- The Unstoppable Rise of Islam in Japan
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/unstoppable-rise-islam-japan
Location: Japan
Imagine this: In just over a decade, Japan's Muslim population has more than doubled, making Islam the fastest-growing religion in the Land of the Rising Sun! With a whopping 110% increase from 110,000 followers in 2010 to approximately 230,000 by the end of 2022, Islam is making its mark in a country where it once had little presence. What's behind this remarkable growth? Two key factors come into play: a surge in immigration from Muslim-majority countries and an increase in marriages between Muslims and ethnic Japanese. As Japan's population dwindles, the demand for foreign workers is set to rise, opening the door for even more growth in the Muslim community. With a younger demographic than other groups in the country, the future looks bright for second and third-generation Japanese Muslims. And with half of Muslims in Japan being married, the likelihood of this would further increase, coupled with other factors such as low anti-Muslim sentiment in Japan and curiosity among the general public. And guess what? There are now around 90 mosques dotted across the nation, a far cry from the 1980s when mosques were virtually non-existent.
- Another Iranian Woman Murdered in Forced Hijab Dispute
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/another-iranian-woman-murdered-forced-hijab-dispute
Location: Iran
In a shocking turn of events, a woman tragically lost her life in Iran during a heated hijab dispute on April 23rd. A dramatic fight between the country's paramilitary Basij forces and a group of people was caught on camera, quickly going viral on social media. The details of the fight and what led to the woman's death were unclear and subject to debate. Reports suggest that the unnamed woman, who was either 59 or 60, died due to cardiac arrest in the hospital. However, some Iranians suggested that the older woman was beaten, based on footage of the scuffle. Iran International reported that Basij forces ordered women in the group to comply with mandatory hijab rules while visiting a park. When the group refused to obey, a fight broke out. In the video footage, a female Basij member can be heard saying, "Let them die, to hell with it." This harrowing incident comes on the heels of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini's tragic death under the custody of Iran's morality police for an improperly worn hijab. With the Islamic Republic ramping up the enforcement of strict hijab laws, tensions continue to rise.
- Islamic Scholar Claims Jews Plant Trees to Thwart Muslims on Judgement Day
Location: Turkey
In a bizarre twist, Syrian Islamic scholar Abdul Nafee Al-Rifai claimed on Qanat TV/Channel 9 of Turkey that Jews strategically planted trees in Israel and Palestine to shield themselves from Muslims on Judgement Day. According to Al-Rifai, during the final battle, rocks and trees will betray the Jews' hiding spots to Muslims, except for one tree—the gharqad. He cites a hadith, saying, "Allah will make the rocks and the trees speak, and they will say: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,' except for the gharqad, which is one of the trees of the Jews." Al-Rifai further alleges that Jews planted the gharqad tree in their territories, gardens, and homes, preparing for that fateful day. He even claimed that the Jerusalem municipality, back in the 1970s, ordered Jews to plant gharqad in their home or garden, or their electricity and water supply would be cut off.
- Jehovah's Witnesses Accused of Child Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/jehovahs-witnesses-accused-child-sexual-abuse-pennsylvania
Location: United States
A bombshell probe in Pennsylvania has implicated nine men in a child sexual abuse scandal within the Jehovah's Witnesses, marking the most extensive and comprehensive investigation of abuse within the church's history in the United States. The grand jury probe began in 2019 and sent shockwaves through the church as a series of charges have been filed in recent months. The investigation is similar to a grand jury proceeding on child sex abuse committed by Catholic priests, which resulted in a lengthy 2018 report stating how dozens of priests abused children for seven decades. The report also described how church officials covered up these incidents of abuse. Critics argue that the Jehovah's Witnesses have long mishandled child abuse cases by treating them as sins rather than crimes and failing to report them to authorities. They also point to the church's requirement for a second witness in abuse complaints as additionally problematic. Despite the church denying these allegations, many have testified before the grand jury or provided information to the state's attorney general, shedding light on this deeply troubling issue. An attorney for one of the accused men stated, "Honestly, this appears to be some sort of attack on their religion. You have all these Jehovah's Witnesses getting charged with some sort of inappropriate behavior. I'm hoping that this is not the attorney general's office piling on due to their religious beliefs."
- Witchcraft: Culture or Curse? African Union Addresses Dark Side of Belief
Location: West Africa
The Pan-African Parliament, a legislative body comprising 48 African countries, is taking a bold stance against witchcraft-related violence. They're developing groundbreaking guidelines to protect victims of ritual attacks and prevent the abuse of those accused of witchcraft. The innovative measures include:
- Criminalizing violence resulting from witchcraft accusations.
- Banning the gruesome trafficking of body parts for rituals.
- Launching community education and awareness campaigns.
Despite scarce data and unreported cases, violence and abuse against people accused of witchcraft are widespread throughout Africa. Contrary to popular belief, witchcraft-related attacks in Africa are not decreasing but appear to be rising, as noted by some experts. Over the past decade, witchcraft-related incidents have haunted over 20,000 people across 60 countries. A survey conducted across 95 countries and territories found that 40% of all respondents believe in witchcraft, and this belief transcends socioeconomic boundaries. The most vulnerable groups, including children, women, people with disabilities, the elderly, and individuals with albinism, are now gaining attention and hope for a safer future.
