In The News

China’s Missing Million: New Statesman

Morgan Meaker August 31, 2019
China has been accused of detaining as many as 3 million Uyghurs and other Muslims, most from Xinjiang province, including the highly educated and even members of the Chinese Communist Party, in reeducation camps. China targets the Uyghurs out of insecurity over any separatist movement and ideological competition from religion. “During the past decade, Uyghurs have reported ongoing human rights...

India Pulls Kashmir’s Autonomy: Washington Post

Ahsan I. Butt August 8, 2019
After little parliamentary debate and virtually no citizen input, the Modi government is scrapping two articles in the Indian constitution that apply to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, splitting the state and administering two sections as a union territory. At the same time, the government increased its troop presence, closed schools and the internet, and placed some leaders under house arrest....

Burqas Banned in Some Dutch Buildings: DutchNews

August 1, 2019
The Netherlands joins France and Belgium in imposing a ban on wearing garments that cover the face, including burqas, niqabs and ski masks, in public buildings and transport. Denmark, Germany, Spain and Italy impose partial bans. In the Netherlands, “The ban has been 13 years in the making and dates back to the time Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV party propped up a minority government formed by...

Global Religious Persecution: Jakarta Post

Endy M. Bayuni July 22, 2019
Religious freedom gives people the right to think as they choose, and too many governments and religions regard such free thought as dangerous. The US State Department brought together more than 1,000 government representatives and religious leaders from more than 130 nations for a campaign to end persecution of individuals for religious beliefs. “In the decade after the end of the Cold War, the...

China Separates Muslim Children From Families: BBC

John Sudworth July 5, 2019
A parent’s love for a child is unconditional, and anxiety is intense during separations when parents can’t be sure of a child’s safety. In the western region of Xinjiang, China is placing Muslim adults in detention camps, sending children to boarding schools, and indoctrinating young and old to reject their faith and embrace Chinese culture and language. China imposes tight controls on the region...

Taking on Tehran: Project Syndicate

Richard N. Haass June 18, 2019
Iran has been public enemy number one for the Trump administration, with the United States withdrawing from the nuclear deal brokered by former President Barack Obama and imposing harsh sanctions. Iran’s oil exports and the economy as a whole is experiencing a harsh slowdown. Other nations abide by US policy, but the Iranian regime may outlast the US pressure due to its inimitable institutional...

America’s Cruelty Playbook: Irish Times

Una Malally June 16, 2019
Political leaders in southern region of the United States are making strides to limit abortion rights with the ultimate goal of reversing the Roe v. Wade court decision that protects a woman’s right to end a pregnancy. The laws target poor and vulnerable women while the wealthy women can travel to obtain care. Citizens often ignore the slow chipping away at rights in a few places, though recent...