Interfaith News & Views From Across The World!
WEST & CENTRAL ASIA
An Israeli Torah scroll in memory of Sheikh Zayed (founder of the United Arab Emirates) and presented to his son, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/special-an-israeli-torah-scroll-in-memory-of-sheikh- zayed
Christians in Saudi Arabia observe Christmas in new season of religious tolerance https://www.arabnews.com/node/1782496/saudi-arabia
At Christmas Mass, Iraq’s Muslim president calls for Christians to be protected https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-middle-east/2020/12/at-christmas-mass-iraqs-muslim- president-calls-for-christians-to-be- protected/?fbclid=IwAR1A2XoXY1tbJWcMDBGCcslIYcvsTPC_SnjkGLyo2HJekM1tp0YhjMO_hG o
Bahrain church project cements Gulf region’s reputation for tolerance https://www.arabnews.com/node/1782016/middle-east
First church-mosque complex inaugurated in Chechnya https://en.abna24.com/news//first-church-mosque-complex-inaugurated-in- chechnya_1099894.html
Netanyahu speaks with Morocco’s king, invites him to Israel https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/25/netanyahu-speaks-with-moroccos-king- invites-him-to-israel
Turkey wants better ties with Israel as talks continue between two sides: Erdogan https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/12/25/Turkey-wants-better- ties-with-Israel-as-talks-continue-between-two-sides- Erdogan?fbclid=IwAR3nIq73ENoNWJbY7FA3oKOKf-S2LadZsItNTSOBk- Atb9VfNjQGrcY7Dmc
SOUTH ASIA
Muslims help perform last rites of Kashmiri Pandit in Ganderbal https://kashmirreader.com/2020/12/26/muslims-help-perform-last-rites-of-kashmiri- pandit-in-ganderbal/amp/?fbclid=IwAR0OsjyVgZwzsZ5wArAsW0J- dnZNk3WreDpuMIFavU9UyDGNJbLgzM2pAhg
Ram Puniyani: Choosing My Religion: ‘Freedom of Religion Laws’ to Curb Liberty https://countercurrents.org/2020/12/choosing-my-religion-freedom-of-religion-laws-to- curb-liberty/
Joanna Slater: It was never easy being an interfaith couple in India. Now some states are making it harder https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/love-jihad-india-interfaith- marriage/2020/11/25/a8b33bea-2df9-11eb-9dd6- 2d0179981719_story.html?fbclid=IwAR03i5MLHPnT_YcoKJciVBpexd5z4jtoRRVs8dgHGzPY hM4kEfJbonH7Wps
Interview with historian Aparna Vaidik: ‘Idea of ‘love jihad’ is not simply about the Hindu- Muslim divide. It’s intrinsically tied to the caste system’ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/the-interviews-blog/idea-of-love-jihad-is-not- simply-about-the-hindu-muslim-divide-its-intrinsically-tied-to-the-caste-system/
Shruti Rajagopalan: Love jihad laws are a backlash to India’s own progress https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/love-jihad-laws-are-a-backlash-to-india- s-own-progress-11608564795399.html
UP's Anti-Conversion Law "Unconstitutional", Say 4 Former Judges https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/love-jihad-ups-anti-conversion-law-unconstitutional- say-4-former-judges-2340694
"Right To Live On Her Terms": High Court Reunites UP Interfaith Couple https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/right-to-live-on-her-terms-allahabad-high-court- reunites-interfaith-couple-2344687?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll
Joseph Maliakan: Demonizing Love and Conversion https://www.indiancurrents.org/article-demonizing-love-and-conversion-joseph- maliakan-176.php
Insiyah Vahanvaty: UP anti-conversion law pushes women back under parental and community control https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/love-jihad-uttar-pradesh-anti- conversion-law-yogi-adityanath-7107755/
Watch out: religious bias https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/up-love-jihad-ordinance-takes-the-myth-as-its-premise/cid/1800631
AFRICA
Morocco will teach Jewish history in public schools — and king approves https://forward.com/fast-forward/458654/morocco-to-include-jewish-history-as-part-of- the-national-public- school/?fbclid=IwAR0goYiHmagQZNr_O2_JrThOJG7UNygTWCB2dMlqwZGVeJybnL1gagte V9o
When Muslims outnumbered Christians at Christmas service in Kaduna church https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/when-muslims-outnumbered-christians-at- christmas-service-in-a-kaduna-church/?fbclid=IwAR1y7T- wqdfGm20P_mR2siSHX5qjMGUY7t2EEeLGrOu5VNfmmundXc15Wa8
Cameroon Muslims Join Christians in Christmas Prayer for Peace https://www.voanews.com/africa/cameroon-muslims-join-christians-christmas-prayer- peace?fbclid=IwAR3R87dSPFdofe9Kv8Y1s8vG19_YhK4VoKIPw5cK-ccK4fjETC1eR3s15pk
EUROPE
Pope Francis: ‘No one is saved alone’
https://mattersindia.com/2020/10/pope-francis-no-one-is-saved-alone/
Muslim-majority Albania hosts first ever Balkan anti-Semitism forum https://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-majority-albania-hosts-first-ever-balkan-anti- semitism- forum/?fbclid=IwAR1tmB6C8pXiT4rpdkyTvBjZdUgE6PXfC3pL18UOkE05N5l8VQl4eXwfItc