religious freedom
Chhattisgarh High Court Upholds Village Hoardings Barring Entry to Pastors as Constitutional Protection for Tribal Communities
Nov 02, 2025 07:48 pm CST
The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that hoardings prohibiting entry to pastors and converted Christians in eight tribal villages are constitutional, determining they serve as legitimate protective measures against forced conversions. The court found these gram sabha actions align with PESA Act provisions designed to preserve indigenous tribal culture and heritage. This landmark decision balances religious freedom concerns with the legal protection of vulnerable tribal communities.
Trump Warns of "Existential Threat" to Nigerian Christians Amid Complex Religious and Resource Conflicts
Nov 01, 2025 03:42 am CST
Former President Donald Trump has raised concerns about violence against Christians in Nigeria, designating it a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations. While Trump attributes the violence to radical Islamists, experts note the situation reflects a more nuanced reality involving jihadist groups like Boko Haram, criminal banditry, and resource conflicts between Muslim herders and Christian farmers amid climate pressures and population growth.
JD Vance's Comments About Hindu Wife Usha Spark Debate on Religious Freedom in Interfaith Marriage
Oct 31, 2025 11:38 pm CST
US Vice President JD Vance faces criticism after expressing hope his Hindu wife Usha would embrace Christianity despite her stated intention not to convert. The controversy highlights the challenges of interfaith marriages in American politics, with Usha Vance previously discussing how they balance religious traditions while raising their children with access to both Catholic and Hindu practices.
JD Vance Expresses Hope for Hindu-Raised Wife's Conversion to Christianity While Respecting Religious Differences
Oct 30, 2025 07:01 pm CST
US Vice President JD Vance has shared his hope that his Hindu-raised wife Usha might someday embrace Christianity, while emphasizing respect for her free will and religious choices. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event, Vance discussed balancing their interfaith family dynamic, raising Christian children, and the importance of religious values in America amid growing concerns about religious intolerance and anti-Indian sentiment.
JD Vance Criticizes Zohran Mamdani's 9/11 Comments About Muslim Discrimination
Oct 26, 2025 12:40 pm CST
US Vice President JD Vance responds to New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's comments about post-9/11 discrimination against Muslims, highlighting ongoing tensions about Islamophobia in American politics and the challenges faced by Muslim politicians embracing their religious identity in public life.
Kerala High Court Rules on Hijab Rights: Government Defends Student's Religious Freedom in Schools
Oct 25, 2025 02:57 am CST
The Kerala government has defended a Muslim student's right to wear hijab in school, stating that denying this right constitutes an invasion of privacy and dignity. The case, which reached the Kerala High Court, concluded when the student's parents decided to transfer her to another institution. The court noted that the principle of constitutional fraternity prevailed in this case involving religious freedom in educational settings.
US Congressman Brandon Gill Faces Backlash After Telling Muslim Journalist to "Go Back to UK" Over Islamic Prayer Call Defense
Oct 22, 2025 08:18 pm CST
US Congressman Brandon Gill sparked controversy by telling British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan to "go back to the UK" after Hasan defended Islamic prayer calls in America. The heated exchange, which centered on religious freedom and expression, quickly went viral on social media, drawing criticism of Gill's comments as xenophobic and contradictory to First Amendment protections. This incident follows previous controversial remarks by Gill regarding cultural practices and immigration.
China's Controversial Move: Tibetans Forced to Attend 'Fake Panchen Lama' Ceremony Amid Religious Suppression
Oct 15, 2025 08:27 pm CST
Chinese authorities have reportedly compelled thousands of Tibetans to attend a four-day Kalachakra empowerment ceremony led by state-appointed Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. This controversial event, held under heightened security and surveillance, represents China's ongoing efforts to legitimize their chosen religious figure while suppressing Tibetan Buddhism and undermining the Dalai Lama's influence. The legitimate 11th Panchen Lama, recognized by the Dalai Lama, has remained missing since his disappearance in 1995.
Pentagon's New Grooming Policy: How Hegseth's Beard Ban Impacts Religious Service Members
Oct 04, 2025 05:01 pm CST
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new military grooming standards prohibiting beards and long hair have sparked significant backlash from religious advocacy groups. The Sikh Coalition and other organizations argue these regulations force religious service members to choose between their faith and military service, as the Pentagon's memo reverting to pre-2010 standards effectively eliminates religious accommodations for facial hair within a 90-day implementation period.
India Condemns Pakistan's Hypocrisy on Human Rights at UNHRC Session
Oct 02, 2025 11:37 am CST
India rebuked Pakistan at the UNHRC for lecturing others on human rights while facing accusations of minority persecution at home. Following an airstrike that killed 23 civilians in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, international researchers highlighted Pakistan's poor press freedom ranking and documented cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and religious freedom violations across the country.