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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
From schools to the Olympics, how France’s staunch secularism affects religion in public life | 23/05/2024 | Toronto Star | This article explains the impact of France's secularism on religion in public life. It highlights the presence of signs of faith in multicultural areas like Paris and Marseille and in small villages in the French countryside in light of the growing concern of Muslim communities and the headscarves among Muslim women. |
France is proud of its secularism. But struggles grow in this approach to faith, school, integration | 23/05/2024 | News Press Now | This article describes France's struggles with its secularism, particularly to the ban on hijabs for athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The debate centers on the place of religion in public life and the integration of France's Muslim population. |
Some priests blame atheists for catastrophic floods in southern Brazil | 22/05/2024 | Crux | This article describes how some Christian leaders in South Brazil are trying to connect human behaviour to severe storms despite the increasing secularism in the area. Evangelical pastors have shared videos on social media claiming that Madonna's concert was a satanic ritual, using scenes of her desecrating Christian symbols as evidence. This highlights the ongoing influence of Christianity in Brazil, even as secularism grows. |
Why Modi’s Hindu nationalism is a harder sell in India’s south | 21/05/2024 | Radio Canada | This article explains the recent political activities in India concerning secularism and Islam. It focuses on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Hyderabad and the BJP's campaigning in the southern states. Modi's speech, which incorporated mantras from Hindu scripture, emphasized his vision of an empowered national identity. According to Muslim citizens, this poses concerns about the secular stance and the potential negative impact of Modi's targeted remarks during the election. |
Majority of people in Scotland have no religion, census shows | 21/05/2024 | The Guardian | This article discusses the results of the latest Scottish census 2022, revealing a significant shift in religious identity and ethnic diversity in Scotland. The census data shows that 51% of the population reported they belonged to no religion, marking the first time secular attitudes have surpassed religious affiliation. The Church of Scotland, once dominant, experienced a drastic decrease in its followers while the number of Catholics also declined. This census indicates a more diverse and secular Scotland. |
We must stop ignoring the elephant in the (religious) court room | 20/05/2024 | National Secular Society | This article describes a panel with Dr. Samia Bano, Rabbi Jonathan Romain, and Professor Russell Sandberg, experts in religious traditions and secular values. The panellists discussed the influence of Sharia councils providing services and courts handling divorce refusals in relation to religion, shedding light on the nature of the process. |
The resilience of religion | 20/05/2024 | Herald Malaysia Online | The article explains the historical significance of secularism and the dominant role of religion in shaping societies. It highlights how traditional societies were unified by a dominant religion, such as Christian Europe's obedience to the Pope and the adoration of the Mother Goddess in the Indian subcontinent. It also relates to the current state of religion in Malaysia and how the authority of the Catholic Church remains undermined, leading to a desire for a reformed religion. |
PM Modi Says Opposition Plays Communal, Casteist Politics In Garb Of Secularism | 19/05/2024 | NDTV | This article describes how Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the opposition's allegations of communal politics during an interview with NDTV. He accused the opposition of engaging in communal politics. Modi expressed his determination to provide benefits without considering community, caste, or other divisive factors. |
Modi hurt sentiments of Hindus with ‘Ram temple demolition’ comments: MLC Jeevan Reddy | 18/05/2024 | The Hindu | This article describes the tensions between upholding secular values and religion in India. Congress MLC T. Jeevan Reddy's response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement regarding the Ram temple, criticizing his claim that the Congress party would demolish the Ram temple with bulldozers, calling it blasphemous and hurtful to the sentiments of Hindus and those who believe in the Hindu faith. |
Controversy erupts as Mumbai college bans hijab, other religious attire | 18/05/2024 | Siasat Daily | This article describes the controversy surrounding a Mumbai college's ban on hijabs and other religious attire. The college's management claims the prohibition aims to improve campus placements and instill 'etiquette' among students. The dress code notice, effective from June 2024, prohibits burqas, niqabs, hijabs, and any religious identifiers inside the college. |
