Quran App Removed from Apple’s Chinese App Store

Quran Majeed, a popular Quran app, was removed by Apple from their App Store in China. Other religion-related apps were also removed, including the Bible App by Olive Tree. Apple Censorship first reported the series of targeted takedowns on the religiously inspired apps on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

Ghanian Anti-LGBT Bill Gains Strong Support from Christians

On August 2, 2021, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill of 2021 was passed in the Ghanian parliament. Lawmakers were set to debate on the bill this October.

The Official Wizard of New Zealand Axed From Payroll

Ian Brackenbury Channell, the only known wizard-in-residence employed by a state since 1998, will be officially terminated from Christchurch's payroll this December 2021. In an interview with a local news outlet, Lynn McClelland, the Council Assistant Chief Executive, said that "the council has met with The Wizard and sent him a letter thanking him for his services to Christchurch over the past decades."

Siberian Shaman Forced into Psychiatric Ward for Challenging Putin

On September 23, the Yakutsk City Court rejected Aleksandr Gabyshev’s appeal on their July 26 ruling. In July, the city court’s ruling ordered Gabyshev’s indefinite confinement to a psychiatric facility for a mandatory “intensive treatment.” The court determined that Gabyshev lacks legal capacity due to insanity, despite the protest of his defense attorneys.

Billboard Comparing Trump to Jesus Causes Blasphemy Controversy

In early September, a photo of a controversial billboard appeared on Twitter. The sign pictured former President Donald Trump next to prophetic words partially quoted from Isaiah 9:6, which compared him to Jesus. The scripture referenced by the sign, however, is inaccurate.

Critics quickly identified the bible misquotes in the sign after the photo made its way to Twitter. The verse quoted is from Isaiah 9:6 rather than Romans 8:17. The words are easily recognized as prophesizing the return of Jesus.

Proposed Law: Religious Schools to Lose Right to Fire Based On Sexuality

Religious schools and organizations in the Australian state of Victoria will soon be prohibited from hiring or terminating based on the applicant's gender identity or sexual orientation. On September 16th, the Victorian Labor Party in Australia proposed a law that would end this discrimination.

Cuba Drafts New Family Code, May Allow Same-Sex Marriage

Cuba’s government published a draft of a possible new family code on Wednesday, September 15th. Many of Cuba’s liberal organizations, including the LGBTQ+ community, have cautiously cheered on the draft, afraid of the possible things that may happen to it before it gets implemented.

Chief Rabbi in Poland Condemns "LGBT-free" Zones

In September 2020, in an interview with BBC’s Lucy Ash, Tomasz Sakiewicz, the editor of Gazeta Polska, a right-wing weekly magazine, said that he believes people should be allowed to have sex with whomever they chose to. Sakiewicz also noted that “aggressive ideology promoting homosexuality” is not suitable for Poland. More than half of the regions in Poland have established resolutions announcing that their community is “LGBTQ-Free.”

Conference Gathers Experts on Uyghur Genocide to Put Pressure on China

From September 1 to 3, the biggest gathering of politicians, legal and academic experts on Xianjing has gathered in the Boiler House at Newcastle University in UK. The Xinjiang Crisis: Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, Justice is organized by a Xianjing-specialist academic, Dr. Jo Smith Finley.

Pakistani Province Bans Tiktokers From Park After Hundreds Assault Woman

On August 22, 2021, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) of the Punjab province in Pakistan announced that Tiktokers are banned from entering public parks. The decision was made during a meeting of the PHA officials on the same day.