Photos of the Week

This week’s gallery includes images from the start of Ramadan, protests over the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, and more.

Members of the Malaysian Islamic authority perform

(RNS) — Each week Religion News Service presents a gallery of photos of religious expression around the world. This week’s gallery includes images from the start of Ramadan, protests over the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, and more.

Members of the Malaysian Islamic authority perform “Rukyah Hilal Ramadan,” the sighting of the new moon to determine the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 15, 2018. Muslims around the world start observing Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, this week. (AP Photo/Sadiq Asyraf)


Female students read the Quran during the first day of the holy month of Ramadan at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic Boarding School in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on May 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara, File)

Palestinians clash with Israeli forces after a rally to mark the 70th anniversary of what Palestinians call their “nakba,” or catastrophe — the uprooting of hundreds of thousands in the Mideast war over Israel’s 1948 creation — in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on May 15, 2018. Tensions were also elevated due to the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem early in the week. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

James Vivian, Director of Music at St George’s Chapel, directs the St. George’s Chapel Choir during a rehearsal ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle this weekend, in Windsor, England, on May 14, 2018. (Steve Parsons/Pool Photo via AP)

An Afghan dried fruits vendor awaits customers at a market ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Palestinians perform an evening prayer called ‘tarawih’, marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, outside the tents of the protest camp near the Israeli border east of Gaza City, on May 16, 2018. Muslims throughout the world are preparing to celebrate Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, refraining from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Members of the Unity Choir sing during service at Randall Memorial United Methodist Church on May 6, 2018, in Washington. RNS photo by Keith Lane

Buddhists perform as they carry lanterns in a parade during the Lotus Lantern Festival to celebrate the upcoming birthday of Buddha on May 22, in Seoul, South Korea, on May 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)


Palestinian protesters chant slogans as they burn tires during a protest on the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel on May 14, 2018. Thousands of Palestinians are protesting near Gaza’s border with Israel, as Israel prepared for a festive inauguration of a new U.S. Embassy in contested Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Palestinian medics and protesters evacuate a wounded youth during a protest at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on May 14, 2018. Thousands of Palestinians protested near Gaza’s border with Israel as Israel prepared for the festive inauguration of a new U.S. Embassy in contested Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Horse-drawn carriages make their way down the Long Walk from Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. All roads seem to lead to Windsor Castle, a magnificent fortress perched high on a hill topped by the royal standard when the queen is in residence. It is here — a favoured royal playground since William the Conqueror built the first structure here in 1070 — that the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take place on May 19. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!