Religion Belief

Conversion victims can face action if they try to convert others: HC

The Gujarat High Court has said that persons claiming to be victims of religious conversion can also face legal action if they later attempt to convert others. On account of their act of "influencing, pressuring and alluring other persons to convert to Islam", a prima facie offence is made out against them, the court of Justice Nirzar Desai said on October 1, hearing a batch of petitions moved by several persons. The petitioners claimed they were originally Hindus and had been converted to Islam by other persons, and hence they were themselves victims of conversion and not accused. The court noted that they were involved in "pressuring and alluring other persons to convert to Islam," which would prima facie make out an offence against them. Several men accused of religious conversion had approached the HC, contending that they were themselves victims of religious conversion and the First Information Report (FIR) against them was misconceived. They sought the FIR lodged against the

Uttarakhand govt passes Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill

The Bill includes punishment for marriage under false identity and incitement for conversion through social media

Unity across castes, religion key to becoming Vishwaguru, says Ashok Gehlot

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that unity among people of all castes and religions can be achieved only through social justice

'Invasion by people of one religion' altering demography: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on Tuesday that the indigenous communities of the state are facing "invasion" from people of "one religion", who are allegedly encroaching on land in different parts to alter the demography of those areas. He said the government's eviction drives, through which over 1.19 lakh bighas have been cleared since 2021, are a major step towards checking this alleged attempt by migrants to gain a political foothold in Assamese-majority areas. The chief minister did not specify who was making this alleged attempt, but most of the evicted people are Bengali-speaking Muslims. Addressing a press conference here, Sarma said that it has been found while conducting eviction drives that the encroachers are mostly people with own land in their native districts, and yet they move to settle illegally in distant parts of the state. Forest destruction is one of the issues. These people migrate to change the demography of that place, he claimed. Sarma sai

Pressed for evidence, US cites power to deport Mahmoud Khalil for beliefs

Facing a deadline from an immigration judge to turn over evidence for its attempted deportation of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, the federal government has instead submitted a brief memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing the Trump administration's authority to expel noncitizens whose presence in the country damages US foreign policy interests. The two-page memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press, does not allege any criminal conduct by Khalil, a legal permanent US resident and graduate student who served as spokesperson for campus activists last year during large demonstrations against Israel's treatment of Palestinians and the war in Gaza. Rather, Rubio wrote Khalil could be expelled for his beliefs. He said that while Khalil's activities were otherwise lawful, letting him remain in the country would undermine US policy to combat anti-Semitism around the world and in the United States, in addition to efforts to protect Jewish students from ..

SC to hear Tuesday plea challenging validity of 1991 Places of Worship Act

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a plea challenging the validity of a provision of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which mandates maintaining the religious character of a place as it existed on August 15, 1947. As per the cause list of April 1, the plea is slated to come up for hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. The law prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. However, the dispute relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid at Ayodhya was kept out of its purview. The plea has sought the apex court's direction allowing courts to pass appropriate orders to ascertain the original religious character of a place of worship. It has challenged section 4(2) of the Act that barred proceedings to change the religious character, besides prohibiting filing of fresh cases for the ..

'Enough is enough': SC on surge of pleas over Places of Worship Act

Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, defers hearing to first week of April

Rahim Al-Hussaini named new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims

Rahim Al-Hussaini was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's millions of Ismaili Muslims. He was designated as the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims, in his father's will. His father died Tuesday in Portugal. The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state.

Mahavatar Narsimha teaser out: Film tells the story of Vishnu's 4th avatar

Ashwin Kumar-directed Mahavatar Narsimha's teaser is out. This is the first animated movie based on the story of Bhakt Prahlad and his devotion to Lord Vishnu. Watch the teaser here

Rajasthan Cabinet approves Anti-Conversion bill against forced conversions

According to Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa, the bill proposes severe punishments, including imprisonment from 1 to 5 years, to crack down on forced conversions

