British Imams and Muslim community leaders have launched Haqiqah, an online magazine designed to counter Islamic State propaganda. Haqiqah (Reality) is produced by ImamsOnline.com, a network of British religious leaders. The magazine highlights the lack of theological basis for messages of hatred from Isis. Site editor Shaukat Warraich said: “The frontline for Imams in the 21st century is not…
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has condemned violations of religious freedom and human rights taking place in Azerbaijan. These violations are evident in the arrests, detentions, and harsh sentences given to human rights defenders, members of religious groups, and civil society activists, says the Commission. USCIRF Chairman Robert P. George said: “The…
Fifty years ago it was predicted that religion was on its way out, that with increasing literacy and a growing educated middle class in the third world, belief would no longer be necessary. Statistics from 2014 have proven this prediction wrong and if the research recently completed by the Pew Research Center is correct, the…
Gillingham MP Rehman Chishti is campaigning for the UK to refer to the so called “Islamic State” (also referred to as ISIS or ISIL) as “Daesh” in line with other countries around the World, calling on the BBC and the Government to make this change. Prime Minister David Cameron echoed the call in an interview with the…
“If ‘Satanic Islam’ pastor James McConnell goes to jail I will go with him, insists Muslim cleric” is the headline in the Belfast Telegraph, as the Belfast Pastor faces prosecution for a sermon describing Islam as heathen and satanic. The prosecution of Pastor McConnell, under the 2003 Communications Act, has been described as “absurd” by Dr…
For the 30th year the Westminster Interfaith Multi-Faith Pilgrimage for Peace with the Hounslow Friends of Faith in the Hounslow area took place. Two members of the All Faiths Network also participated. Launching the Pilgrimage were MPs Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) and Seema Malhotra MP (Feltham & Heston) along with Councillor Nisar Malik, Mayor…
A group of 15 non-governmental organizations and personalities from around the world have written a joint letter to the US Secretary of State John Kerry requesting that he call for the government of Bahrain to protect the religious freedom of the group of political prisoners known as the Bahrain 13. The letter states “The Bahrain 13 situation…
Muslims in Bihar, in a display of communal fellowship, have donated land to help the fundraising efforts for the massive new Hindu temple in the northern Indian state of Bihar. The land, in the East Champaran district near Patna, was donated in exchange for a nominal amount. Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Patna-based trust…
Prime Minister David Cameron will include new counter-terrorism measures aimed at tackling radical extremism in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech. A new Bill will be intended to “catch not just those who spread or incite hatred on the grounds of gender, race or religion but also those who undertake harmful activities for the purpose of overthrowing democracy”, according…
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, has issued a statement explaining the position (and inaction) of the ICC in relation to the alleged crimes committed by ISIS. Bensouda states: “Since the summer of 2014, my Office has been receiving and reviewing disturbing allegations of widespread atrocities committed in Syria and Iraq by…
