In June this year, Justices Alito and Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court agreed in their separate opinions for Matal v. Tam that there is no “hate speech” exception to the first amendment of the constitution. In other words, “hate speech” is free speech. In that same month, Egypt’s parliament found a

The government of Pakistan recently announced that it was proposing to increase the number of civilian Director Generals in the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate from one to four. This decree was made by the new and interim Prime Minister Abbasi. The response of the ISPR was that as the ISI fu

Human rights defenders, political activists, and representative of civil society organization has demanded, the elimination of Minority Wing from political parties. According to the activists the minority wings impede the prospect of full representation of religious minorities in mainstream politics

Democracy must be built on pluralism In Pakistan: With regards to Pakistan, the situation is much more outrageous. Islamic political parties likewise select and send minority individuals to assemblies, regardless of the way that these same parties aren’t prepared to grant them equal status of citize

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has long supported the human rights and dignity of North Korea people, and those held captive and kidnapped by its totalitarian government. It is astounding that in the political partisan charged environment of 2017, so many are willing to ignore and f

On Sunday, September 10, two Coptic churches were re-opened by an executive order made by President Al-Sisi. One of them was the St. Mary Church of Al-Furn village in Al Minya diocese, which was illegally shut down by Egyptian police recently in the final days of the Virgin Mary fast.
Bishop Maka

Half of Sunni-Muslim-world population (East of Shia-Iran) is ALSO NOW angered with another religion (ii)- Entire Sunni-Muslim population angered with another religion / sect of Islam (unsupported by powerful USA / West in contrast to Israel) is a ticking bomb.
As expected United Nations so-far has

While the United States and NATO remains focused on defeating Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, al Qaeda in Syria is accumulating strength and territory at an alarming pace and may eventually pose the most daunting counterterrorism challenge that the U.S and west has ever faced. Al-Qaeda has reported

In a famous speech on August 11 1947, Pakistan’s founding father and first governor general, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, addressed that the new country was being built on the idea of religious tolerance.
But 70 years later, a trend of forced conversions in the country is making a mockery of the constituti

Under the Al-Sisi government, Copts expect the religious scholars of Al-Ahzar Institute to reform Islam. A good beginning would look like this: removal of violent-oriented content from school textbooks, moderate preaching from imams who are Al-Ahzar-certified, and the advancement of women’s rights u

More than 300 feminist activists, women human rights defenders and global allies are gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand under the banner of '(re)Sisters, (per)Sisters and Sisters', for the 3rd Asia Pacific Feminist Forum (APFF 2017). This 3 days Forum (7-9 September 2017) has been organised around the

Recently, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) published its report on blasphemy laws in 71 countries and punishments ranging from imprisonment, lashings or a death sentence. The commission has called for the repeal of the blasphemy law, stating that it invites abuse and fai

The world of today is crowded with colleges, universities and academies for higher education. There has never been a period in history when so many people attended universities.
It is also true that there has never been such a period in history when a large number of population had so much unrest

Global processes for development should be rooted in and informed by the grassroots movements. But is there a gap or disconnection? Can we do better to ensure that development discourses at all levels are plugged in affected communities on the frontlines?
Governments often fail to, meaningfully an

Imagine walking through your village to church to pray during the final days of fasting for the Feast of Assumption. You find police barricades blocking all roads to the sanctuary. At a check point you see your priest petitioning the heavens. State police forbid your entrance and give the same reaso