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This webpage offers a database of English-language news stories about secularism, beginning in January 2023. Users can search by date, country of origin, or topic. Top stories are featured at the top of the page.

03 November 2025

Quebec's secular laws are strengthening. The province has expanded its secular policies by adopting Bill 94, An Act to reinforce laicity in the education network, on October 30. This law bans face coverings and religious symbols for all educational staff. It also ends accommodation for religious holidays for students and school staff in all public schools across the province.

By The Canadian Jewish News

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All News
Title
Date
Journal
Summary
Tehran design event closed after online video triggers hardline backlash
16/11/2025
Iran International
This article examines the event cancellation at Tehran's design week after violation of the compulsory hijab requirement.
Iran’s judiciary says enforcing the compulsory hijab is a top priority
16/11/2025
Iran International
This article examines how Iran's judiciary has reinforced the mandatory headscarf as a top priority in its enforcement agenda.
Mexico Muslim women's legal fight to keep hijab in passport photos
16/11/2025
ABNA News
This article examines the legal challenge launched by Mexico Muslim women to retain her hijab in her passport photos.
BNP to reinstate ‘faith in Allah’ in constitution if returns to power: Salahuddin
15/11/2025
UNB
This article examines how the BNP political party plans to reinstate Islam into the Bangladeshi Constitution to uphold fundamental principles of state policy.
Vox Calls for Ban on Burka and Niqab in Valencia’s Public Spaces
15/11/2025
Russpain
This article examines the calls to ban the burqa and the niqab in Spain to address security concerns.
Iran Eases Social Restrictions While Deepening Crackdown on Dissent
14/11/2025
Sri Lanka Guardian
This article explains the challenges in achieving social freedom in Iran with the recent loosening of social restrictions including the mandatory hijab requirement.
Quiet threat to Canadian unity is emerging; Bill 21 is not just a Quebec law - it's a test for Canada
14/11/2025
The Vancouver Sun
This article explains how Bill 21 is perceived as a challenge to public policy and unity across Canadian provinces.
Kolkata ISI students take out rallies put up posters on inclusiveness post hateful graffiti row
14/11/2025
The Week
This article examine the recent rallies to denounce hateful messages targetting religious practices at the Indian Statistical Institute.
Iran's dual reality: As veil restrictions ease, political crackdown deepens
13/11/2025
Reuters
This article explains the recent removal on the mandatory hijab requirement in Iran.
Secularism, forgotten key to Nigeria’s security
12/11/2025
The Nation Newspaper
This article describes how secularism was considered a key mechanism to protect Nigerian society.
Malaysian religious affairs minister rejects false claims about closure of religious schools in two states
11/11/2025
AFP
This article explores how Malaysian religious affairs minister plans to maintain religious schools despite the rise of violent incidents.
Supreme Court tentatively schedules landmark Quebec secularism case for March
10/11/2025
The Globe and Mail
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear a landmark case regarding Bill 21 and the potential limits on the Charter's notwithstanding clause. This hearing is considered one of the most significant cases in the Supreme Court that involves the notwithstanding clause, which is Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Aussies rally to BAN the burqa after Pauline Hanson's divisive call
10/11/2025
MSN
This article examines how Austraians are calling on their federal government to enforce a burqa ban in light of security concerns in public.
Ban on Niqab in public places, pillion riding as Section 144 imposed in Balochistan
10/11/2025
Pakistan Observer
This article highlights the new ban on the niqab in public places across Balochistan. The strict measure is enacted under Section 144 of the Criminal Code to address security concerns.
Hizb resurfaces in Bangladesh, starts propaganda against India
09/11/2025
The Sunday Guardian
This article describes how Hizb, a banned Islamist group, is regaining visibility in Bangladesh.
The Battle Iranian Women Are Winning
08/11/2025
The Atlantic
This article describes how the mandatory hijab requirement in Iran wil no longer be a valid law.
