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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
New French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is no Stranger to Prejudice | 25/02/2024 | Moment Magazine | This article critically examines the ongoing debates surrounding Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's advocacy for a bill that proposes the facilitation of deportations, taking into account its implications for France's secularism. |
Government Study Shows Iranians Less Religious Than Before | 24/02/2024 | International Iran | This article examines a government study conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance on the decreasing practice of religion in Iran. |
I am not Malala, I am safe in my country': Kashmiri activist's UK speech goes viral | 23/02/2024 | India Today | This article explores how many activists deny the alleged oppression related to the wearing of hijab in Kashmir. |
“It’s Islamophobia”: Rajasthan school students confront teachers demanding Hijab ban, resist Hindutva mob shouting slogans | 23/02/2024 | Maktoob Media | This article explores the protests in Indian schools over the hijab ban that has been advanced by teachers and the Hindutva group in light of advancing Indian secularism. |
Safeguarding 'weaponised' in Church of England as report claims standards 'fall below secular groups' | 21/02/2024 | Sky News | This article delves into the controversy surrounding the Church of England's failure to meet the expectations set by secular organizations. |
Knesset protest against wartime budget cuts takes aim at Haredi earmarks | 20/02/2024 | The Times of Israel | This article explores the debate surrounding the Israeli government's lack of funding for secular education, which has prompted widespread citizen protests against the recent government decision. |
Asaduddin Owaisi dares 'secular' Congress, NCP on Babri: 'Say the name | 20/02/2024 | Hindustan Times | This article discusses the impact of Indian secularism and its confrontation with AIMIM Chief Owaisi regarding the safeguarding of mosques, including the Babri Masjid. |
Famous Turkish lawyer Feyza Altun detained over ‘sharia’ remark | 19/02/2024 | Duvar English | This article examines the detention of a lawyer in Turkey for criticizing sharia law and regulations, despite the public demand for the reinstatement of secular values. |
I'm almost sure on Quebec Liberal leadership run, Denis Coderre says | 18/02/2024 | Montreal Gazette | This article describes Denis Coderre, the former mayor of Montreal, opinion of the language law, Bill 96. He criticized the language policies of the CAQ government and their impact on the Anglophone community. He suggested that the policies have contributed to "scapegoating" and that striving for a secular state may potentially lead to a divide within the province. |
Mamata Banerjee Defends India's Constitution: A Debate on Democracy and Secularism | 18/02/2024 | BNN | This article describes the recent debate on India's constitution held in Kolkata, where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee defended the core values of the constitution, including democracy, secularism, and federalism. Banerjee expressed her concerns over the threats posed to these principles and emphasized the importance of upholding them. |
Drastic erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan continues, says UN | 17/02/2024 | India Blooms | This article explains how the de facto authorities in Afghanistan have introduced over 50 decrees that infringe upon women's rights and dignity with the increased implementation of Islamic laws. |
Demolition of mosques threatens India’s secular fabric: JIH chief | 17/02/2024 | Kashmir Media Service | This article describes the debate over the demolition drive in different areas of New Delhi. According to Kashmir Media Service, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind chief Husaini not only does this pose a threat to the Muslim identity but also puts at risk the secular fabric of India. |
Unveiling Choices: Women's Dress Codes in Islam and the Hijab Debate | 17/02/2024 | BNN | This article discusses the controversy surrounding the prohibition of the hijab, which is worn by some Muslim women in countries such as Tunisia and France. These debates frequently lead to tension regarding women's rights and secularism. As a result of this prohibition, many of these women have encountered increased discrimination in education, the workplace, and civil society. |
It is Quebec that manages its hospitals, not Ottawa | 16/02/2024 | Actual Magazine | The article discusses Quebec's legislative autonomy, particularly in relation to Bill 21 and secularism. It argues that federal officials should recognize Quebec's right to pass laws and leave any legal challenges to the courts. |
Tanzania: Faith in Flux As ELCT Shakes Up Leadership | 16/02/2024 | Pan African Visions | This article describes how President Samia's New Year's farewell speech resembles a campaign address and has been primarily criticized concerning religion and secularism. He called for open discussion of disputes arising from the president's actions. The ELCT's involvement in political affairs is criticized, and the recent consecration of Archbishop Malasusa has sparked controversy. The ongoing struggles within the ELCT highlight the difficulties of navigating the intersection of faith and governance in Tanzania. |
