- The Real War on Christmas: Burning Santa & Anti-Christian Violence in India
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/real-war-christmas-burning-santa-anti-christian-violence-india
Location: India
Recently, with the Hindu-nationalism on the rise in India anti-Christian attacks are increasing at an alarming rate. On Christmas Eve, Hindutva supporters barged into a school in Haryana's Gurugram district, chanting "Jai Shree Ram" (translation; “Glory to Lord Ram, the Hindutva equivalent of “Allahu Akbar”), intentionally disrupting Christmas prayers. A Jesus statue built in 1848 in a colonial-era British church was vandalized on the same day. Furthermore, effigies of Santa Claus were burned by a crowd near St. John's College in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The extremist leaders and their followers justify such acts by saying that Christian prayers and Santa Claus are part of a "strategy" by Christian missionaries to convert Hindus. General Secretary Ajju Chauhan, a member of the right-wing Hindu vigilante gang Bajrang Dal, said, "Santa does not come bearing any gifts, his only goal is to convert the Hindus to Christianity. It's not going to work anymore.”A. C. Michael, a former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, stated that over 49 reports to the police had been called in, but no action has been taken. He also said, "The fears which are being fuelled of Christians converting Hindus are baseless."
- France Closes Mosque For Radical Preaching
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/france-closes-mosque-radical-preaching
Location: France
On December 28th, France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that a mosque in Beauvais, northern France, was ordered to shut down for six months. The administration initiated the process of shutting down the mosque in mid-December due to reports of sermons spreading violent and hateful messages targeting Christians, Jews, and the LGBTQ+ community. An official document, given to a French state-owned news agency, stated the reason for closing the mosque was "forestalling acts of terrorism being committed.” Samim Bolaky, counsel for the mosque, stated that the Imam who held the sermon was suspended. He added that the mosque has “always fought terrorism” and “has always favored living together.” The Interior Ministry said that around 1 out of every 26 mosques and Muslim prayer halls were investigated this month under suspicion of spreading “separatist” ideology.
- Putin: Disrespecting the Prophet Mohammed is Not Freedom of Expression
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/putin-disrespecting-prophet-mohammed-not-freedom-expression
Location: Russia
On December 23rd, during an annual news conference in Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated that disrespectful comments towards the Prophet Mohammed could not be considered freedom of expression. He added that such remarks are a "violation of religious freedom and the violation of the sacred feelings of people who profess Islam." Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, praised Putin for his remarks regarding the Prophet. Khan said, "We Muslims, especially Muslim leaders, must spread this message to leaders of the non-Muslim world to counter Islamophobia." These comments from Putin came weeks before a meeting with Pakistani National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf. The agenda of the meeting is to discuss topics such as Russia's economic ties with Central Asian states, security after Afghanistan's Taliban takeover, and the role of Russia in improving regional connectivity and economic integration.
- Taliban Bans Long Distance Travel for Women Without Male Guardian
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/taliban-bans-long-distance-travel-women-without-male-guardian
Location: Afghanistan
On December 26th, the Taliban government announced that women are no longer allowed to travel farther than 45 miles (72km) without the companionship of a male relative. Mohammad Sadiq Hakif Mahajer, a spokesperson for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, told CNN that this law protects women from "disturbance." It is suspected that this law was passed to prevent people from escaping across the Afghan border to Iran. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated in a press conference on the same day that "hundreds" of Afghans were fleeing the country to Iran daily. The Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice asked that drivers refuse rides, of any distance, to women not wearing hijab and stop playing music in their cars. Heather Barr, associate director of Human Rights Watch, stated that the new rules bring the country "further in the direction of making women prisoners.”
- Tenth Indian State Passes Authoritarian Anti-Conversion Bill
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/tenth-indian-state-passes-authoritarian-anti-conversion-bill
Location: India
On December 23rd, the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill 2021 was successfully passed, making Karnataka the tenth Indian state to pass such an anti-conversion bill. The bill states, “No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person from one religion to another, by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means, or by marriage, nor shall any person abet or conspire for conversions.” The bill mandates that anyone who wishes to convert to another faith must declare their intention to a District Magistrate at least 30 days in advance. It also states that any marriage for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion shall be declared null and void by the family court. The bill proposes imprisonment of three to five years with a penalty of Rs 25,000 ($334.25). The penalty for violation of provisions protecting minors, women, or lower caste individuals is three to ten years in prison, and a fine of at least Rs 50,000 ($668.50).
