Tag: Terrorism

Polygamy creates terrorists, says Nigerian Emir

February 22, 2017 Nigeria Borno, Chibok girls, Education, Kano, Katsina, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria, Rape, Terrorism, Women

One of Nigeria’s most prominent Muslim leaders has suggested that polygamy among the poor should be banned, saying that having masses of uneducated, poor children leads to terrorism. Muhammad Sanusi, the Emir of the northern state of Kano, who has four wives, said that polygamy itself is not wrong, but . . . Read More

Turkey nightclub-massacre accused says he targeted Christians

February 14, 2017 Turkey Ankara, Coup, Islamic State, Terrorism

The man charged with killing 39 people on New Year’s Eve at Istanbul’s exclusive Reina nightclub attack, Abdulkadir Masharipov, has testified before a Turkish court, saying: “My purpose was to kill Christians”. The Uzbek national was arraigned in court 11 Feb., nearly a month after he was captured by Istanbul police 16 . . . Read More

Pakistan law amendments help protect Christians

February 9, 2017 Pakistan Children, Marriage, Minorities, Pakistan, Terrorism

Forced conversions, mob violence and sectarianism will no longer go unpunished after Pakistan’s National Assembly passed a bill on 6 February amending some of its criminal laws. The amended law on forced marriage for minority religious groups now applies to minors as well as women, with the punishment more severe . . . Read More

US missionary in Russia fights for right to pray

February 6, 2017 Russia Don Ossewaarde, Moscow, Oryol, Russia, Terrorism, Yarovaya Law

An American missionary in Russia, who is appealing to the country’s Supreme Court against his conviction for holding religious services in his home and inviting others to attend them, says he is fighting to make sure everyone in Russia is free to read the Bible and pray. “If I don’t . . . Read More

‘Religious freedom key to Trump war on terrorism’

February 3, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Religious freedom, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism, USA

An American Muslim says propagating freedom of religion is the key to US President Donald Trump’s aim to “eradicate” radicalism and terrorism “from the face of the earth”. Amer Aziz, writing for The Hill, praised the establishment in 1998 of an office of Religious Freedom in the US State Department, . . . Read More

Trump’s pledge to persecuted Christians – welcome news or harmful to those he seeks to protect?

February 1, 2017 Bishop Angaelos, Donald Trump, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Migrants, Refugees, Syria, Terrorism

Donald Trump has spoken of the need to prioritise refugees from persecuted faith groups – especially Christians – at the same time as he has halted immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. World Watch Monitor summarises the response of Christian opinion leaders in America and elsewhere. US President Donald Trump’s executive order . . . Read More

Pew reports decline in religious restrictions

June 28, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, Religious freedom, Sub-Saharan Africa, Syria, Terrorism

In its latest report, Pew Research Center says there was an overall decline in religious restrictions and hostilities between 2013 and 2014, despite a continued rise in religion-related terrorism. The US-based “fact tank” ranked 198 countries and territories in the seventh report of its kind, titled “Trends in Global Restrictions . . . Read More

Bangladesh Muslim clerics: terrorism ‘un-Islamic’

June 27, 2016 Bangladesh Bangladesh, Dhaka, Islamic extremism, Terrorism

Bangladesh is holding its breath after 100,000 Bangladeshi Muslim clerics signed a “fatwa” stating terrorism and militancy are “un-Islamic”, following a spate of violent attacks. Earlier this month, the attacks on religious minorities, secularists and atheists had led to the detention of more than 11,000 suspects, according to national police. . . . Read More

Pakistan bans TV shows for discussing blasphemy

June 20, 2016 Pakistan Blasphemy, Islamic extremism, Pakistan, Prophet Muhammad, Ramadan, Sufi, Terrorism

Two TV shows in Pakistan were taken off air on Friday for discussing blasphemy laws, . The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) said in a statement “an immediate ban has been imposed on TV One’s programme Ishq-e-Ramazan, and Aaj News’ programme Ramazan Hamara Iman”. PEMRA said both channels had . . . Read More

European Parliament debates Nigeria and Boko Haram

May 9, 2016 Nigeria Agatu, Boko Haram, Europe, Islamic extremism, Terrorism

Jan Olbrycht MEP, co-chairman of the European People’s Party Working Group on Inter-religious Dialogue, and Joachim Zeller MEP, at the 3 May event.African Diaspora for Freedom of Religion A conference on religious radicalisation, Boko Haram and terrorism in Nigeria was held by the largest group in the European Parliament . . . Read More

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