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.

Ayatollah Khamenei's New Fatwa: 'Fake' Likes & Follows Are Banned

Iran's current Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, issued a fatwa against "fake" likes and followers on social media. Khamenei's declaration comes as his followers posed questions at him through his website.

Fatwas are legal opinions or rulings issued by an Islamic scholar. These fatwas are based on Quranic teachings and are socially and sometimes legally carried out as laws.

British-Iranian Diplomatic Hostages Freed & Reunited with Families!

On Thursday, March 17, jubilant passengers landed in RAF Brize Norton, the United Kingdom, after years of detention in Iran. British-Iranian nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were finally reunited with their families. Both were released on March 16, 2022.

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.

Secular Activist Raif Badawi Banned from Leaving Saudi Arabia for 10 years

On Saturday, March 12, the Saudi Arabia court confirmed the 10-year travel ban for the human rights activist and blogger Raif Badawi. The ban will effectively imprison Badawi in the country for another ten years.

Released on Friday, March 11, Badawi was arrested in 2012 and jailed for ten years for charges of "insulting Islam."

Saudi Arabia Executes 81 in One Day, Breaking Record in Modern History

On Saturday, March 12, Saudi Arabia executed 81 men, including Yemeni, Syrian, and Saudi nationals. According to SPA (Saudi Press Agency), a state-run media, the men were found guilty on the charges of terrorism and holding “deviant beliefs.”

Woman Stabs Date to "Avenge" Iranian General Killed by US Drone Strike

A woman has been accused of stabbing her date in a Nevada hotel room on March 5. According to court documents submitted by the police, the 21-year old Nika Nikoubin wanted revenge for an Iranian leader killed by an American drone strike in 2020.

Nikoubin met the victim online through the Plenty of Fish online dating website.

Secular Activist Raif Badawi Freed from Saudi Prison After 10 Years!

Raif Badawi, a prominent Saudi blogger and human rights advocate, arrested in 2012, is finally free after ten years in prison. Ensaf Haidar, Badawi's wife, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that her husband called her about his release.

"Raif called me. He is free," she said. Haidar is living in Quebec, Canada, along with their three children.

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.