What motivates the Quebec Judicial Council? | 16/02/2024 | Actual Magazine | This article explains how the Quebec Judicial Council contested the request to establish rules reflecting the requirements of Bill 21 on State Secularism before the Superior Court of Quebec. Bill 21 mandates that the Judicial Council implement secularism requirements for judges of different courts and magistrate justices of the peace. |
The Many Electoral Faces of Québec | 15/02/2024 | Policy Magazine | This article explains how the Bloc Québécois leader, Yves-François Blanchet, expressed concerns about the emergence of "two Quebecs" in an interview with the Canadian Press, claiming that Montreal was becoming marginalized in the rise of secularism. |
Quebec to extend Notwithstanding Clause on Bill 21 | 14/02/2024 | The Suburban | This article describes how the Quebec government has introduced legislation to extend the Notwithstanding Clause to protect Bill 21 from charter challenges for another five years. The Minister of Secularism, Jean-François Roberge, has emphasized the importance of renewing the Clause to maintain social peace and co-existence, as Bill 21 provides essential clarifications on reasonable accommodation and Quebec's secular vision. |
Historic mosques desecrated in India | 14/02/2024 | Pakistan Today | This article discusses the recent demolition of a mosque and religious school in Uttarakhand, India and how it relates to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) commitment to human rights, religious equality, and secularism. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, there has been a shift away from the country's stated values of democracy and secularism towards a more divisive and authoritarian approach. |
Faith school banning parts of geography lessons, Ofsted finds | 14/02/2024 | National Secular Society | This article discusses faith-based schools' plan to eliminate geography lessons, which poses a risk of depriving young students of a comprehensive education and leaving them unprepared to understand different interpretations of secularism and religion. |
Germany at Crossroads | 13/02/2024 | The Sunday Guardian | This article discusses the rise of protests in Germany against discriminatory ideologies, particularly around issues of migration and secularism and the conservative Christian stance. |
Islamic Revolution of Iran took global anti-colonial movement to next level | 13/02/2024 | Press TV | This article highlights the Iranian revolution in relation to the rise of secularism. Iran's revolution is described as distinct from Western ideals of secularism and democracy. It has brought a resurgence to the religious Islamic values for cultural self-determination and political and economic independence. |
History will judge the CAQ, PQ and Québec Solidaire for not protecting the rights of Quebecers | 12/02/2024 | Cult MTL | This article highlights the findings of an Angus Reid Institute poll that indicates most Montrealers do not support the secular law, Bill 21. The survey also shows that a majority of Canadians in every province except Quebec oppose the notwithstanding clause, which was applied to the passing of Bill 21 and Bill 96 by the Legault government. |
How the French mosques concerned will have to organize themselves | 11/02/2024 | Actual News Magazine | This article describes how France ceased welcoming imams sent by foreign countries this year to re-center secular values. This measure poses a challenge for the mosques and Muslim communities. |
Secular over personal law? SC to decide if a divorced Muslim woman can seek maintenance under CrPC | 11/02/2024 | The Print | This article examines how the Supreme Court of India will consider a case involving a divorced Muslim woman seeking maintenance from her ex-husband under Section 125 of the CrPC. The case could lead to a debate on whether personal law precedes secular law. |
Supreme Court hears petition on deleting ‘Secular’, ‘Socialist’ from the Preamble of Indian Constitution | 10/02/2024 | Star of Mysore | This article explains how India's Supreme Court will consider whether "socialist" and "secular" can be listed in the Constitution's Preamble after two petitions have been called to remove these words from the Preamble. The court will examine if the Preamble can be changed. |
Malaysia’s top court strikes out a dozen Islamic laws; conservatives aghast | 09/02/2024 | The Siasat Daily | This article describes how Malaysia's top court strikes several Islamic laws, including provisions for the desecration of places of worship. The recent ban reflects the country’s move to operate in a dual-track legal system with Islamic and secular laws. |
Woman wearing headscarf verbally abused by bus driver | 09/02/2024 | The Brussels Times | This article describes the increase in hate crime violence experienced by Muslim women who wear the hijab in Belgium. A Muslim woman was recently told to remove her headscarf by a bus driver when using public transport. The tension over the veil and hijab persists in Belgium. |