US targets Nigeria’s sharia states with sanctions threats
08/11/2025
The African Report
this article examines how imposing the Islamic legal code in Nigeria has been marked as religious persecution.
French MPs in uproar as schoolgirls wear hijabs to parliament
07/11/2025
The Times
This article explains how French politicians state that wearing religious symbols in the public gallery of the National Assembly breaches France's strict secular law.
French politicians accused of Islamophobia amid row over schoolgirls’ parliament visit
06/11/2025
Arab News
This article examines the controversy surrounding France's secular law after a group of Muslim students visited the National Assembly wearing hijabs.
Supreme Court soon to hear a religious freedom case that’s united both sides of the church-state divide
06/11/2025
The Conversation
This article examiens how the US Supreme Court will hear a case on religious freedom where an inmae of a minority religious group alleged that a warden violated is religious rights.
National Religious Broadcasters set 2026 convention in Jerusalem
05/11/2025
The Jerusalem Post
This article examines the upcoming religious convention to be held in Jerusalem in 2026.
Pakistan welcomes Indian Sikh pilgrims in first crossing since May conflict
05/11/2025
Al Jazeera
This article examines how Pakistan is welcoming Sikh pilgrims from India marketing the birth of Guru Nanak.
Nearly 2,100 Indian Sikhs arrive in Pakistan for annual religious festivities
04/11/2025
Newsav
This article examines how the increase of Skih pilgrims in Pakistan. The country's respect for religious minorities and commitment to fostering cultural ties has been recognized through the annual commemoration.
Quebec tightens secularism laws; bans face coverings and religious symbols for all educational staff
03/11/2025
The Canadian Jewish News
Quebec's secular laws are strengthening. The province has expanded its secular policies by adopting Bill 94, An Act to reinforce laicity in the education network, on October 30. This law bans face coverings and religious symbols for all educational staff. It also ends accommodation for religious holidays for students and school staff in all public schools across the province.
Nigeria defends religious freedom amid US concerns over Christian safety
02/11/2025
The Times of India
This article explains how the government of Nigeria is defending religious freedom after US government's claim of existential threat to Christianity.
Rise in use of Notwithstanding clause raises questions
01/11/2025
Red Deer Advocate
This article examines the challenges with the use of the notwithstanding clause by the Quebec government to pass Bill 21.
Provinces threaten our Charter rights
01/11/2025
Toronto Star
This article describes the concerns with Bill 94 which extends the ban on religious symbols to all employees who interact with students as part of their work. The ban has been pereceived by critics to be impeding their Charter rights.
It's time to admit our Charter rights are under attack.
31/10/2025
Toronto Star
This article describes concerns over Charter rights in light of the enactment of Bill 94 which strengthens the secular law in Quebec.
Thesis: Estonian school leaves kids without tools for understanding religion
30/10/2025
ERR News
This article explains the limited knowledge provided to Estonian students regarding religion and society.
Religious symbols ban: Quebec passes law to prevent students, staff from covering their faces
30/10/2025
Montreal City News
The Quebec government has enacted Bill 94 to enhance secularism in the Quebec school system. This Bill mandates that all staff and students remove religious face coverings, and it also imposes restrictions on food and accommodations for religious holidays.
Quebec government adopts secularism bill forcing students to uncover faces
30/10/2025
City View Airdrie
This article examines how the Quebec government is strengthening secularism to prevent face covering in public schools.
Bishop Eleganti condemns Vatican decision to provide Muslim prayer space
29/10/2025
The Catholic Herald
This article explains how Bishop Marian Eleganti has criticized the Vatican’s decision to provide prayer mats for Muslim scholars in the Vatican Apostolic Library.
Dhaka University Turns Extreme Right in Bangladesh's Uncertain Politics
28/10/2025
Tempo English
This article explains the secularism and religion in Bangladesh universities.
Kerala Govt Backs Muslim Girl’s Right to Wear Hijab in School, Calls Ban an ‘Invasion of Privacy’
27/10/2025
Times Now News
This article describes how the Kerala government is supporting a Muslim student who was prohibited from wearing the Islamic headscarf to school.
