/20031218/FPAGE/spread.htm

On December 18, 2003 the Akron Leader reported on the Akron Area Interfaith Council (AAIC), an organization of leaders and lay people representing 20 houses of worship that promotes understanding and religious tolerance.Christians from Unitarian Universalist, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Episcopalian and Baptist churches are represented, as are members of Islamic, Jewish and Buddhist houses...