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Anti-Semitism: Definition, History, and Status in the US (Updated 2021)
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States and a racism watchdog, reports the largest number of anti-Semitic incidents in their 40 year long collection of data. In 2019, Jews in the United States have reportedly suffered 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents which marked a substantial 12% rise from 2008’s record…
Is Different Bad? Thoughts on Religious Discrimination (Updated 2021)
There are two things that are constant in this world: change and differences. The minute that a child recognizes the world, it sees something different at every glance, something very different from what it’s accustomed to in the womb. Yet, in order to live well, they must adapt quickly and get used to the changes.…
Who are the Uyghurs, and Why is China so Afraid of them? (Updated 2021)
The conflict that is happening in China for the past centuries is likely related to the Uyghur minority. If you know anything regarding the country’s social policies in recent years, it has been largely connected to the serious problem of mistreating these people. China receives criticism from governments and activists worldwide for its racism and…
Anti-Mormonism: Definition, Debate, and Status in the US (Updated 2021)
Mormons may not be on top of the list when the topic of “anti-religious hate crimes” is discussed, they still get a share of 0.9% (15 individuals) of hate crimes as reported in 2017 and are still increasing according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Crime statistics for anti-Mormon bias were tracked starting 2015…
The lost voice of the Alevi – A religious minority’s fight from human rights violations (Updated 2021)
Although the coronavirus has caused impediments in the world, many issues have still been occurring regarding human rights violations within countries such as religious freedom as well. One such example is the Alevi minority group in Turkey who make up roughly 15-20 percent of the Turkish population. Harsh discrimination has been imposed for decades in…
Religious Tolerance Definition – Religious Head Coverings (Updated 2021)
What is Religious Tolerance? The religious tolerance definition is a very delicate concept for the Western world. This is because, as you know, religion in the west has many different forms. And while Islam and Christianity are two of the more dominant religions in the West, there are others as well. Thus, it is easy…
What is Islamophobia? Understanding the Anti-Muslim Sentiment through the Lens of Westerners (Updated 2021)
This article aims to look at the image of Muslim and Islam through the lens of the Westerners and to understand the anti-Muslim sentiment in analysis of the 2011 data gathered and published by Gallup, Inc., an American analytics and advisory company based in Washington, D.C. Introduction: What is Islamophobia and what are the basic…
History of Religious Freedom in the United States (Updated 2021)
History of Religious Freedom in the United States Freedom of religion or religious liberty is considered by most nations as a fundamental human right. This principle supports the freedom of an individual or a community to practice their religion in teaching, practice, worship, and to observe it in terms of religious holidays both…
Religious Rights on Health Issues: Catholics and Jews call out coronavirus restrictions as violation of religious rights (Updated 2021)
On January 21, 2020, the US recorded its very first case of COVID-19 and in just a few months, the novel coronavirus had easily swept off the cities swarming hospitals and stacking up thousands of dead bodies. The image of the pandemic’s effect was not just mirrored in deadbeat doctors and nurses asking people to…
Quebec’s Bill 21 and Religious Rights in Workplace (Updated 2021)
“It is impossible to deny that there are xenophobic parts to this bill. There is a reason why this bill is coming from a man (Legault) who refuses to use the term systemic racism,” said Mustafa Farooq, CEO of National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) in an article published by Al Jazeera last November 1. …
Is Separation of Church and State Necessary in the Workplace and University? (Updated 2021)
The separation of church and state is something that has been the law for many years now. Churches and religious organizations are not allowed to engage in political campaigns. In fact, the law does not recognize any church or religion at all. Churches are not permitted to engage in political campaign activities. If they…
Religious Rights vs. LGBTQ+ Rights on Adoption: Philadelphia Foster Care Case (Updated 2021)
The global divide on homosexuality still persists but over the past two decades, there has been an increasing acceptance in many countries according to a recent survey conducted by PEW Research Center last June 2020. Specifically in the US, the numbers have jumped from 42% in 2007 to 72%. These numbers are directly and substantially…