Millions join Eid al-Adha prayers across Iran
Millions of Iranians, along with Muslims worldwide, celebrate the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, which commemorates the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Religion
Police search Cologne archdiocese in sexual abuse perjury inquiry
Archbishop under investigation on suspicion of falsely testifying about when he became aware of clergy sexual abuseGerman police have raided properties belonging to the Catholic church in response to allegations that the archbishop of Cologne committed…
Iran Leader says Hajj rituals can thwart plots of arrogant powers, Zionists against humanity
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has stressed the annual Hajj rituals can foil all the plots of the arrogant powers and the Zionists against humanity.
‘Largest Hajj pilgrimage in history’ begins in Saudi Arabia, 2.5 million in attendance
The pilgrimage of Hajj has begun as crowds of Muslims donning white robes circle the Kaaba, the cubed structure at the epicentre of Islam’s holiest site, their prayers ringing through the air. The number of pilgrims this year is expected to break reco…
Germany’s top anti-Semitism official fears growing popularity of AfD
The German government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, says he fears that growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the east of the country could be linked to a rise in anti-Semitism. “Dissatisfaction with the …
Prayerbook of priest who saved Charles II’s life on display in Staffordshire hall
Rare 1623 missal bears signature of Catholic priest John Huddleston, who hid king after final defeat by Cromwell’s forcesA 400-year-old prayerbook owned by a Catholic priest who helped save the life of Charles II, son of the executed King Charles I, ha…
C of E divests of fossil fuels as oil and gas firms ditch climate pledges
Church pension and endowment funds shed holdings after U-turns by BP and ShellThe Church of England is divesting from fossil fuels in its multibillion pound endowment and pension funds over climate concerns and recent U-turns by oil and gas companies.T…
Temple visits rise in China as jobless young people seek spiritual assistance
Number of visitors up 367% at start of year with about half born after 1990, according to travel websitesIn the search for a job in a gloomy economy, many young people in China are hoping for divine intervention.According to data released by the Chines…
Revealed: New Orleans archdiocese concealed serial child molester for years
Lawrence Hecker confessed to superiors he had molested multiple teenagers but he was never prosecuted, secret documents showThe last four Roman Catholic archbishops of New Orleans went to shocking lengths to conceal a confessed serial child molester wh…
Advocate for separate Sikh state in India shot dead in Canada
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, president of temple in British Columbia, found fatally injured in car parkA campaigner for a Sikh nation to be carved out of India’s Punjab state who was wanted by Indian authorities has been shot dead in Canada, police have said….