Religion Archives

From the early morning hours, crowds of men, women and children flocked to pray at Damascus's historic Umayyad Mosque for Eid

World

Syrians rejoice during first Eid after Assad’s fall

Eid al-Fitr in Syria was charged with newfound joy this year, as thousands freely celebrated the holiday for the first time after the fall...

AFPMarch 31, 2025

Muslims gather in Mandalay for a sombre first prayer of the Eid al-Fitr festival, three days after a devastating earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand

World

Prayers and tears for Eid in quake-hit Mandalay

Hundreds of grieving Muslims gathered for Eid prayers in the street in Mandalay on Monday, the death and destruction of Myanmar’s huge earthquake casting...

AFPMarch 31, 2025

Pope Francis at the window of Rome's Gemelli hospital before his discharge

World

Convalescing Pope Francis aims to give Easter blessing: Vatican

Pope Francis, who is recovering from a life-threatening bout of pneumonia, intends to give his Easter Sunday blessing, the Vatican indicated Thursday, without specifying...

AFPMarch 27, 2025

In this photograph taken on February 28, 2025, Kersi Umrigar (L), a 76-year-old, embraces his granddaughter Elisha Amra at his residence in a Karachi enclave reserved for Zoroastrians

World

Pakistan’s Parsi community dwindles as young migrate

From a gated community for her Zoroastrian faith in Pakistan’s megacity Karachi, 22-year-old Elisha Amra has waved goodbye to many friends migrating abroad as...

AFPMarch 26, 2025

The Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery in Dhaka opens its doors to the needy during Ramadan

World

Bangladesh monastery a beacon of harmony after unrest

A Buddhist monastery in Bangladesh has found renown for opening its doors to the needy during Ramadan — a beacon of interfaith harmony in...

AFPMarch 25, 2025

The Japanese chapter of the Unification Church is accused of pressuring followers into making life-ruining donations, although it has denied any wrongdoing

World

Japan court orders ‘Moonies’ Church be stripped of legal recognition

A Japanese court ordered on Tuesday that a religious sect be stripped of official recognition, the government said, in the wake of the assassination...

AFPMarch 25, 2025

World

Japan court orders ‘Moonies’ Church be stripped of legal recognition

A Japanese court ordered on Tuesday that a religious sect be stripped of official recognition, the government said, in the wake of the assassination...

AFPMarch 25, 2025

The Tokyo headquarters of the Unification Church in Shibuya Ward in 2022

World

Unification Church faces dissolution in Japan

The Unification Church has come under intense scrutiny in Japan since a former prime minister was assassinated, but it could soon fall even further...

AFPMarch 14, 2025