- The Women Behind India’s Militant Hindu Nationalist Movement
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/women-behind-india-s-militant-hindu-nationalist-movement
Location: India
The rise of Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) ideology in India has led to an increase in female militant Hindu nationalists, who are not only advocating their beliefs fiercely but also gaining positions in government. Perhaps the most infamous example is Pragya Singh Thakur, accused in a 2008 bombing, who has become a controversial figure yet managed to secure a seat in India's parliament in 2019, raising concerns about the implications of her election. One of Thakur's followers, Chaitra Kundapura, challenges Western notions of gender equality and feminism but has also faced legal cases for inciting hatred against India's Muslim minority. Similarly, activist Pooja Shakun Pandey, who quit her teaching job to focus on activism, has been involved in controversial "counseling" of Hindu women in alleged cases of "love jihad," which included using violence on young women.
These examples demonstrate a worrying trend in India's political landscape, as female Hindu nationalists are becoming increasingly militant and outspoken to stand out amidst their male colleagues. This raises questions about the role of gender in Indian right-wing politics; the ambitions of these female Hindu nationalists, who pursue power and influence outside the domestic sphere, seem to contradict their own conservative rhetoric that advocates for traditional gender roles and a more limited scope for women in society.
- Divided by Faith: The Texas Ten Commandments School Bill Sparks Controversy
Location: United States, Texas
In Texas, lawmakers are pushing two controversial bills that could increase the presence of religion in public schools. The first bill, introduced by Republican state senator Phil King, requires the mandatory display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, aligning with previous legislation on displaying "In God We Trust" posters. The second bill, proposed by Republican state senator Mayes Middleton, establishes prayer time across schools and other learning establishments, allowing students to read the Bible or other religious texts. Participation in these events would be voluntary and require parental consent. Critics argue that these proposals undermine the separation of church and state, while supporters claim they are protecting the right to express sincerely held religious beliefs. Concerns are growing over the potential impact on non-Christian students, as some view these proposals as part of a broader "Christian nationalist project."
- Australian Islamic Scholar Admonishes Muslims For "Abandoning Jihad"
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/australian-islamic-scholar-admonishes-muslims-abandoning-jihad
Location: Australia
In a recent fiery sermon in Sydney, Australian Islamic scholar Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, passionately condemned Muslims for allegedly "abandoning jihad." In his sermon, he lambasted Muslims for reportedly doing nothing while other Muslims were killed in Kashmir and Palestine. He lashed out at Hindus and Jewish people, claiming that "Muslims are being killed at the hands of the worshippers of cows and monkeys, and the Muslims remain silent." Turning to Israeli Jews, he referred to them as "descendants of pigs and monkeys." Abu Ousayd implored Muslims to emulate the Prophet Muhammad's companions, asserting, "As I said, my dear brothers, the Companions were known to be worshippers at night and warriors by day. So let us follow their way, as their way is the best of ways." Abu Ousayd later claimed on his Instagram post that he received death threats after he referred to Hindus as "worshippers of cows and monkeys" in his sermon when MEMRI published it on April 14th. In a different video, he mocked the Hindu community by eating a burger and saying that he doesn't have "beef" with anyone.
- New Data Reveals Most Adults in the US See Morality as Independent of God
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/new-data-reveals-most-adults-us-see-morality-independent-god
Location: United States
Do you know that most Americans and people from developed countries believe that one can be a good person without believing in God? This was revealed in a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, which demonstrated that 56% of religious Americans believe that it is not necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values, while 65% of all American adults and 88% of non-religious Americans share this view. This sentiment is also shared by religious Canadians (64%), Australians (75%), and Swedes (86%). Interestingly, the survey showed some outliers, such as Israel, where 50% of the population believes that believing in God is necessary for morality, and Malaysia, where only 22% of the population thinks there is no link between morality and religious belief. The report also highlights a link between age, political affiliation, educational attainment, and belief in a connection between morality and faith in God. Left-wing people are also more likely to see no connection between belief in God and morality than moderates and right-wingers. Overall, the survey findings provide a fascinating insight into the changing attitudes towards religion and morality in developed countries.
- Atheist Republic Attains Gold Charity Status!
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/3e53bb81-b668-495d-916e-848207b18bb2
We've got fantastic news! Atheist Republic has just been awarded the prestigious Gold Seal of Transparency by Candid! Candid (formerly known as Guidestar) is an organization that provides comprehensive, high-quality information about nonprofit organizations, and they work to promote transparency in the philanthropic sector. This achievement highlights our unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in the nonprofit world. By openly sharing insights into our finances, programs, governance, and impact, we're solidifying the trust and confidence of our amazing supporters and partners. We're proud of this accomplishment and will continue to champion secularism, reason, and critical thinking with passion and enthusiasm. A massive thank you for your ongoing support, as we celebrate this exciting milestone together!
