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7 May 2008
The most recent general elections in Pakistan left the North Western Frontier Province Assembly dominated by secularists after five years of governance by mullahs. This article looks at the role Islam plays in shaping politics in this country listed as a key US ally in the “war on terror”. 
USA: race for Democratic candidacy shows new religious side to Party
7 May 2008
The battle between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama to be the presidential candidate for the U.S. Democratic Party has revealed the way in which religion has become an integral part of the campaigns.
Religion and money: Islamic finance
18 Mar 2008
Islamic finance is on the rise in what in many parts of the world can be called an anti-Sharia age, and it has been proven compatible with Western financial systems and legislation. But challenges have still to be faced.
Algeria: crackdown on churches
18 Mar 2008
Police ordered two Algerian churches to cease activity last week, the latest in a series of 10 church closures and further court cases against foreign and local Christians.
India: pilgrimage to Sabarimala - farewell to a hundred pilgrims
3 Mar 2008
Sabarimala temple nestles in the Sahyadri mountain range in the southernmost state of Kerala in India and is open for only three months in a year: November to January. Yet the temple attracts millions of pilgrims and contributes more than half a billion dollars to the state's economy. -- One of our correspondents in India, Ramesh Avadhani, reports on pilgrims going to Sabarimala.
Malaysia: Government rules Catholic newspaper must abide by ruling not to use ‘Allah’ for God
8 Jan 2008
The government has told the Herald, a Catholic newspaper threatened with closure for using the word “Allah” in its Malay segment, that it must abide by a ruling not to use the word even though the weekly secured renewal of its printing permit for 2008.
Religion in Europe: Muslims in the EU capital – identity vs integration
8 Jan 2008
There are 400,000 Muslims in Belgium. According to estimates, Muslims make 17% of its total population of Brussels: it has become "one of the most Muslim cities in the Western world". The Islamic faith was officially recognized by the Belgian government in 1974. But the Belgian integration approach has become controversial. Asma Hanif reports from the EU capital.
Iraq: coordinated blasts rock churches
7 Jan 2008
Four Iraqi churches and three convents were damaged in coordinated bomb blasts in the morning of January 6, the day many Iraqi Christians celebrate either Epiphany or Christmas Eve according to some Eastern liturgical calendars. At least six people were injured, one seriously.
South Korea: churches face new mission to rejuvenate
31 Dec 2007
South Korea's Christian churches are facing new challenges to continue growing as they face increasing competition from digital distractions and criticism about their wealth.
Hinduism: US website offends believers
27 Dec 2007
Commercialization of religion is nothing new. In the past, numerous protests have arisen over what some have termed the disrespectful or even blasphemous portrayal of Hindu deities on consumer items. And www.cafepress.com recently reignited that debate on the invasion of Hindus’ sentiment.
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