Iran Shuts Down French Institute Due to Charlie Hebdo's Khamenei Cartoons

Iran’s government said they shut down the Tehran-based French Institute of Research in response to cartoons from the latest edition of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Some of the caricatures they published were sexually explicit.

Iran closes French institute to retaliate for Khamenei cartoons https://t.co/8fgTdjcHXO

19-Year-Old NYC Machete Attack Suspect Wanted to "Carry Out Jihad"

A 19-year-old man named Trevor Bickford is accused of assaulting New York Police Department (NYPD) officers using a machete on New Year's Eve. Prosecutors say that he traveled to the city "in order to kill people and carry out Jihad."

Hindu Nationalist Indian MP Calls to Keep "Sharpened Knives" at Home

BJP MP Pragya Thakur urged Hindus to “sharpen their knives at home” at a Hindu convention, triggering controversy.

Bangladeshi Man Receives 7 Years in Jail for "Insulting" Prophet Muhammad

A Bangladeshi man is currently facing a seven-year prison sentence for sharing an allegedly blasphemous post on Facebook back in 2017.

Iran's Bizarre New Plan to Enforce Mandatory Hijab Laws

Iran is implementing new methods of enforcing the wearing of hijab in public. Several lawmakers have floated the move after the first attempts gained tremendous backlash.

In December, Hossein Jalali, a hardliner lawmaker and member of the cultural committee of Iran’s parliament, announced that the regime plans to inform women who do not wear hijab via SMS. “After notifying them, we enter the warning stage, and last, the bank account of the person who unveiled may be blocked,” the lawmaker added.

Iranian Clerics Demand Amputations & More Executions of Protesters

A clerical group in Iran demands more blood and urges the authorities to use more inhumane measures against protesters.

According to the reports, an influential hardliner group of clerics claims that the law used against protesters in Iran is too lenient and demands punishment by amputation rather than exiling them.

Egyptian Atheist YouTuber Arrested After Debating Imam

This past November, an Egyptian atheist blogger was arrested by authorities and was allegedly charged with insulting Islam.

Hesham Fouad Ahmed or Hesham El Masry joined a debate hosted by Bassem Sam against an Imam, Ahmed Karima. The discussion was broadcasted live on Youtube on October 30, 2022.

American Academic Fired Over Islamic Painting Showing the Prophet Muhammad

Private liberal arts college Hamline University reportedly refused to renew the contract of an art history professor for showing images of medieval and Renaissance Islamic art depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

Saudi Officials Say Normalization with Israel is Only a "Matter of Time"

Saudi Arabia may normalize ties with Israel and join the Abraham Accords, according to senior officials from both Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Taliban Revives Mass Whippings & Commits First Public Execution

Since ruling over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has intensified its punishments against those accused of various crimes, despite initial promises of respecting human rights and media freedom after taking over the country 15 months ago.

In perhaps the first public execution since the Taliban took power last year, a man was sentenced to death on December 7 in the western province of Farah, followed by a public flogging of 27 men and women in a soccer stadium in the northern region of Parwan.