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Secularism Media Scan
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.
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03 February 2026
Quebec minister Drainville is consultating on the province's new secularism bill 9 at the National Assembly. The new secularism bill strengthens secularism in the education system and public services.
By CBC News
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All News
Title | Date | Journal | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
350th martyrdom day: CM Mann, Kejriwal pray for progress of Punjab | 25/11/2025 | ProKerala | This article examines the debate over sangat prayers made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. |
New secularism bill to ban prayer in schools, restrict offering of religion-based meals | 24/11/2025 | CBC News | This article explains how Bill 9 will extend the secular restrictions on prayers in public institutions and restrict offering of religion-based meals. |
‘Secularism Is In The Constitution’: Omar Abdullah Slams BJP Over SMVDIME Admission Dispute | 24/11/2025 | One India | This article examines the controversy over the BJP's objections on secularism being written into the Indian Constitution. |
French Circles Are Striving To Mobilize Against The Muslim Community | 23/11/2025 | Echorouk | This article explains how the French Institute of Public Opinion is advancing secular values to challenge religiosity. |
Meenakshi Anoop asks: ‘Is secularism really possible in India?’ KK Shailaja lauds her bold stand | 22/11/2025 | Mathrubhumi | This article examines the challenges in upholding secular values in India. |
Why Quebec’s proposed constitution has legal experts, civil rights groups sounding the alarm | 22/11/2025 | CBC News | This article examines how Quebec's proposed constitution is being debated by legal experts and civil rights groups. |
Saffronization of Indian armed forces raises concerns over secularism and neutrality | 21/11/2025 | Daily Times | This article examines the concerns over the saffronization of Indian armed forces over secularism and neutrality. |
CJI BR Gavai emphasises secularism, collective strength of judiciary ahead of retirement | 21/11/2025 | National World | This article examines how CJI BR Gavai advances secularism and the collective strength of the judiciary in implementing secular values. |
APCC chief calls for renewed commitment to Indira Gandhi’s ideals | 20/11/2025 | Arunachal News | This article explains how APCC chief, president Bosiram Siram urges Indian citizens to foster secular visions. |
Why secular politics in South Asia still clings to family dynasties | 19/11/2025 | Asian News | This article examines how secular politics in South Asian remain debated in light of identity and belonging. |
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal join Sangat in Kirtan Darbar at Srinagar Gurudwara | 18/11/2025 | The Statesman | This article explains how the gathering at the Srinnagar Gurudwara led by CM Bhagwant Mann promotes secularism and religious tolerance. |
How India and Bangladesh are reinforcing each other’s extremes | 18/11/2025 | Asian News | This article examines how Bangladesh is advancing a secular authoritarianism. |
Christians alarmed by bomb attacks on Dhaka institutions | 17/11/2025 | The Tablet | This article examines how the oldest Catholic church, Holy Rosario inTejgaon, continues to face violent protests. |
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. |
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