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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
After hijab, now Mumbai college bans jeans, T-shirt | 01/07/2024 | The Indian Express | This article examines how a college in Mumbai is enforcing a dress code to align with Indian secular values, prohibiting any religious identifiers. |
Women Without Hijab Barred from Voting in Iran | 30/06/2024 | Iran Wire | The article discusses the recent ruling in Iran that prohibits women who do not wear the Islamic veil from participating in the upcoming elections. This decision has sparked controversy, resulting in women being denied access to polling stations to cast their votes in the presidential election. |
The 95% Muslim country that has banned the hijab | 30/06/2024 | The Week | This article explores the impact of Tajikistan's recent ban on the Islamic veil, focusing on the measures taken to uphold secular values and limit the influence of Islamic culture in the public sphere. |
Secularism "fades" in Albania/Census Report: The number of Muslims is falling | 29/06/2024 | Icon Style | This article examines the diminishing influence of secularism in Albania, despite a notable portion of citizens identifying as atheists. |
Sri Lanka withholds exam results of 70 Muslim students over hijab | 28/06/2024 | The Siasat Daily | This article examines the growing tensions in Sri Lanka over the clothing requirements of wearing a transparent veil which contradicts the religious requirements Muslim students abide by, resulting in the witholding of the students ability to sit for their examinations. |
Why Bombay HC held Chembur college hijab ban was in ‘larger academic interest’ | 27/06/2024 | The Indian Express | This article describes how the recent decision by the Bombay High Court to uphold the ban on wearing hijabs has sparked a significant debate regarding Indian secularism and the welfare of students. |
Muslim-majority Tajikistan approves hijab ban | 27/06/2024 | The Jerusalem Post | This article delves into the prevailing support within the Muslim community in Tajikistan for the recent ban on wearing hijab, as a measure to discourage public manifestations of religiosity. |
Bombay High Court dismisses plea against college dress code banning headgear | 26/06/2024 | The Hindu | This article examines the recent decision of the Bombay High Court in upholding their decision and dismissing students' plea that the new dress code banning the hijab violates their fundamental rights to the freedom of religion. |
As Iran’s presidential vote looms, tensions boil over renewed headscarf crackdown | 25/06/2024 | AP News | This article demonstrates the ongoing tension in Iran regarding the compulsory wearing of the Islamic veil for women. It delves into the protests against this mandate, shedding light on the individuals who are choosing to challenge this regulation. |
To cover or not to cover: Why Tajikistan, with over 10 million Muslims, is banning the hijab | 24/06/2024 | First Post | This article examines the reasoning behind Tajikistan's recent ban on the hijab and how it will continue to implement the prohibition of religious wear in public institutions. |
Nigeria ’s secularism bogey | 23/06/2024 | The National Online | This article examines the criticisms of Nigeria's secularism, as numerous religious groups contest its influence. |
India's Selective Secularism: Why Only Reform Hindus? | 23/06/2024 | News 18 | This article explores India's secularism approach and its criticism for showing selectivity towards reforms pertaining to Hinduism. |
Muslim-majority Tajikistan bans hijab as part of years-long campaign against public religiosity | 22/06/2024 | The Print | This article analyzes Tajikistan's mandates to enforce a ban on wearing hijab, foreign clothing, and religious festivities as part of its aim to prevent public religiosity and promote secularism. |
Chandigarh Administration's notice to over 100 religious structures | 21/06/2024 | Tribune India | This article explains how the UT Administration in India plans to remove the structur of a hundred religious schools who have failed to follow the secular mandates. The local Municipal Corporation issued these notices on the basis of these religious schools being considered illegal. |
Islamic holiday celebration in Montreal park draws ire from secularists | 21/06/2024 | Daily Guardian | This article describes the recent tension after the islamic celebration in a Montreal park. People criticized the celebration of public prayers as some believe it goes against the values of secularism, while others argue that other religious gatherings have also taken place. |
New Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments churns old political conflicts | 21/06/2024 | Daiy Mail | This article discusses a new law in Louisiana that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom of public schools and colleges. This law has sparked a debate on the role of religion in government institutions. Under this law, all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities in Louisiana will be required to display a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments. Variou civil liberties groups are launching lawsuis in orderto challenge the law as it violates the seperation of the church and state. |
New Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments churns old political conflicts | 21/06/2024 | Daiy Mail | This article discusses a new law in Louisiana that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom of public schools and colleges. This law has sparked a debate on the role of religion in government institutions. Under this law, all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities in Louisiana will be required to display a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments. Variou civil liberties groups are launching lawsuis in orderto challenge the law as it violates the seperation of the church and state. |
Montreal borough mayor considers banning religious events in park after Eid celebration draws complaints | 20/06/2024 | CBC Montreal | This article addresses the recent controversy surrounding religious celebrations at Parc des Hirondelles in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. Numerous complaints have been made about the religious celebrations. However, the mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville stated that despite some boroughs imposing prohibitions, she has yet to decide on this matter despite the strong debate on upholding secular values in Quebec. |
Faizabad & Indian Secularism! | 19/06/2024 | Countercurrents | This article describes how Parti Québecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon criticized Premier Legault’s defeatism on Quebec independence. Plamondon explains how there are various advantages in pursuing sovereignty for Quebec especially in connection to advancing secularism. |
Babri Masjid to Chinese aggression: Comparing changes in NCERT Class 12 textbooks | 19/06/2024 | India Today | This article describes how the Babri mosque is contesting the removal from the new NCERT textbook on political science. |
PQ leader tells Legault to drop his 'unhealthy defeatism' on independence | 18/06/2024 | Saltwire | This article describes how Parti Québecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon criticized Premier Legault’s defeatism on Quebec independence. Plamondon explains how there are various advantages in pursuing sovereignty for Quebec especially in connection to advancing secularism. |
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Quebec Act, it is time to act to adopt a Quebec constitution | 18/06/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article describes the sentiment to act on Quebec's constitution in relation to respecting secular values. According to the author, this adoption would allow for a more visible constitutional foundation in Quebec with the increasing laws that are quasi-constitutional. |
Palayam Imam calls for caste census, slams NCERT for removal of reference to Babri Masjid from textbooks | 17/06/2024 | The Hindu | This article explains how the Palayam Imam is trying to enforce a cast census and is contesting the newly implemented NCERT political science textbook. |
Nepal’s Hindutva Moment | 17/06/2024 | Jacobin | This article examines how various militant Hindu nationalists are aiming to undermine Nepal’s declaration as a secular republic. These nationalists are enforcing sectarian battles by creating local tensions and violent protests. |
Uproar over bill intended to increase religious party's control over rabbinical establishment | 16/06/2024 | The Jerusalem Post | This article describes how many citizens in Israel are criticizing the newly introduced bill. The bill would allow the Chief Rabbinate power the ability to elect rabbis rather than local authorities providing them greater influence and authority over religion in the country. |
NCERT introduces ‘criticism of secularism’ in textbook: Parties disregard equality, prioritise minority | 16/06/2024 | The Print | This article explains how the National Council of Educational Research and Training in India has introduced a new curriculum, including criticism of secularism, to provide students diverse perspectives on secularism. |
France is proud of its secularism. But struggles grow in this approach to faith, school, integration | 15/06/2024 | Telegraph Herald | This article examines how France’s secular mandates are impacting the integration of the immigrant-origin Muslim population. Despite secular efforts to neutralize religion in the public sphere, it impacts immigration. Many Muslims are stating how the practice of religion in France has transformed itself into a privilege rather than a right. |
French government accused of discrimination against its own athletes with Olympics hijab ban | 14/06/2024 | Independent | This article describes the accusations against the French government for banning its own athletes from wearing hijabs at the Paris Olympics. The International Olympic Committee allows athletes in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to wear hijabs in the athletes' village, but France has imposed a ban on its own athletes. According to Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, this ban goes against the Olympic Charter. |