Belgian school religious symbol ban does not breach rights: top court | 17/05/2024 | Qantara | This article describes the ruling of a top European court on a Belgian regional ban on religious symbols in schools. The ban, in place since 2009 in the Flemish Community, prohibits wearing outward signs of religious affiliation. Three young Muslim women appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing for freedom of religion after being forbidden from wearing the Islamic headscarf at Flemish Community schools. The court ruled that the ban does not breach children's rights, stating that it does not inherently contradict the European Convention on Human Rights. |
Muslim professionals quit 'hostile' France in silent brain drain | 17/05/2024 | France 24 | This article examines a new study that sheds light on the departure of highly qualified French citizens from Muslim backgrounds, often the children of immigrants, in a quiet brain drain from France. They are now seeking opportunities abroad in cities such as London, New York, Montreal, or Dubai due to experiences of discrimination and alienation. |
India grants first citizenships under new law criticised for discriminating against Muslims | 16/05/2024 | Yahoo | This article describes how India has granted citizenship to the first batch of people under a controversial new law criticized for discriminating against Muslims. The citizenship was granted to 14 people amid ongoing general elections, while protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued in Bangladesh-bordering states. The law, a key promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allows refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan belonging to minority religious groups to apply for Indian citizenship. |
India’s parliament has fewer Muslims as strength of Modi’s party grows | 15/05/2024 | Toronto Star | This article explains how Prime Minister Narendra Modi's increasing political successes over the past decade have prioritized the interests of India's Hindu majority. It highlights the diminishing political influence of India's 200 million Muslims and the escalating tensions between Hindus and Muslims under Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which promotes a Hindu-nationalist ideology. The decreasing number of Muslims in the Indian parliament has raised concerns about the secular values promoted in India. |
A Dutch anti-Islam party says it’s brokered a provisional coalition deal for a hard-right government | 15/05/2024 | Toronto Star | This article discusses the issue of anti-Islamism in conjunction with secularism. Geert Wilders, a prominent anti-Islam figure, and three other Dutch party leaders have reached a preliminary coalition agreement for a far-right government in another European Union country. The increasing presence of far-right and populist parties in multiple governments across the 27-nation bloc is a cause for concern in the upcoming European Parliament election from June 6-9 and secular values. |
National Secular Society: Northern Ireland churches reject poll which finds more than two in three English teachers oppose school worship | 14/05/2024 | News Letter | The article discusses a survey about teachers objecting to daily worship in English schools and the response from local churches in Northern Ireland. According to the survey, over two-thirds of senior leaders in English state schools do not support the law requiring daily acts of collective school worship. The main Protestant denominations in Northern Ireland argued that this survey has little relevance to Northern Ireland. In England, schools are legally mandated to conduct daily acts of collective worship, which should be "wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character." |
Why secularism is dying in India and beyond | 13/05/2024 | Times of India | This article discusses the increasing religiosity across the religious spectrum in India, Europe, and the US. It highlights the rise of religiosity and a decline in the number of individuals professing a lack of faith, leading to concerns about secularism. |
Turkey: Secularist opposition leader is against removal of Arabic signs in cities | 13/05/2024 | Middle East Eye | This article describes how Turkey's main opposition leader, the Republican People's Party (CHP), emphasized the importance of not targeting Arabic banners and signs in local municipalities under their party's control. He warned that singling out Arabic could be insensitive to devout Muslims and spark controversy regarding other foreign languages. |
Our striking divide | 12/05/2024 | Geo TV | This article explores the social and political divides in Pakistan's society, focusing on their growing visibility. It describes the conservative nature of Pakistan's society, a significant departure from the secular vision of the country's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. |
Election 2024 and the politics of anti-Muslim discourse | 11/05/2024 | Deccan Herald | This article explains the BJP's strategy for the 2024 election, focusing on the use of anti-Muslim rhetoric to discredit the Opposition's agenda and appeal to its core supporters. It emphasizes the party's reliance on anti-Muslim discourse to solidify its position and influence the upcoming election. |
