Schoolgirl Beaten to Death For Refusing to Sing Allegiance to Ayatollah

Another schoolgirl was allegedly beaten by Iranian security forces and is currently in critical condition.

Catholic Churches Fight to Maintain Loophole in Child Sex Abuse Reporting

Religious organizations in the US defended a loophole allowing clergy not to report child abuse cases. In 2020, the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City heavily opposed House Bill 90 (HB90) in Utah.

The Catholic church argued that the “bill would violate the confidentiality of the confessional seal.” In February, the Catholic church gathered 9,000 signed letters from its parishioners and sent them to Rep. Angela Romero, the bill’s author.

Islamists Oppose Anti-Child Abuse Law, Says Kids will "Leave Religion"

A new children’s rights bill passed the lower house on September 19, but Jordan’s parliament is still divided over the bill that has been debated since 2015 and reintroduced this past July.

Kindergartener Kicked Out of Christian School Because Parents are Lesbians

A kindergarten student was barred from attending her class because her parents are a same-sex couple.

According to parents Emily and Jennie Parker, Bible Baptist Academy in DeQuincy, Louisiana, they were informed about the school’s decision days before the class started.

American Students Sing Religious Oath of Loyalty to Iran's Supreme Leader

Muslim children in Houston, Texas, sang an Islamic religious song with lyrics swearing allegiance to Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader.

Mohammad Hanif Jazayeri, a London-based journalist of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, tweeted a video of the children singing. According to Jazayeri, Iran is "recruiting child soldiers in the U.S."

Iranian Teen Girl Honored Killed by Father For "Laughing with Boy at Park"

An honor-based family murder in a small town in the Fars province of Iran has once again sparked debates on the lack of laws to prevent “honor-killing” in Iran.

On June 27, the father of Ariana Lashkari shot the sixteen-year-old girl in the chest with a hunting rifle for allegedly laughing with a boy at a park, which he considered a disgrace to the family.

Islamic Leader Banned by UK Dept of Education for Homophobia & Misogyny

The decision of the United Kingdom's Department of Education to prohibit a Salafi activist from spreading his hateful teachings was welcomed by the National Secular Society (NSS). This ruling notes that several harmful sermons were published. This decision prevents the former faith school proprietor from managing private or state school teachings.

English Police Arrest 3 After Reports of Female Genital Mutilation Emerge

Police in West Midland Region, England, arrested three individuals over alleged Female Genitalia Mutation (FGM) carried out in an unregistered school.

Children's Rights: International Day of Protest Against Hereditary Religion

On Saturday, January 29, 2022, advocates worldwide will be holding the 11th Annual International Day of Protest Against Hereditary Religion. One of the goals of the annual protests is to raise awareness about the handicap of forcing religion on children.

Report Reveals 330,000 Victims of Sexual Abuse By French Catholic Church

A 2,500-page report documenting more than 330 thousand cases of sexual abuse was released by a commission headed by France’s Jean-Marc Sauve on October 5, 2021. The document also counted 3 thousand priests and clergy members, including other church servants involved in the coordinated coverup. Victims and advocates believe that the report is long overdue but welcomes it warmly.