Freedom Of Religion

Full text of Hamid Ansari's final speech as vice-president: Why pluralism and secularism are essential for our democracy

In his final speech as vice-president, Hamid Ansari said the challenge today is to reiterate and rejuvenate secularism's basic principles.

EU apex court allows companies to bar staff from wearing headscarf; human rights groups protest

By Alastair Macdonald | BRUSSELS BRUSSELS Companies may bar staff from wearing Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols under certain conditions, the European Union's top court ruled on Tuesday, setting off a storm of complaint from rights groups and religious leaders.In its first ruling on a hot political issue across Europe, the Court of Justice (ECJ) found a Belgian firm which had a rule barring employees who dealt with customers from wearing visible religious and political symbols may not have discriminated against a receptionist dismissed for wearing a headscarf.The judgment on that and a French case came on the eve of a Dutch election in which Muslim immigration is a key issue and weeks before France votes for a president in a similarly charged campaign.

Sabrimala entry row: SC seeks questions before referring them to larger constitution bench

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on whether to refer the matter pertaining to ban on the entry of women at Kerala's Sabrimala temple to a constitution bench.

Bangladesh charges seven Islamists with attempting to murder Italian priest

Seven members of a Bangladesh Islamist group have been charged with the attempted murder of an Italian priest who was wounded in a shooting last year.

Modi, Obama discuss extremism challenge; no discussion on human rights

PM Modi discussed religious extremism with US President Obama but human rights issues and religious freedom on India were left out.

Charlie Hebdo: Religion must not get a free pass in fight for free speech

Freedom of speech or freedom of religion is ultimately indivisible. The fight for freedom cannot be confined to Paris or London. It needs to be fought in Saudi Arabia, which is the world most unfree nation when it comes to religion

Ban religious conversion? It is a 'thaka hua' idea that ignores history

This is a counter-view to an piece we published on whether a ban on proselytisation makes sense in India