Turkey converts second Byzantine Church into Mosque after Hagia Sophia | 11/05/2024 | The Khaama Press | This article discusses Turkey's choice to repurpose the fourth-century "Chora" church in Istanbul into a mosque, which is the second significant conversion of a religious site during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s presidency. The first conversion took place in 2020 when Erdogan changed the renowned Hagia Sophia church from a museum to a mosque. These decisions have sparked significant criticism and debate regarding secular values. |
Support INDIA bloc to save secularism in India, Yechury urges voters | 09/05/2024 | The Hindu | This article examines how voters support the INDIA bloc to preserve secularism in India. Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of CPI(M), expressed concerns about the potential threat to secularism if the BJP led by Narendra Modi regained power and encouraged people to vote for the INDIA bloc to protect the country's secular values. |
Be a Mensch: Healing the Secular-Religious Rift in Israel | 09/05/2024 | Jewish Link | This article discusses Be A Mensch (BAM) and their efforts to bridge the secular-religious divide in Israel. Former IDF chiefs of staff believe that internal solidarity is a greater threat than external conflicts. Public opinion also supports this, with 65% of respondents identifying the secular conflict as the most significant threat to Israel’s internal solidarity. |
Unity in diversity: Pakistan's interfaith journey | 08/05/2024 | Pakistan Observer | This article highlights the recent "Exchange on Inter-Faith Harmony" in Islamabad, which brought together individuals from various religious communities to promote acceptability, inclusion, and tolerance. It also outlines the necessary steps, including reviewing education curricula, highlighting religious similarities, focusing on youth, revising laws, and launching a behaviour change campaign to achieve interfaith harmony in Pakistan. |
African parliamentarians vouch for religious and cultural values | 08/05/2024 | Monitor | This article discusses the support of African parliamentarians for religious and cultural values. It highlights the importance of these values and their impact on African societies, as well as the role of parliamentarians in upholding and promoting these values and the reasons behind their advocacy. |
India votes in third phase of national elections as Modi escalates his rhetoric against Muslims | 07/05/2024 | The Canadian Press | This article discusses the ongoing Indian election, in which millions of voters across 93 constituencies are casting their ballots. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified his campaign, using polarizing language in speeches targeting the Muslim minority. |
"Secularism Doesn't Mean You Deny Your Own Religion" Jaishankar | 05/05/2024 | Asian News International | This article describes how India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, recently addressed issues related to secularism and foreign policy during his election campaign for the BJP party. He explained that secularism means respect for all religions and does not imply denying one's own religion or culture. The minister emphasized that India has a rich history, culture, and tradition should be respected and acknowledged. |
Congress is playing with fire by attempting Hindu-Muslim divide: Rajnath Singh | 05/05/2024 | Dev Discourse | This article explains how the current Home Minister of India is criticizing Rahul Gandhi's lack of passion and accusing Congress of inciting Hindu-Muslim tensions for electoral gain. He predicted that the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) would remain committed to the Constitution. He denounced Congress's alleged fear-mongering and misinformation, particularly regarding Constitutional changes and the survival of secularism. |
Tracing The Journey Of Secularism | 05/05/2024 | Outlook India | This article discusses the book Secularism: How India Reshaped the Idea, written by political philosopher Nalini Rajan. The author defines secularism as the belief that the state, morals, education, etc. should be independent of religion. The book provides insights into India's secularism and how it has been reshaped over time. |
What would René Lévesque have thought of the use of the notwithstanding clause? | 04/05/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article discusses the announcement by the Legault government to renew the use of derogation provisions of the Canadian and Quebec charters of rights and freedoms to protect the law on state secularism from challenges. The decision has caused an outcry from the Canadian legal community, who have opposed it for 40 years. |
Québec solidaire lays the foundations of its simplified "new program" | 04/05/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article describes how Quebec's political party, Québec Solidaire (QS), plans to simplify its political program. The party members will meet to discuss the "Saguenay Declaration," which will serve as the basis for refreshing the party's ideas. The "Saguenay Declaration" emphasizes QS's commitment to interculturalism, with French as the common language. The document also highlights that a united government would reaffirm the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, which the Legault government plans to amend to protect the Law on State Secularism legally. The declaration aims to lay the groundwork for the renewal of QS's political program and outlines some of the party's priorities for the future. |