Quebec groups speak out against bill protecting secularism law | 09/02/2024 | Global News | This article discusses the ongoing debate surrounding Quebec's Bill 21. According to many groups, the law is still negatively impacting minority communities almost five years after its implementation. In an effort to prevent legal challenges to the bill, Quebec's minister has proposed extending the use of the notwithstanding clause for another five years through Bill 52. However, this move is being challenged by several organizations. |
Quebec cites ‘social peace’ to extend notwithstanding clause on secularism law | 08/02/2024 | The Globe and Mail | This article describes the position of the Minister of Secularism, Jean-François Roberge, regarding Bill 52. The bill proposes to extend the protection of secular laws from court challenges. The Minister argues that the notwithstanding clause is necessary to maintain "social peace" in the province. |
Priests need support in response to solitude, secularism, cardinal says | 07/02/2024 | The Arlington Catholic Herald | This article describes the Vatican conference on the continuing education and formation of priests from 60 different countries despite the rise of secularism. The conference aims to address challenges faced by priests in today's society. |
Quebec government to table bill extending notwithstanding clause for secularism law | 07/02/2024 | Global News | This article describes how Quebec will introduce a bill to protect its secularism law, Bill 21, from Charter challenges. The law bans public servants in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols. The government hopes to renew the use notwithstanding clause for another five years to protect the values of secularism. |
Islamic Leaders in India Advocate for Resolution of Religious Disputes | 06/02/2024 | BNN | This article describes how Islamic leaders in India are calling for government intervention to resolve disputes between Muslim and Hindu communities over religious issues. They stress the importance of maintaining the country's secular nature, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. |
IUML leader says Ayodhya temple, mosque ‘would strengthen secularism’, faces flak | 04/02/2024 | Hindustan Times | This article examines how the Kerala unit chief of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has sparked controversy by claiming that the newly inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya and a proposed mosque in the city would strengthen India's secularism. The statement has received mixed reactions over the IUML being a vocal supporter of secularism. |
Togetherness Is The Message From Ayodhya' | 03/02/2024 | Rediff News | The article emphasizes that Indian secularism means treating every faith equally without denying the rights of the majority and their faith. It advocates for the most accurate form of secularism, which prioritizes equality for all and criticizes those who deny the rights of Hindus. |
Muslim Leaders Call for Resolution of Mosque-Temple Disputes in India | 03/02/2024 | Pakistan News Gazette | This article describes how prominent Muslim leaders in India have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve ongoing disputes over mosques and temples. The Muslim leaders argue that claims of mosques being built over demolished temples are baseless and threaten India's secular ethos. |
France’s Paradoxical Treatment of Muslims | 02/02/2024 | Globely News | This article discusses the recent funding revocation of France's largest Muslim high school, Lycée Averroès, which had its state funding cut due to alleged infractions such as breaches of the fundamental principles of the Republic and concerns over specific texts in religious education classes. Many Muslim organizations have criticized the decision, claiming it to be politically motivated since the school is dedicated to balancing both the French Republican and Islamic values. |
We must stop giving public funds to religious colleges which restrict academic freedom | 02/02/2024 | National Secular Society | This article discusses the danger of funding religious colleges. Many hold the opinion that religious colleges restrict academic freedom and freedom of expression. |
Superficial Ways Of Being Secular | 02/02/2024 | Outlook India | This article describes how modernity has transformed religion, and India's constitutional secularism seeks to harmonize in a multi-religious society. The Indian state must uphold secular justice when arbitrating disputes involving religion. |
‘Be fully committed to secularism and Constitution’: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to government officials | 01/02/2024 | The New Indian Express | This article discusses the recent statements made by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, regarding the significance of secularism and adherence to the Indian Constitution among government officials. In his speech, Siddaramaiah emphasized that officials must be fully committed to secularism and the Constitution or risk losing their positions. |
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