Iran Bars Women From Entering Sports Arena Once Again

On March 29, a stadium in Iran barred women from getting in during a game. Security guards of the Imam Reza Stadium in Mashhad, Iran, denied women who paid for their tickets access to the stadium.

South African Threatened With Being FIRED for Posting "Happy Atheist Day"

A South African was threatened with termination of their employment after revealing being an atheist. A post on Reddit, a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website, revealed the realities suffered by atheists.

US Judge Rules Against Christian Clerk Who Denied Gay Marriage Licenses

On March 18, a U.S. District Court ruled against a county clerk charged with violating the rights of same-sex couples. The ruling will pave the way for a jury trial against Kim Davis from Rowan, Kentucky.

Indian Muslim Shopkeepers Banned From Selling At Hindu Festival

Muslims are banned from setting up temporary shops during a biennial Hindu festival. Organizers of the Kote Marikamba Jatra, a celebration held every two years in Shivamogga, Karnataka, have blocked Muslim vendors from setting up stalls.

Kote Marikamba Jatra is a fair festival held every other year in February or March. The center of the festivities is the Marikamba Temple, a temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Marikamba Devi.

United Nations Names March 15 as "International Day to Combat Islamophobia"

On March 15, the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution was sponsored by 55 predominantly Muslim member states and passed consensus with all 193 states in support.

Hijab Row: Indian Court Rules that Hijab Can Be Banned in Classrooms

On March 15th, a high court in southwest India ruled in support of banning hijabs in public colleges and high schools. What started as a school policy dilemma in Udupi in December last year has become a precedent-setting issue in India.

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of FBI in Case of Spying On Muslims

On March 4, the United States Supreme Court overturned a ruling from an appellate court in favor of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The supreme court unanimously ruled that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has lesser precedence over state secrets privilege.

State secrets privilege allows the federal government to "block the release of any information in a lawsuit" if its release can lead to a breach of national security.

Gay Author's Book Signing Event at School Banned by Catholic Church

The Catholic church in the UK has banned an acclaimed author of children’s books and books for young adults, Simon James Green. In a letter dated March 3, 2022, Simon Hughes, Director of Education and Diocesan Schools Commissioner, announced the cancellation of the book signing event.

New Study: Women, Republicans, & Southerners More Likely to Hide Atheism

A new study shows that female atheists and those from Republican, Southern, or religious backgrounds are more likely to hide their beliefs. Published in Social Forces, the study revealed findings contrary to what the authors initially believed.

Patriarch of Russian Orthodox Church Blames Liberal Values for Ukraine War

On March 6th, during a Forgiveness Sunday sermon, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, hinted that the pride parades caused the war on Ukraine. Kiril implied that the expanding liberal Western values justified Putin’s war.