Polish Metal Musician Found Guilty Of ‘Offending Religious Feelings’

The frontman of Behemoth, an extreme metal band in Poland, was found guilty of “offending religious feelings" after he shared an image of himself in September 2019 standing on a photo of the Virgin Mary. The Warsaw court convicted Musician Adam “Nergal” Darski within only a few days of the charges being brought against him.

27% of White Evangelicals Think QAnon is Real

Among white evangelicals, over 25 percent still believe in “QAnon” conspiracy theories. This may suggest some people experience difficulty abandoning one conspiracy theory when they believe whole-heartedly in another.

Five Arrested For Threatening Teen Who Said “Islam is a ‘S**t’ Religion”

Police recently arrested five people for making death threats against the French teenager who said Islam is a ‘shit’ religion in a viral video.

Mila, the teenage girl (her last name is kept private), previously defended her intense atheist beliefs on French television after she offended Islam. During one outburst, she said the Quran is ‘full of hate.’

Nothing says "my religion isn't shit" like threatening teenage girls for saying otherwise.

Indian Woman Becomes First To Get ‘No Caste, No Religion’ Certificate

After many years of trying to obtain a “no religion, no caste” certificate, Sneha Parthibaraja was finally certified on February 5th.Sneha, a 35-year-old lawyer from Vellore, became India’s first citizen to have a ‘no caste, no religion’ certificate.

Russia Returns Gay Men Who Escaped Torture to Chechen Police

Two gay men fled to Russia after escaping alleged torture in Chechnya. On February 3rd, they were seized by Russian police and taken back to Chechen police.

Indonesia Bans Compulsory Hijab in Schools

Human rights activists commend Indonesia’s decision to mandate public schools to allow students autonomy when choosing their attire. The schools’ practice of forcing women to wear religious clothing is now banned as of February 3rd.

Women’s Rights Activist Loujain al-Hathloul Released From Saudi Prison

Loujain al-Hathloul, the Saudi activist who gained international attention as she publicly opposed the ban on women drivers in the country, was placed in custody by the Saudi government in May 2018 due to her activism.

Same-Sex Attraction is a “Disease” Says UK Islamic Charity

In the United Kingdom (UK), a newly-registered Muslim charity is under review by the Charity Commission for its website's anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.

Four Arrested in Turkey Over LGBT Kaaba Art

Four students, who attend Istanbul's Bogazici University in Turkey, were arrested due to artwork depicting LGBT rainbow symbols alongside an image of Islam’s most sacred site, the Kaaba.

Some news outlets report the indistinct description of “LGBT rainbow symbols” alongside the Kaaba. To be more precise, four different flags were portrayed in each corner, featuring the iconic rainbow flag, and three others individually representing the lesbian, transexual, and asexual community.

Egypt Overturns Sentence for Tiktokers Jailed for “Inciting Debauchery”

According to state-run media, an Egyptian court overturned the sentences of two women who were previously convicted on charges of “violating family values” and “inciting debauchery” as a result of acquiring significant fame on TikTok.

The women each received a two-year prison sentence in July 2020. The courts also fined them EGP 300,000 (roughly $20,000 USD) each.