Author: JULIE MASIS

Source: India New England

Author: Tom Heneghan

Source: Canwest/The Gazette

Wire Service: Reuters

Author: Hannah Goff

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7311178.stm

Head teachers should allow imams, rabbis and priests to offer religious instruction to pupils in all state schools, teachers' leaders have said.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said the move would be a way to reunite divided communities.

The NUT said parents had a right to have specific schooling in their own faith, if that was what they...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: VOA News

Wire Service: AFP/AP

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-03-23-voa17.cfm

A U.S.-based Internet service provider has closed down a Web site that a Dutch lawmaker had reserved to post a controversial film that is triggering an uproar in much of the Islamic world.

Network Solutions says it invoked the suspension after receiving complaints related to the film. A statement...

Author: ANDREW CHUNG

Source: The Toronto Star

http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/349844

As Chinese troops have been fanning out across Tibetan regions inside China in an attempt to quell spreading anti-government riots, another restive group has also come under intense police scrutiny in the country's northwest.

The Uighurs of Xinjiang province – a largely Muslim ethnic minority of Turkic descent that has long inhabited the...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Buffalo News

Wire Service: AP

http://www.buffalonews.com/nationalworld/state/story/305768.html

Authorities at a county jail have agreed to provide Muslim inmates with meats prepared according to Islamic law, ending a three-year- long legal fight.

Under a settlement approved by a federal judge in Manhattan on March 12, the Westchester County Jail is serving four...

Author: Foo Yun Chee

Source: The Boston Globe

Wire Service: Reuters

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2008/03/22/dutch_protest_against_islam_critics_koran_film/

About one thousand people protested in central Amsterdam on Saturday against right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders and the imminent release of his film expected to be critical of the Koran. more...

Author: Ashling O’Connor

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/london_2012/article3599689.ece

The Olympics is meant to promote solidarity – but the 2012 Games has become a question of faith for some in East London as Christianity and Islam vie to become the most visible religion around the 500-acre park.

Muslim leaders have begun a charm offensive with residents in the borough of Newham over...

Author: NEIL MacFARQUHAR

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/us/21tolerance.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Two issues of Muslim practice — whether the call to prayer should ring out across Harvard Yard and whether the university should grant women separate gym hours — have unleashed small waves of controversy over how Harvard practices tolerance.

Heated discussions have...

Author: Ian Fisher

Source: The Detroit News/The New York Times

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/NATION/803210425/1041/LIFESTYLE04

The Vatican on Thursday rejected an audiotaped accusation from Osama bin Laden that Pope Benedict XVI was leading a "new crusade" against Muslims, but Italian security officials were concerned about the threats included in bin Laden's new message.
...

Author: Matthew Schneeberger

Source: Rediff

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/mar/21mf.htm

Leading art auction house Christie's on Thursday sold artist MF Husain's paintings, including one for a hammer price of $ 1.4 million.

Outside the Christie's building in New York, up to 30 supporters of the Indian American Intellectual Forum staged a two-hour protest chanting 'Shame, shame, MF Husain' and 'Boycott Christie's!'.

At least 12 of...

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Calvin College News

http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/koldenhoven.htm

Calvin College will host Dean Koldenhoven on March 31 for the 12th annual Paul B. Henry Lecture.

A former mayor of Palos Heights, Ill., and a 2002 recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, Koldenhoven will speak on "Religious Tolerance, Love your Neighbor" at 7:30 p.m. at the Prince Conference Center. The...

Author: Murray Brewster

Source: The Canadian Press/The Gazette

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2008/03/20/5063331-cp.html

Canada plans to build as many as 50 schools in Kandahar province over the next few years, but is hedging on whether it supports a controversial Afghan program to construct a handful of madrassas - schools of Islamic education.

Canadian officials on the ground - both civilian and military - have been...

Author: Aroosa Masroor

Source: The International News

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=102278

March 21 will be of special significance this year as the calendars of five different religions will coincide, giving each faith a reason to celebrate the day.

As Muslims celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi (the birth of Prophet Muhammad PBUH) on Friday, Christians will mark the crucifixion and death of Jesus as Good Friday, while Hindus and Sikhs will...

Author: Alistair Scrutton

Source: Reuters

http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnISL307131.html

The U.N. freedom of religion investigator warned on Thursday that India risks more religious violence, like Gujarat's 2002 riots that killed 2,500 people, as delays to bring justice encouraged an atmosphere of impunity.

"All these incidents continue to haunt the people affected by them and impunity emboldens forces of intolerance," Asma...