Russian Minister: Western Schools Teach Children that Jesus is Bisexual
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Location: Russia
On June 28th, Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, claimed that the western educational system teaches children that Jesus is bisexual. He published an essay on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website claiming students are being taught that Jesus was bisexual and non-binary. According to him, “a number of Western countries” are responsible for introducing such information. Adding that, the “enlightened Europe” is leading the charge, promoting “aggressive LGBT propaganda” and “the genetic code of the planet’s key civilizations” is being assaulted. Lavrov, who has maintained a high approval rating, was appointed by President Vladimir Putin to manage the United Russian party. He has also served as Foreign Minister for 16 years.
Morrocan Sentenced to 3.5 years in Jail for Insulting Islam on Facebook
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Location: Sale, Morocco
A 23-year old Moroccan-Italian woman was arrested in the Rabat-Sale Airport in Rabat, Morocco, in May 2021 after returning from France. She was charged with insulting Islam on a Facebook post she made in 2019. People on social media were quick to defend the woman, highlighting her rights to criticize ideas or “intellectual criticism.” At the same time, many people heavily criticized her for insulting Islam. Morocco’s penal code, Article 267-5, prescribes a penalty with a sentence of six months or up to two years in prison. On June 28th, the woman was sentenced to three years and six months in jail with a fine of almost $6,000 (USD).
Police Accused of Killing Pakistani Man Acquitted of Blasphemy Charge
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Location: Pakistan
On July 2nd, Muhammad Waqas, who was recently released from prison after being acquitted and cleared of blasphemy charges, was attacked and killed by a police constable. The incident took place in Rahim Yar Khan City in Pakistan. Ahmed Nawaz, a police spokesman, told reporters that Waqas was hacked to death by a 21-year old police constable who joined the police force just a few months ago. Nawaz also added that the murder’s primary motivation to commit the attack was that Waqas committed blasphemy. Waqas was charged with blasphemy in 2016. In 2020, the Lahore High Court had overturned the charges and released him. He was in hiding after his release, returning to his home a few weeks ago.
New Survey finds 2 In 3 Indians Oppose Interfaith Marriages
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Location: India
A recent survey by the Pew Research group shows that every 2 in 3 Indians express strong opinions on interfaith marriages and would actively like to stop them. The survey result indicates that most Indians want to believe that India is tolerant of other religions while they oppose interfaith relationships. The survey involved 30,000 interviews with respondents from most major faiths in 17 languages across 26 states of India. Around 67% of Hindus, 80% of Muslims, 59% of Sikhs, and 66% of Jains responded that women from their community marrying out of faith must be stopped. The survey also shows that nearly 99% of Hindus, 98% of Muslims, 95% of Christians, and 97% of Buddhists share the same religion with their spouse.
Canada’s Indigenous to Meet Pope Francis amid Demand for Apology
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Location: Canada
Amidst escalating calls for the Roman Catholic Church to apologize for their role in the cultural genocide of Canada's native peoples, the current pontiff has agreed to meet with representatives from the affected communities. The Pope is expected to convene a meeting with representatives of the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people by December 20th, 2021. The delegates will also include survivors of the notorious residential schools, Elders & Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous leaders, youth, and bishops. In an Angelus Message made on June 6th, 2021, Pope Francis claimed that he is close with the Canadian people and that he is sorrowful upon hearing of the "discovery of the remains of two hundred and fifteen children... in British Columbia."
Churches Burn as Canada laments the discovery of unmarked Native graves
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/04/canada-burned-churches-ind...
Location: Canada
In the past few weeks, fires destroyed four Catholic churches on Indigenous land in Canada. The churches were destroyed right after the recent discoveries of hundreds of human remains at the sites of two former boarding schools, which Catholic religious groups operated. On June 26th, the St. Ann's Catholic Church on Upper Similkameen Indian Band land was set aflame. There were two other fires taking place in the southern Okanagan region on June 21st. Both churches, the Sacred Heart Church and St. Gregory's Church, were burned to the ground, and investigators described the fires as suspicious.
Fatwa Issued Against Fortnite Video Game
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Location: Egypt
On June 29th, Rabat- Al-Azhar Fatwa Global Center in Egypt issued a fatwa against the video game "Fortnite." The fatwa was declared after images and videos of players supposedly destroying the Kaaba went viral on social media, sparking outrage. The content displayed players entering the Great Mosque of Mecca, killing characters, and destroying the Kaaba to access weapons inside, which allowed players access to higher levels. In response to the criticism and the fatwa from Al Azhar, Fortnite's developing company "Epic Games" made a statement, along with the Fortnite team, clarifying the misunderstanding and claiming "the content referred to was made by an independent player in Creative mode." Epic Games also mentioned that their team respects all religions, and they want to provide a safe gaming experience for all their players.
Atheists Sue State of Mississippi over “In God We Trust” License Plate
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Location: Jackson, Mississippi
On June 22nd, the Mississippi Humanist Association, the American Atheists, and three Mississippi residents filed a lawsuit against the State of Mississippi. The case is over the lack of an alternative with no extra costs to its license plates that bear the phrase, "In God We Trust." The primary argument in the lawsuit is not against the state motto nor the state seal. Instead, it revolves around the fact that non-Christian and non-religious drivers are forced to display religious language that they do not believe in. Dianne Ellis, a Mississippi attorney, stated that vehicle owners do not deserve to be punished with extra fees for not displaying an "exclusionary and divisive message."
New Data: Most Indians Believe in God With Most Certain of Their Belief
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Location: India
A new Pew Research survey of around 30,000 Indian adults finds that an overwhelming number of Indians believe in God (97%), with most of them saying they are confident in their belief (79%). India is the home of the world's largest Hindu, Sikh, and Jain populations, the third-largest Muslim population, and millions of Christians and Buddhists. 61% of Hindus and 54% of Jains say there is "only one God with many manifestations." 66% of Muslims, 68% of Christians, 57% of Sikhs, and 39% of Buddhists say there is "only one God." When it comes to gender differentiation, 78% of men and 80% of women believe in God with absolute certainty. Among Muslims, men are more likely than women to be certain of God’s existence, with 81% of men versus 76% of women.
New Legal Complaint Filed against Twitter for Atheist Republic's Hindu Goddess Art
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Twitter's India division is under fire for allowing the Atheist Republic's Twitter account to post "blasphemous" images of the Hindu Goddess Kali. The complainant is a Delhi-based lawyer, Aditya Singh Deshwal, who filed the complaint to the Delhi Police's cyber cell. The complaint named the Managing Director and the Public Policy Manager of Twitter India and Armin Navabi, the founder of Atheist Republic, and Susanna McIntyre, the current President & CEO. Deshwal sees Atheist Republic's content as an "attempt to wilfully outrage and hurts the religious sentiments." He added that Twitter has been "an accomplice" by intentionally not removing the "offensive" content. Regarding this recent legal complaint, Atheist Republic's CEO Susanna McIntyre responded, "Judicial harassment will not deter the Atheist Republic from its mission of promoting free expression across the globe."