Rajasthan govt to introduce bill against forceful religious conversions

The BJP government in Rajasthan is set to introduce a bill in the upcoming Assembly session to stop forceful religious conversions in the state, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel said on Saturday. The bill was approved in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bajanlal Sharma. Patel said the bill proposes that if someone wants to convert to another religion, the person will have to give an application to the district magistrate 60 days in advance. "The district magistrate will examine whether or not it is a forceful conversion," he said, adding if it is found that the conversion is not forced or under any temptation, then the applicant will be allowed to go ahead with it. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the state parliamentary affairs minister said, "The government has decided to bring a bill in the upcoming assembly session to stop forceful religious conversion in the state. The bill has provisions of punishment in different categories, from one year to 10

Siripanyo gives up $5 bn empire, India has history of riches-to-monks

After adopting the ascetic life, such people relinquish all material possessions, even cut ties with family

Set up old-age homes at places of religious importance in MP: CM Yadav

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed the administration to set up old-age homes at places of religious importance in the state, including Ujjain, Orchha, Omkareshwar and Chitrakoot. He also asked it to provide all the facilities required for the elderly people and reserve beds in hospitals for the individuals residing in old-age homes. The chief minister celebrated Diwali with the inmates of Anand Dham old-age home here on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Parents are considered next to God. Though my parents have gone to Devlok (heaven), by coming to Anand Dham, I feel that I am with my parents only." According to an official, the chief minister directed the social justice and empowerment department to set up old-age homes at places of religious importance, like Ujjain, Orchha, Omkareshwar and Chitrakoot with all necessary facilities for the elderly persons. CM Yadav also directed officials to reserve beds in hospitals for elderly persons residing in

Trilochan Sastry's book explores faith, conflict, and search for harmony

How does one find harmony in the discordant notes of a practice that ignites wars and justifies genocide, all in the name of God? That is exactly what this book seeks to explore

Derogatory remarks against deities of any religion unacceptable: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said derogatory remarks against deities, great men or saints belonging to any religion or sect are unacceptable and those doing so will be "punished vigorously", remarks that come in the backdrop of Dasna temple priest Yati Narsinghanand's remarks against Prophet Muhammad. Reviewing the law and order situation with the chief secretary, DGP and other officials, the chief minister also said that "anarchy, vandalism or arson in the name of protest is not acceptable" and whoever dares to do this will have to pay the price for it". The chief minister stressed that faith of every sect and religion should be respected. "Every citizen should have a sense of gratitude towards great men, but this cannot be forced and cannot be imposed on anyone," Adityanath said in a statement issued here. "If any person tampers with faith, makes derogatory remarks against the faith of great men, deities, sect etc., then he will be brought under the purv

Kashmiri activist raises concern over persecution of minorities in Pak

His address comes as international scrutiny over Pakistan's human rights record, particularly regarding its treatment of minority communities, continues to grow

Govts must protect every religion, says NC president Farooq Abdullah

India is known for unity in diversity and governments must protect every religion, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said here on Saturday, a day after the Assam Assembly scrapped a two-hour 'namaz' break provided to Muslim legislators on Fridays. Abdullah said nothing is permanent and things will change when the time comes. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on Friday that the state assembly would discontinue the two-hour break provided on Fridays to facilitate Muslim legislators to offer 'namaz'. The rule will be implemented from the next session. "This country is known for unity in diversity. We have every religion and every language, be it Tamil Nadu, Kashmir, Bengal or Maharashtra,? any state, every state has a different culture and that is why India is a federal structure and we have to protect every religion. "When the time comes, it will change. Nothing is permanent. Good things will prevail again. We will tell them, let our government come,

Assam's future at risk as Hindu-Muslim population balance eroding: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the future of the state is "not secure" as the population balance between Hindus and Muslims is declining fast. Hoisting the Tri-Colour here, Sarma also said that the indigenous people have gone in a defensive mode due to demographic change in Assam as "we are a minority in 12-13 districts". "The future of Assam is not secure for us. The Hindu-Muslim population balance is declining fast. The Muslim population in 2021 rose to 41 per cent, while the Hindus were down to 57 per cent. The rest is shared by Christians and other communities," he claimed. In his official speech on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day, the CM asserted that the Hindu population is slowly going down to 50 per cent from 60-65 per cent. "In such a crisis phase, I am trying to bring back the population balance. I request all Hindus, Muslims and others to follow the family planning norms. We should be aware against polygamy by all sections of the ...

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