Iranian women flout law on mandatory veiling as police curtail arrests
27/10/2025
The Washington Post
This article examines how Iranian women are no longer following the mandatory veiling law in Iran.
Swiss Govt Rejects Nationwide Ban On Hijab In Schools
26/10/2025
Sunday Trust
This article examines how Switzerland's federal council has ruled out a nationwide ban on the hijab in public schools.
Why mandating Swedish values won't help integration
25/10/2025
The Local
This article examines the debate over mandating swedish values and religion.
It’s not ‘anti-British’ to ban the burqa
25/10/2025
The Telegraph
This article examines the debate on the burqa ban in the United Kingdom.
Quebec ban on religious symbols in daycares makes ‘them feel they no longer belong’: critics
24/10/2025
CTV News
The Quebec government's plan to pass Bill 94 is raising concerns among daycare workers. The Executive Director of the Quebec Association of Early Childhood Centers has expressed that the link between wearing religious symbols and their potential impact on children in daycare is not well understood. There are growing worries about the possibility of low-quality early childhood services as a result of Bill 94.
Iran's defunct bans, from satellite dishes to the veil
23/10/2025
Iran International
This article highlights the growing religion influence in Iran. The morality patrol is now advancing the hijab requirement as a social necessity.
Portugal Poised to Ban Niqab and Face Veil in Public Spaces
23/10/2025
ABNA News
The article descirbes how Portugual parliament is now banning the niqab and face veil in public spaces to reinforce secular values.
Swiss Government Rejects Ban on Hijabs in Public Schools
22/10/2025
News AM
This article explains how the Swiss government rejected a ban preventing students from wearing hijabs in public schools.
PM believes Portugal burqa ban is “correct”
21/10/2025
The Portugal News
This article examines how the Prime Minister agrees with the Portuguese Bill banning the burqa.
Burqa ban would only harden Britain’s religious divisions
21/10/2025
UnHerd
This article examines the concerns over the burqa ban leading to greater religious divisions in Britain.
Americans Increasingly See Religion as Gaining Influence in Public Life
20/10/2025
NTD News
This article examines how Americans are influenced by religion in their public life.
Tarsem Jassar highlights Sikh history; says Diwali ‘belongs to everyone equally beyond religion'
19/10/2025
Times of India
This article examines the intersection of Sikh history and religious observances such as Diwali.
Portugal approves Burqa and Niqab ban with heavy fines
18/10/2025
Daily Times
This article examines how violators of the burqa and niqab ban are subject to heavy fines in public places.
Portuguese parliament approves ban on wearing face veils in public spaces
18/10/2025
Euro News
This article highlights how the Portuguese parliament has passed the ban on wearing face coverings in all public spaces.
Portugal approves burqa ban
17/10/2025
The Portugal News
This article examines how Portugal approves the burqa ban over security concerns and women's rights.
Kerala government giving tacit support to communal forces, says Church
16/10/2025
The Indian Express
This article examine the debate over the hijab controversy in Kochi, the Catholic Church.
Austrian Muslim groups plan legal challenge if latest hijab ban becomes law
15/10/2025
Hyphen
This article examines how Muslim lawyers and educators in Austria plan to lauch a legal challenge to the legislation which will ban the wearing of hijab in public schools.
No evidence Canadian schools banning pork from lunches as rumours spread
15/10/2025
Global News
This article describes the recent debate on banning pork from lunches in Canadian public schools.
Iran bars jailed activist’s wife visits over hijab refusal, inmates say
14/10/2025
Iran International
This article examines how human right activists such as Reza Khandan was jailed for protesting against the hijab requirement.
Kerala Education Department Orders Inquiry Into Hijab Ban At CBSE School
13/10/2025
Deccan Chronicle
This article examines how the Kerala Education Department orders an inquiry into the hijab ban at a CBSE school.
