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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 UI's International School hijab verdict, what happened? | 07/06/2024 | The Guardian | This article describes how there continues to be discourse over the legality of wearing the hijab in the University of Ibadan. The ISI's decision upheld the rights of Muslim women and affirmed they were allowed to wear the hijab within the university and attend classes despite the university's opposition. |
Himanta slammed over his remarks blaming religious leaders as BJP fares poorly in Northeast | 07/06/2024 | The New Indian Express | This article addresses the criticism surrounding the recent Indian elections, particularly the involvement of religious groups in politics. The Voice of the People Party (VPP) in Meghalaya condemned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for attributing electoral losses in Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya to the influence of religious leaders. |
Quebec wants to make the most of its constitutional powers with help from a new committee | 07/06/2024 | CBC News | This article explores Quebec's efforts to enhance its constitutional powers with the support of a new committee. The province is striving to exert its authority on significant issues such as immigration, language, and secularism, signaling a move towards increased autonomy. |
Erdogan dismisses secular criticism on Turkey's new curriculum | 07/06/2024 | Yahoo News | This article discusses President Tayyip Erdogan's response to criticism of Turkey's new education curriculum. The curriculum, named the "Turkey Century Education Model," emphasizes religious studies. Many, including the main opposition party, education unions, and non-governmental organizations, have expressed concerns about the curriculum's potential impact on the secular foundations of schools. |
Iran Escalates Beach Surveillance Deploying 7,000 Police to Enforce Hijab | 06/06/2024 | Iran International | This article explains how the Iranian government will be escalating the surveillance and implementation of the hijab in public premises such as beaches. |
Muslim advocacy group blasts Quebec secularism law in front of Commons committee | 06/06/2024 | CBC News | This article describes how a Muslim advocacy group is contesting and protesting Quebec secularism law. They are claiming that the Quebec government has been legislating a discriminatory Law against certain religious groups. |
Iran Introduces New Islamic Dress Code For Hospitals | 06/06/2024 | Iran International | This article describes how the Iranian government introduced a new Islamic dress code in hospitals for patients and medical workers. |
Muslim-Majority Country Enforces Ban On Hijab, Beard, And Religious Books | 05/06/2024 | News 24 | This article describes the recent ban on the hijab and beards in Tajikistan. Despite the large Muslim population, the country is constitutionally secular and guarantees religious freedom to all citizens. |
Tajikistan set to outlaw Islamic hijab after years of unofficial ban | 05/06/2024 | Asia Plus | This article describes how Tajik will be banning the Islamic hijab in 2024. The country had an unofficial ban in previous years. However the Tajik parliament will now be banning all traditions and celebrations which oppose the Tajik culture. |
Averroes School Faces Funding Cut Amid France's Crackdown | 05/06/2024 | Dev Discourse | This article discusses the challenges that Muslim private schools in France are encountering under President Macron's administration, which is seeking to restrict Islamist separatism. Averroes, one of the largest Muslim private schools in France, is experiencing funding cuts due to its non-compliance with secular principles. |
India election results: Did ‘secular’ parties let Muslims down, too? | 05/06/2024 | Al Jazeera | This article discusses secularism and religion concerning India’s election results. The recent election has raised concerns within the Muslim community in India. Many of these individuals claim that during the elections, anti-Muslim rhetorics were advanced. |
From US to vote for a ‘pluralistic society’: Secularism is not a jargon but something we practise, says Harvard grad | 05/06/2024 | The Telegraph | This article explains the widespread secularism in pluralistic societies. The author believes that the inauguration of the Ram Temple was strategically and politically motivated for the BJP party in India despite the country's commitment to secularism. |
Muslim schools complain of unfair treatment in France’s fight against ‘Muslim separatism’ | 04/06/2024 | Arab Weekly | This article explains how Muslims schools are criticizing France and their secular values. These schools believe that they are being unfairly treated with the decreased funding provided to Muslim schools. |
Rights groups, parents accuse France of targeting Muslim schools | 04/06/2024 | Daily Sahab | This article explains how many Muslim parents living in France are concerned with France' move towards secularism. These parents are claiming that France is targeting Muslims without reason on the basis of their religion. |
Targeted by CAQ, English boards urge anglophones to register for fall election | 04/06/2024 | Montreal Gazette | This article explains how the English Montreal School Board held an elections mobilization conference over Premier Legault want to abolish Quebec's nine English school boards. |
Schools must meet ‘spiritual and moral needs’, says Children’s Commissioner | 04/06/2024 | The Tablet | This article explains how certain schools in the United Kingdom must meet certain moral and spiritual criteria's. |
Muslim schools caught up in France's fight against Islamism | 03/06/2024 | MSN | This article discusses the criticism by Muslims schools over France's secular law. However, Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron denies the stigmatization of Muslims in face of secular values. |
Parts of Bill 101 will not apply to English school boards, appeals court rules | 03/06/2024 | Montréal Gazette | This article describes how the English school boards in Montreal have received a decision from the Quebec Court of Appeal. The decision concluded that English school boards can continue to communicate in English with other anglophone organizations. |
EMSB latest Bill 96 appeal wins, after judge upholds ruling | 03/06/2024 | Montréal City News | This article explains how the English Montreal School Board have won two appeals concerning provisions of Bill 96 and the French Charter in Quebec at the Court of Appeal. |
Elected leaders should read Supreme Court decisions before speaking, top justice says | 03/06/2024 | Montreal Gazette | This article describes how Supreme Court Justice Wagner denounces the spread of false misinformation by Quebec politicians on decisions of the court. |