the RN spokesperson denounces a program “out of reality” | 14/06/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article describes how Andréa Kotarac, spokesperson for the National Rally, has raised concerns over the New Popular Front's program. He expressed his disapproval of the increased attacks in French schools and issues related to secularism. |
France elections: Muslims fear ‘a disaster’ if the far right wins | 14/06/2024 | Middle East Eye | This news article discusses the impact of the recent European elections in France and the potential implications of the far-right National Rally's victory. It also addresses potential policies and social implications for Muslim communities that could arise. |
Basket Pour Toutes: Fighting against France’s sports and Olympics hijab ban | 13/06/2024 | Al Jazeera | This article explains how Muslim women basketball players are divided between choosing their religion and their sport at the Olympics. French Federation of Basketball's (FFBB) new regulation on the hijab ban has left many Muslim women athletes in a challenging situation. |
Interference of politics in religion diminishes space to agree or disagree: CM Pinarayi Vijayan | 13/06/2024 | The New Indian Express | This article discusses how politics interferes with religion, which is increasingly occurring in India despite its mandate to advance secularism. The Chief Minister has raised several arguments against this interference, as it prevents critical discussions from flourishing and diminishes the promotion of secular values. |
Activists slam France hijab ban saying 'sports should be inclusive' | 12/06/2024 | Radio France Internationale | This article discusses how France has prohibited its athletes from wearing religious symbols during the Paris Olympics. This ban has resulted in many French women wearing headscarves being unable to compete in international events and have become excluded from soccer and basketball tournaments nationwide due to these regulations. The Sport & Rights Alliance, alongside Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, has urged the International Olympic Committee to take a stand against these bans, calling up their discriminatory nature and aims of advancing gender equality in sports. |
Macron says France needs new debate on secularism | 12/06/2024 | AFP World News | This article discusses President Emmanuel Macron's push for a new debate on secularism rules, particularly regarding the ban on religious symbols in classrooms and sports. |
How ordinary voters renewed our hope in Indian secularism | 11/06/2024 | Times of India | This article describes how some Indian voters are championing the fundamental principles of secularism in the Indian election by rejecting hostility toward other minority groups, such as Muslims. |
Three-quarters of Muslim women would like to leave Quebec because of Bill 21, says an expert | 10/06/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article explains how nearly three-quarters of Muslim women in Quebec are considering leaving the province due to the implementation of the Law on State Secularism, Bill 21, almost five years ago. Many Muslim women criticize the law, describing it as discriminatory. |
In secular France, chaplains prepare to provide Olympians with spiritual support during the Games | 09/06/2024 | Toronto Star | This article explains how chaplains in secular France are preparing to provide spiritual support during the upcoming Paris Olympics. Many faith leaders are planning to support Olympic athletes who are no longer eligible to participate in the Olympics due to France’s hijab ban. These religious leaders will set up an organized Hall side of the Olympics for athletes who practice religion and places of worship. This support will allow for the allocation of worship spaces despite the strong mandates on secular values in France. |
Muslim schools caught up in France's fight against Islamism | 09/06/2024 | Voice of America | This article discusses the experience of Sihame Denguir, who enrolled her teenage son and daughter in France's largest Muslim private school in Lille, located 200 kilometers from their home in suburban Paris. Many parents, like Ms. Denguir, believe that the school's loss of government funding, due to failing to comply with secular principles, unfairly targets Muslim communities. The secular principles have been established in France's national education guidelines. |
Tajikistan's push to ban Islamic attire provokes international backlash, CAIR condemns as islamophobia | 08/06/2024 | Daryo | This article describes how the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) speaking out against Tajikistan's parliamentary initiative to ban clothing that is not considered part of Tajik culture. Many critics believe that excluding Islamic attire such as the hijab from the sphere of Tajik culture is a way to target certain minority groups. |
Bridging the gap of misunderstanding | 08/06/2024 | The Royal Gazette | This article discusses how the Muslim community in Bermuda is addressing misconceptions about their religious beliefs. By bridging the gap of misunderstanding within the community, they aim to improve relations, understanding, and mutual respect between the Muslim community and the public in Bermuda. |
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