Canadians less likely than Americans to see religion as a social good
12/10/2025
National Post
This article describes how Americans are more likely to perceive the influence of religion as a social good compared to Canadians.
‘Those Who Insult Indian Culture Were Once Called Secular’: UP CM Yogi Adityanath Sparks Debate on Secularism
11/10/2025
The Logical Indian
This article describes the debate on Indian culture and secularism.
Italy announces plans to impose burqa ban and other Islamophobic laws
11/10/2025
5 Pillars
This article explains how Italy is planning to impose a burqa and hijab ban to reinforce secularism.
Iran's Streets 'Transformed' As More Women Shun The Mandatory Hijab
11/10/2025
Radio Free Europe
This article explains how many women in Iran are protesting against the mandatory hijab requirement.
Quebec's Secularism Law Continues to Challenge the Lives of Muslim Women who wear the hijab
09/10/2025
ABNA
This article explains the challenges for various religious communities including Muslim women with Quebec's secular law.
Quebec tables draft constitution to affirm its 'distinct national character,' premier says
09/10/2025
CBC News
This article explains how Quebec is drafting its constitution to affirm a distinct national character aligning with secularism.
Quebec bishops slam proposed public prayer ban
08/10/2025
Anglican Journal
This article explores how Quebec's bishops are contesting the province's proposed public prayer ban.
Conservative premiers call on Ottawa to back down in Supreme Court case on notwithstanding clause
07/10/2025
The Globe and Mail
This article describes the Conservative premier call on Ottawa in the Supreme Court case.
Five premiers urge Carney to withdraw court submission on notwithstanding clause
07/10/2025
St Albert Gazette
This article examines how certain premiers are calling for Ottawa to withdraw its call to impose limits on the use of the notwithstanding clause.
How the Supreme Court Is Dismantling the Separation of Church and State
06/10/2025
American Progress
This article explains how the Supreme Court plans to dismantle the seperation between church and state across the United States.
Pentagon beard ban sparks outrage among Sikhs
05/10/2025
Tribune India
This article explains how the recent beard ban for service members by Pentagon has sparked religious debate in India.
‘Need for politics grounded in equality, social justice, fraternity and secularism’
05/10/2025
The Hindu
This article describes how the federation of civil societies and the State of government advocate for secularism and social justice.
Yogi Adityanath’s Language of Intimidation: A Threat to India’s Secular Constitution
04/10/2025
India Tomorrow
This article explores how the Yogi Adityanath is perceived as a threat to the country's constitution.
What is the Supreme Court going to say about the notwithstanding clause?
04/10/2025
CBC News
This article explores the override of the notwithstanding clause by the government of Quebec.
Ignoring Islamic hate preaching will lead to more violence
03/10/2025
UnHerd
This article describes the rise in anti-Islamism and anti-semitism in Manchester.
Quebec bids farewell to Guy Rocher, the last pillar of the Quiet Revolution
02/10/2025
CTV News
This article examines the national funeral held at Université du Québec à Montréal for the late Guy Rocher.
Legault outlines new economic vision in speech to legislature
01/10/2025
Global News
This article examines Premier Legault's vision on Quebec values and secularism.
Quebec minister calls for people to ‘wake up’ to radical Islamism
01/10/2025
CTV News
This article examines how Québec Minister of Secularism, Jean-François Roberge, highlighted the Bedford School as an example of radical Islamism during question period at the Quebec National Assembly.
Freedom of religion should unite Republicans and Democrats
30/09/2025
Washington Examiner
This article advances that the freedom of religion should unite Americans with different political beliefs.
Conservative MEP launches petition to ban Islamic headscarves in European Parliament
30/09/2025
Politico
This article examines the controversy over banning the hijab for all members of the European Parliament.
Attacks on rights intensify in Quebec. Where's the Liberal response?
30/09/2025
Montreal Gazette
This article examines the rights debate in Weuebc over secular values and the rights of religious minorities.
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