Religion Archive

On February 26, 2025, a significant and troubling report came to light from Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), shedding a harsh spotlight on the worsening conditions faced by the country’s minority communities. Titled "Under Siege: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2023/24", this document paints a grim picture of the rising tide of violence, forced conversions, and deeply rooted discrimination targeting Pakistan’s Hindu population, especially in Sindh province. For many, this isn’t just a collection of statistics or distant events—it’s a heartbreaking reality that families and individuals are forced to endure every day, with little hope of change.

Something strange has cropped up right next to Pune International Airport, and it’s got people talking. An unauthorized shrine, known as a mazar, has appeared out of nowhere, so close to the airport that you can stand there and watch planes coming and going without much effort. This odd situation didn’t go unnoticed for long—someone raised the alarm and took it straight to Muralidhar Mohol, the country’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation, with a formal complaint. What’s even more shocking is how this shrine came to be. Unknown folks didn’t just set it up quietly; they went as far as tearing down part of the airport’s boundary wall and then rebuilding it with a little tweak to make room for their structure. For the regular travelers who drive along the road near the airport every day, this change stuck out like a sore thumb. One of those daily commuters couldn’t ignore it anymore and decided to speak up, lodging a complaint with Mohol’s office to get this sorted out.

Venjaramoodu, a town where life usually follows a familiar rhythm, was jolted into chaos on the evening of February 24th. The streets that once echoed with the hum of routine were now heavy with silence, broken only by murmurs of disbelief. It was here, in this seemingly ordinary town of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, that 23-year-old Affan carved his name into infamy with a blood-soaked rampage that left five people dead and one clinging to life.

In a horrifying crime that has sent shockwaves across Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, 19-year-old Upasana was abducted and heinously murdered by a man identified as Tauheed Ali in Kabroee village of the Auras police station area. The young girl had gone to write her Class 12 examination on February 10th, but when she did not return home, her father, Hridaya Narayan, a home guard, filed a missing person report on February 12th. As the concern over her disappearance grew, authorities escalated the case to kidnapping, launching an extensive investigation.

In a deeply disturbing incident in Assam, a government-employed doctor, Dr. Selix Alam, stands accused of sexually exploiting a 22-year-old Hindu nurse over several months. The nurse, belonging to the Gorkha community, alleges that Dr. Alam not only blackmailed her but also subjected her to physical abuse when she resisted his attempts to convert her to Islam. The situation escalated on February 22, when the public, upon learning of these allegations, confronted and assaulted Dr. Alam, accusing him of engaging in 'love jihad'.

India has, time and again, witnessed the violent repercussions of so-called blasphemy accusations, particularly when it comes to criticisms of Islamic figures. One of the most alarming incidents in recent times unfolded in 2022, when Nupur Sharma, the then spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), found herself at the center of a storm. Her remarks about Prophet Muhammad and his wife Ayesha—made during a TV debate—sparked unprecedented rage among Islamists. What often goes unmentioned in the mainstream narrative is that her statement was a direct response to Islamist Taslim Ahmed Rahmani, who had been mocking the Shivling discovered at the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi. The selective outrage that followed, however, did not address this provocation but focused solely on Sharma’s response.

In a significant legal decision, an Indore court has sentenced a 27-year-old woman named Prarthana, her 33-year-old Muslim boyfriend, Iliyas Ahmed, and another individual, Mohammad Zafar Ali, to ten years in prison. The trio was found guilty of forcibly subjecting Prarthana's 8-year-old son to circumcision and enrolling him in a madrasa to alter his religion.

Bollywood’s latest release, Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, brings the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to life on the silver screen, marking a defining moment in cultural storytelling.

In a shocking revelation from the Beawar district of Rajasthan, a sensational case of rape involving the gift of mobile phones has surfaced. The reports suggest that some youths have been deceiving minor girls by presenting them with mobile phones, only to exploit them sexually afterwards. This pattern of deceit has stirred significant unrest among community members, leading to widespread protests.

In a landmark ruling on 6th February, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Agra delivered justice in the tragic case of Varsha Raghuvanshi, who ended her life in 2021 after enduring relentless cruelty and harassment. The court convicted her husband, Faeem Qureshi, sentencing him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 304B and 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)—charges that specifically pertain to dowry death and cruelty within marriage.