Religion News

Tens of thousands stage anti-France rally in Bangladesh

By AFP

Dhaka - Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the Bangladesh capital on Tuesday calling for a boycott of French products and burning an effigy of President Emmanuel Macron after he defended cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

Huge anti-France rally in Bangladesh capital over Macron's cartoon defence

By AFP

Dhaka - Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the Bangladesh capital on Tuesday in the biggest anti-France rally since President Emmanuel Macron defended cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

Huge anti-France rally in Bangladesh capital over Macron's cartoon defence

By AFP

Pope to celebrate Christmas without congregation: report

By AFP

Vatican City - Pope Francis will have to forego meeting Catholics at the annual Advent and Christmas masses in the Vatican owing to the resurgent coronavirus pandemic, the specialist Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported on Monday.

Pakistan summons French envoy over Macron's Islamist remarks

By AFP

Islamabad - Pakistan summoned France's ambassador Monday to complain about a "systematic Islamophobic campaign" in the European nation after French President Emmanuel Macron criticised Islamists and defended the publication of religious cartoons.

Ukraine activist in nude protest against Polish abortion ban

By AFP

Kiev - A member of radical feminist group Femen staged a naked protest outside the Polish embassy in Kiev on Monday against a near-total ban on abortion in the EU country.The English words "My body is my choice" were scrawled on her torso.

Turkey calls for France boycott as Islamic world backlash grows

By AFP

Ankara - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday joined calls for a boycott of French goods, ramping up a standoff between France and Muslim countries over Islam and freedom of speech.

South Korean Jehovah's Witnesses begin prison work terms

By AFP

Daejeon - Dozens of South Korean Jehovah's Witnesses in suits and ties lined up to enter a prison on Monday -- to begin training as administrators, rather than the jail terms they used to face as conscientious objectors.

Protesters target churches over Poland's near-total abortion ban

By AFP

Warsaw - Protesters targeted Catholic churches across Poland on Sunday in the fourth straight day of upheaval against a near-total ban on abortion in the EU country.Demonstrators chanted "we've had enough!

Pakistan's PM Khan accuses Macron of 'attacking Islam'

By AFP

Islamabad - Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan accused French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday of "attacking Islam", after the European leader criticised Islamists and defended the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

Clean conscience: South Korea offers alternative to conscription

By AFP

Seoul - As a devout Jehovah's Witness Jang Kyung-jin was ready to be jailed rather than serve in South Korea's military. After a landmark court ruling he will be heading for prison on Monday -- but as a civilian administrator, not a convict.

France recalls envoy after Erdogan jibe at Macron

By AFP

Istanbul - France on Saturday said it was recalling its envoy to Turkey for consultations after comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggesting French counterpart Emmanuel Macron needed a mental health check-up that Paris condemned as unacceptable.

Erdogan tells Macron to undergo 'mental checks'

By AFP

Istanbul - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday slammed his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, over his policies toward Muslims, saying that he needed "mental checks.

China and Vatican renew historic deal on bishops

By AFP

Bejing - A secretive 2018 agreement between Beijing and the Vatican was renewed Thursday, despite strident US condemnation and warnings from underground Chinese priests loyal to Rome that they have only become more marginalised since it was signed.

China and Vatican renew historic deal on bishops

By AFP

Australian police probe Vatican cash transfer in Pell case

By AFP

Sydney - Australian police are investigating allegations a large amount of money was transferred to Australia by a Vatican rival of Cardinal George Pell in an apparent bid to help convict him of child sex abuse.

Dubai gets ready to go kosher after Israel peace deal

By AFP

Dubai - At the plush Armani hotel in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, a rabbi switches on the stoves at what is billed as Dubai's first kosher restaurant.

Italy shocked at discovery of foetus graves bearing women's names

By AFP

Rome - Small crosses made of wood and metal fill Lot 108 of Flaminio Cemetery in Rome, some painted white, some askew or fallen to the ground, all carrying female names.

Indian jewellery chain withdraws ad after outrage by Hindu hardliners

By AFP

New Delhi - One of India's top jewellery retailers has withdrawn an advert featuring an interfaith baby shower after a vicious backlash on social media by Hindu hardliners who said it glorified "love jihad".

'Nun of Your Business': Unveiling a Croatian love story

By AFP

Zagreb - Marita was a young nun on a Croatian island when she first met Fani, a fellow sister who would become her great love.

'Cardinal's woman' arrested in Italy after 500,000-euro payment

By AFP

Vatican City - Italian financial police on Tuesday arrested a woman in Milan who was paid half a million euros ($590,000) by the Vatican into a Slovenian bank account, local media reported.

Virus fears see Fatima pilgrims keep their distance

By AFP

F - Catholic believers gathered Tuesday for an annual pilgrimage at Portugal's Sanctuary of Fatima where coronavirus restrictions severely cut participants from their usual 300,000.

Pope meets acquitted Australian cardinal Pell

By AFP

Vatican City - Pope Francis met Monday with Australian Cardinal George Pell for the first time since he was jailed -- and then acquitted -- on child sex abuse charges.

Trump's Supreme Court pick in Senate hearing spotlight

By AFP

Washington - Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's pick to fill a key vacancy on the Supreme Court bench, faced the Senate's scrutiny Monday as confirmation hearings kicked off for the lifetime appointment -- which Democrats appear largely powerless to ...

Teen one step from becoming first millennial saint

By AFP

Vatican City - A British-born Italian teenager who dedicated his short life to spreading the faith online and helping the poor was beatified by the Catholic Church Saturday.

Lockdown tests faith in virus-hit Philippines

By AFP

Manila - After months of livestreaming mass to millions of faithful from behind closed doors, churches in the Catholic-majority Philippines are beginning to reopen.

Shiite pilgrims in Iraq mourn martyrs old and new

By AFP

Karbala - Millions have massed in Iraq to mourn one of Shiite Islam's most revered spiritual figures but also to honour modern "martyrs" such as an Iranian general killed in a US drone strike.

Hong Kong faithful pray for future under security crackdown

By AFP

Fpo - Cardinal Joseph Zen fled the communist takeover of China as a teenager and found sanctuary in Hong Kong, a bastion of religious freedom that he now fears could disappear under Beijing's tightening grip.

Mecca reopens for limited 'umrah' pilgrimage

By AFP

Mecca - Mask-clad Muslims circled Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths on Sunday, as Saudi authorities partially resumed the year-round umrah pilgrimage with extensive health precautions adopted after a seven-month coronavirus hiatus.

Mecca reopens for limited 'umrah' pilgrimage

By AFP

Mecca - Mask-clad Muslims circled Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths on Sunday, as Saudi authorities partially resumed the year-round umrah pilgrimage amid extensive health precautions after seven-month coronavirus hiatus.