France Tightens Religious Clothing Ban: Islamic Abayas Banned in Schools

Ahead of the upcoming return of students to their classrooms, France’s education minister announced that the country will ban pupils from wearing the abaya, a loose-fitting, full-length robe worn by some Muslim women, in state schools.

Move comes after months of debate over wearing of abayas in French schools, where women have long been banned from wearing hijab. https://t.co/zeLsyFvl9y

Why Secular Soldiers in Australia Aren't Getting Adequate Support

A former top military recruitment official of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) warned that the country’s armed forces must find secular alternatives to religious chaplains, which has increased in recent years, or there would be risks to the members’ health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing of non-religious ADF personnel at risk, former recruiter warns https://t.co/phvgDEMs5w

Trump’s Attack on Atheists Backfires

In response to the derogatory attacks former US President Donald Trump made against atheists and other non-religious people at a recent event, the Secular Coalition for America, a group of non-religious organizations in the United States that also promote the separation of church and state, issued a statement condemning his remarks.

Why Indian Ex-Muslims Formed a Movement Defending Secularism

Leaving one’s religion can be difficult and more challenging for some people than others. Such is the case of the Ex-Muslims of Kerala (EMU) members, an organization formed by former Muslims living in the southern state of Kerala in India.

Caught between Islamic laws and Islamophobia: Being an ex-Muslim in Kerala @cristweets writes https://t.co/4g3BJf2ESy

Mob Justice Unleashed: Bangladesh in Turmoil over Alleged Blasphemous Post

Around 2,500 people were arrested in Bangladesh on June 4th after an allegedly blasphemous Facebook post defaming the Prophet Muhammad sparked street violence in the Muslim-majority, South Asian nation.

Most of those arrested for participating in the violence in the country’s capital Dhaka were unidentified. Bangladeshi authorities also arrested a man named Mohammad Sohel for making the reportedly blasphemous social media post.

Holy Hot Water: Comedians Stir Controversy in the Philippines

Two Filipino stand-up comedians are facing blowback from religious believers after making jokes about their beliefs and faith.

Gold Dagal and Jeleen Cubillas of the Comedy Manila group are constantly being chastised online by members of the famed Iglesia ni Cristo (or Church of Christ) and the Catholic Church, respectively, after their stand-up comedy performance videos went viral on Philippine social media.

Taxpayer Dollars for Catholic School? Oklahoma Shakes Nation's Secularism

Oklahoma gave the green light to establish the first religious charter school in the United States on June 5th, opening a new set of debates on the separation of church and state in public education.

First US taxpayer-funded religious school approved https://t.co/oce8kcCdph

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) June 6, 2023

The End of Secular Education in Texas? Shocking Chaplain Bill Passes

A new bill was recently passed in the Texas Senate that would allow religious chaplains to work and provide support to students in public schools, raising concerns about the eroding separation between church and government in the southern US state.

Man Stopped from Defiling Torah in Sweden Despite Permitted Quran Burning

A week after far-right Danish-Swedish activist Rasmus Paludan burned the Quran in Sweden, which sparked outrage across the Muslim world, Swedish authorities have reportedly denied giving a Muslim man permission to burn the Torah in front of the Israeli embassy as a protest.

Survey Reveals that US Congress is More Religious than Most Americans

A new report from the Pew Research Center reveals that the 118th US Congress is more Christian and religious than the general public.

The new report says that around 88% of all members of Congress are Christian, compared to only 63% of Americans who identify as such. That includes 57% of Congress members who identify as Protestant and 28% who are Catholic, both higher than the national percentage.