Atheist Meet-Up Postponed Due to Objections from Hindu-Nationalists

An atheist conference scheduled for April 10 was postponed to a later date. Nitin Hande, one of the event organizers, said the police told them to reschedule their conference because certain Hindutva groups expressed opposition to their event.

Hindu Priest Calls For Sexual Violence Against Muslim Women in India

A local Hindu priest paraded nearby a Mosque in Uttar Pradesh, announcing that Muslim women would be kidnapped and raped.

The incident happened outside a mosque in Sitapur, a district in the Lucknow division in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Local San Diego Muslim Imam Survives Knife Attack, Called "Terrorist"

A Muslim imam was stabbed after an altercation that started with the suspect calling the victim a “fucking terrorist.” Sheikh Uthman ibn Farooq said he was followed and confronted by the suspect after his public preaching.

The San Diego-based imam has been performing the “dawah,” or public preaching, since his early 20’s. Farooq has gained popularity among Muslim individuals, including non-Muslims whom he engages on his Youtube channel.

Indian Restaurant in Bahrain Shuttered for Denying Entry to Hijabi Woman

Authorities shut down a restaurant in Bahrain after a manager refused entry to a woman wearing a hijab. The Tribune News of Bahrain reported that the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) shut down the restaurant.

A video on social media of a woman explaining what had happened at Lanterns Lounge & Restaurant in Adliyah caught the attention of Bahrain’s authorities.

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.