Indian Army: A Vanguard of Secularism in Action | 04/05/2024 | Financial Press | This article discusses the Indian Army's commitment to secularism and inclusivity. The Army is known for embodying the principles of unity, diversity, and secularism within India, with officers of various faiths participating in rituals and ceremonies associated with different religions. This commitment is a remarkable testament to the Army's dedication to promoting inclusivity and fostering unity in a diverse and pluralistic society. |
Quebec asks France for tips on applying secularism laws in education system | 03/05/2024 | Montreal Gazette | This article describes how Quebec Education Minister Jean-François Roberge has requested a meeting with the French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, to learn about France's "best practices" on implementing state secularism. Roberge's letter to Darmanin states that although Quebec's secularism model is not as strict as France's, there is much to learn from the French experience, especially in education. The request comes after the Coalition Avenir Québec government adopted Bill 52, which renews the use of the Constitution's notwithstanding clause to shield Bill 21 from court challenges for another five years. |
Turkey’s main opposition party protests new education curriculum as political, reactionary | 03/05/2024 | Turkish Minute | This article explains how a group of lawmakers from Turkey's main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), protested against the Ministry of Education's new curriculum. The lawmakers argue that the new curriculum is a political text reflecting reactionary views rather than an educational program. They issued a press statement rejecting the new curriculum for its alleged attempt to undermine secularism and erase the revolutions of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. |
Naveen Patnaik’s Support for Modi Negates Madhusudan Das, Biju Patnaik’s Secular Vision | 02/05/2024 | The Wire | This article explains how Indian statesman Naveen Patnaik supports Modi's vision for secularism. Patnaik has faced criticism for speaking on the importance of avoiding religious debates. |
The Law on Secularism once again protected by the exemption provision | 02/05/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article explains how the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) and Québec solidaire (QS) have voted against renewing the exemption provision that would have protected the Law on State Secularism from legal challenges for another five years. Québec's Prime Minister, François Legault, criticized this decision, stating that it represents an abandonment of powers. Members of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and the Parti Québécois (PQ) supported maintaining the provision. Legault suggests that this vote creates a division between the political parties in Quebec, with the nationalist camp on one side and the camp abandoning Quebec's powers on the other. |
Rising Hindu nationalism leaves Muslims fearful in India’s holy city | 01/05/2024 | The Saudi Gazette | This article describes the increasing tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Varanasi, Narendra Modi's constituency. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, is criticized for working towards transforming India into a predominantly Hindu nation. Due to this, the Muslim community is apprehensive of facing stricter restrictions if Modi is re-elected. |
What does the faith school shake-up mean for Anglicans? | 01/05/2024 | The Spectator | This article discusses the recent decision of the UK government to allow new faith schools to have an entirely religious selection process. It explores why faith schools evoke strong emotions, noting that schools are small versions of society where the secularism of our culture can be restricted. With this decision, the current rule that a new faith school can only select half its pupils on religious grounds has been overturned. However, this has raised concerns that it could weaken the schools' religious character. |
Quebec Bill 21: more groups join Supreme Court bid | 01/05/2024 | CityNews | This article focuses on the NCCM and CCLA's appeal to the Supreme Court, challenging Quebec's Bill 21. The main issue is the use of the notwithstanding clause to shield the law from Charter challenges. The groups argue that the law discriminates against minority groups and sets a precedent for violating fundamental rights and freedoms. |
What Muslims can do to blunt BJP’s divisive politics | 01/05/2024 | The Times of India | This article discusses the tension within the community in India, highlighting that they have not benefitted from the conservative leadership and the Congress' secularism. |
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