- "Untouchable" Cook Fired After Upper-Caste Children Refuse to Eat Food
Location: India
In early December, Sunita Devi, a Dalit woman (a class of people more commonly known outside of India as the “Untouchables”), was hired as a school cook in Sukhidhang government Secondary school. On her second day at the job, she was fired after 44 out of 66 students refused to eat the food she prepared. The temporary position only paid Rs. 3000 ($40.23) a month. RC Purohit, Chief Education Officer of Champawat district, stated that Devi was terminated after it was found that the principal of the school had failed to “follow protocol” and did not receive approval prior to her hiring. An interim cook from an upper caste community was hired while the school looks for a permanent replacement. It is a ubiquitous belief that food prepared by Dalit cooks is considered “impure” or “polluted” by the upper caste members. Anita Arya, a local activist, stated to the Hindustan Times “This kind of discrimination will alienate scheduled caste people [lower castes or those who fall outside the caste system] from the society.”
- Kidnapped, Forcibly Converted, & Married Pakistani Girl to Return to Parents
Location: India
On December 22nd, 14-year-old Arzoo Fatima, a Christian girl who was kidnapped and forcibly married to a Muslim man, agreed to return to her parents. She has been away from her parents for over a year. Raja Masih, Arzoo’s father, filed a police report saying that she was kidnapped on October 13, 2020. The police found that Arzoo had been married to a 44-year-old man, Syed Ali Azhar, who presented a Muslim marriage certificate. However, the certificate was invalid as Arzoo is below the legal age of marriage, which is 16 years old in Pakistan. Initially, she did not want to return to her parents and was kept in a shelter. Eventually, she filed an application to be returned to her parents, but she declared that she wanted to remain Muslim. Her parents have agreed to her request. Azhar, who had sexual relations with Arzoo, is out on bail now. Azroo’s parents’ attorney, Jibran Nasir, is currently working to prosecute Azhar under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act and rape laws.
- Indian Students Filmed Giving Extreme Oath to Make India a "Hindu-Nation”
Location: India
On December 28th, Suresh Chavhanke of Sudarshan News posted a video on Twitter of Indian students reciting a Hindu nationalist-inspired oath. While taking the oath, the students are doing a Nazi-like salute. The identity of the school and its students is still unknown, but it has been confirmed that the video was taken in Nehru Park, in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. The Quint provided a translation of the oath: “We promise to work towards making India and keeping India a Hindu Rashtra [Nation]. We will fight for this, die for this, and if required, kill for this.” Law enforcement in the area has been investigating the incident. Similar to this video, many others have been circulating on the internet within the last few weeks demonstrating Indian figures calling for attacks on Muslim minorities. Police said they have launched a hate speech investigation, but so far there has been no comment from Prime Minister Modi’s government.
- India Bans Mother Teresa Charity From Receiving Foreign Funds
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/india-bans-mother-teresa-charity-receiving-foreign-funds
Location: India
On December 25th, the Indian government banned all funding towards the Missionaries of Charity (MOC) founded by Mother Teresa in 1950. The Ministry of Home Affairs stated in a press conference that the charity’s application for receiving international funds was denied due to “some adverse inputs.” It wasn’t mentioned what these “adverse inputs'' were. Gujarat’s Vadodara City Police launched an investigation on the charity earlier this month due to allegations of forced conversions of the girls living in the charity’s shelter. It is speculated that the denial of receiving further funding is related to these allegations. With the rise of anti-Chrisitan attitudes and violence in India, a Chrisitan charity being blocked from funding would not be a major shock, but certainly a cause for concern.
- Atheist Republic Arabic Channel Relaunching!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOYcUTkqaGE6VdLWlaZPLAw
The Atheist Republic team is excited to announce that our Arabic-language YouTube Channel is being restarted! After falling inactive for some time, we are pleased to share that our Atheist Republic community member “Dolly” will be breathing new life into the channel. Dolly is an Ex-Muslim and lesbian from Egypt, who is passionate about providing a sense of belonging for persecuted atheists. She’s very excited to build a community and environment for Arab atheists to express themselves freely! Make sure to recommend this channel to any of your Arabic-speaking friends, and subscribe to stay up-to-date with the latest videos here.
