free speech
5 religious iPhone apps banned from the App Store
By Brian Pellot — January 9, 2014
From Me So Holy to iSlam Muhammad, here are five iPhone apps with religious themes that Apple deemed too controversial for download.
North Korea and ‘failed’ Muslim states top Open Doors’ Christian persecution list. So what?
By Brian Pellot — January 8, 2014
A new report from Christian advocacy group Open Doors cites Islamic extremism and organized corruption as main drivers of Christian persecution in its annual list of worst offenders. Should non-Christians care?
8 worst countries for religious freedom
By Brian Pellot — January 7, 2014
The U.S. State Department names and shames eight “Countries of Particular Concern” that severely violate religious freedom rights within their borders. These countries not only suppress religious expression, they systematically torture and detain people who cross political and social red lines around faith.
U.N. Human Rights Council fails to protect religious freedom
By Brian Pellot — December 30, 2013
A new report shows that eight current and incoming member states of the U.N. Human Rights Council were among 24 countries to imprison believers and atheists in 2013 for violating laws that restrict their basic human right to freedom of religion or belief.
Becket Fund shames Wisconsin for being too religiously inclusive
By Brian Pellot — December 24, 2013
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has given its lowest honor, the Ebenezer Award, to Wisconsin’s Department of Administration for allowing diverse and controversial holiday displays at the State Capitol. Who’s the real scrooge here?
Merry holidays! * Quack attack * Shariah law in London: Religious Freedom Recap: Dec. 16 – 23
By Brian Pellot — December 23, 2013
The Flying Spaghetti Monster invades state capitols. Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson quacks up a controversy. And Muslim protesters threaten 40 lashes for selling alcohol in my London neighborhood.
Flying Spaghetti Monster invades state capitols!!!
By Brian Pellot — December 19, 2013
His Noodliness has taken up residence in the Wisconsin and Florida state capitol buildings. Should all displays be permitted? Only those of certain faiths? None? Here’s your chance to weigh in.
Journalists face ‘religious straitjackets’ in half of all countries
By Brian Pellot — December 19, 2013
A new report by Reporters Without Borders documents how blasphemy, apostasy and religious defamation laws are used the world over to stifle free expression.
The BBC’s John Sweeney on North Korea’s zombie gods
By Brian Pellot — December 10, 2013
Author and investigative journalist John Sweeney went undercover to report from North Korea earlier this year. He found a nation brainwashed by a ruling family of dead gods, a dark state with no religious freedom.
Women bishops * Blasphemous twits * Gay tornadoes: Religious Freedom Recap: Nov. 18-25
By Brian Pellot — November 25, 2013
The Church of England welcomes women bishops. Another man is arrested for tweeting about the Prophet Muhammad in Kuwait. And word is God sent tornadoes to Illinois last week because s/he was upset about the state’s new gay marriage law. Watch out, Hawaii.
Christian persecution? * Bible balloons * The other Moonies: Religious Freedom Recap: Nov. 11-18
By Brian Pellot — November 18, 2013
Debate flares over how people define martyred and persecuted Christians. An American church drops Bibles over North Korea. And a drunken Wisconsin woman drops trou in the name of religious freedom. God bless America.
Atheists and believers seek common ground in Scotland
By Brian Pellot — November 13, 2013
40 atheists and religious believers recently came together from across the U.S. and the U.K. to discuss their shared values and ethics at a weekend retreat in Coatbridge, Scotland. Here’s what you missed.
Blasphemy! * Sexting statue * ‘Halal’ pork: Religious Freedom Recap: Sept. 30 – Oct. 7
By Brian Pellot — October 7, 2013
Blasphemy rights and wrongs. A religious group in Kansas tries to censor a sexting statue. And the British government is sued for feeding Muslim inmates pork-laced pies.
12 “blasphemous” artworks censored or vandalized by angry believers
By Brian Pellot — October 4, 2013
A New Yorker who recently penned an erotic version of the Bible woke up last week to find “BLASPHMY” spray painted across his front step. From Piss Christ to elephant dung Mary, here’s a look at 12 artworks that have been silenced or destroyed for exploring “blasphemous” themes.
Big in Texas: Religious liberty in the public square
By Brian Pellot — September 26, 2013
Advocates enter the church-state debate at Religion Newswriters Association’s pre-conference in Austin, Texas.