Education Minister Yusuf Tekin Discusses Reopening of Theological School of Halki | 03/06/2024 | Greek City Times | This article explains how Educational Minister Yusuf Tekin is advancing his opinion on opening Theological schools in Turkey. |
Faith, belief and expedient interpretation | 03/06/2024 | The Siasat Daily | This article explains the influence of faith, religion and spirituality in India. The concern over Muslim women and their equality rights continues to rise with the clash between religion and secularism. |
Will India’s secularism survive BJP supermajority push? | 02/06/2024 | Tribune | This article discusses the influence of secularism in India and its migration in Pakistan. |
Quebec's official language act is incompatible with being Canadian | 01/06/2024 | Toronto Star | This article explains how many different groups believe that Quebec's bill 96, the official language act is incompatible with the lifestyle of Canadians. Bill 96 is being criticized for imposing cultural attributes of religion and language. |
What to know about India’s election, the world’s biggest democratic event | 01/06/2024 | Washington Post | This article discusses India's 2024 election and the reelection of Prime Minister Modi. The election has many minority groups concerned with the increasing move towards secularism. |
Indian polls result will furnish insights for Malaysia | 01/06/2024 | Free Malaysia Today | This article discusses the landscape of Malaysian politics and move to secularism in connection to the recent election in India. Malaysia move towards secular values hs strengthened over the past few years. |
Journalist challenges rule banning hijab in French press card photos | 01/06/2024 | MSN | This article describes how a journalist is challenging France's decision in banning the hijab in French press card photos. The journalist herself also wears the hijab and believes that the decision is working against her. |
Former Justice KM Joseph: ECI doing the greatest disservice to the constitution and the founding fathers by not taking action against those seeking vote on religion | 31/05/2024 | Sabrang | The article addresses the controversy surrounding the stance taken by former Indian Justice KM Joseph. Justice Joseph underscores the significance of upholding secularism and expresses apprehensions about the potential erosion of its principles if the Election Commission of India fails to address the issue of individuals attempting to vote based on religious considerations. |
Texas education leaders unveil Bible-infused elementary school curriculum | 30/05/2024 | The Texas Tribune | This article discusses the new curriculum in Texas schools, which encompasses the proposal to include the teaching of the Bible in all public schools. |
Tamil Nadu: Madras High Court calls for equal treatment of church properties under registration act | 30/05/2024 | The Organiser | This article examines the Madras High Court's ruling that the Indian state must treat all religions equally and provide equal treatment of church properties under the Registration Act. |
Why secularism is dying around the world | 29/05/2024 | First Post | The article describes the global decline of secularism in conjunction with the increasing emphasis on Christian evangelicalism. |
France’s headscarf ban in the 2024 Summer Olympics reflects a narrow view of national identity, writes a scholar of European studies | 29/05/2024 | The Conversation | This article explores the debate surrounding the ban on Islamic headscarves at the Paris Olympics to uphold secular and national identity. |
Indian Elections and Marginalization of Muslims | 28/05/2024 | Kashmir Times | This article explores the issues surrounding the marginalization of the Muslim community in India within the framework of the country's changing secularism. |
Hijab, beard banned in this country with 95% Muslim population | 28/05/2024 | Kamudi Online | This article examines how the islamic veil and beard have become banned in Tajikistan after the country has decided to focus on Tajikistani culture. |
Quebec separatism is a paper tiger | 27/05/2024 | National Post | This article analyzes the impact of secularism on the movement towards Quebec separatism. |
From schools to the Olympics, how France’s staunch secularism affects religion in public life | 26/05/2024 | Odessa American | This article discusses the ongoing controversies surrounding the ban on religious symbols and secular values in France. The ban on hijabs for French athletes in the upcoming Paris Olympics has sparked a debate. France's principle on secularism, prohibits the wearing of "excessive" religious symbols by staff, students, and players in public schools, hospitals, courts, and sports fields. However, visitors and spectators are exempt. With France hosting the Olympics in two months, this approach to defining the role of religion in public life is under increased scrutiny. |
France’s secularism increasingly struggling with schools, integration | 26/05/2024 | Newsgram | This article explores the ongoing controversies surrounding the prohibition of religious symbols and secular values in France. The ban on hijabs for French athletes in the upcoming Paris Olympics has sparked a debate, with individuals from various backgrounds finding it difficult to reconcile their educational pursuits with their religious beliefs. |
France’s secularism increasingly struggling with schools, integration | 25/05/2024 | Voice of Europe | This article explains the controversy surrounding France's approach to secularism, particularly the hijab ban for French athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics. It explores how France grapples with secularism and religion in public life, especially concerning prohibiting signs of faith in public schools to promote national unity and secular values. It also includes the voices of various Muslim women who expressed the challenges of practicing their religion in France and navigating the public school system. |
A 'couple more French classes' won't help students | 25/05/2024 | Montreal Gazette | This article discusses the debate on the quality of French education in English schools in Quebec. French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge believes that the English school boards may not adequately teach French. However, Joe Ortona, chair of the English Montreal School Board, argues that their French programs are strong and that students in the advanced French program perform better than their counterparts in the French schools. |
What is a secular state? How South Africa has tried to separate religion and politics | 24/05/2024 | The Conversation | The article describes the challenges of separating politics and religion in South Africa. It explains the difficulties of applying the concept of secularism and emphasizes the need to understand the ambitions and strategies of state and religious actors to uphold constitutional freedoms. |
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