News
TOLERANCE
In an iconic show of unity and brotherhood, a Muslim and a Jew, paramedic partners in Israel, paused during one particularly busy day to pray—the Muslim kneeling on his prayer rug facing Mecca; the Jew donning his prayer shawl, facing Jerusalem. The photo, snapped by a coworker, garnered thousands of likes within hours. One twitter user wrote: “One fight! One victory! Let's unite.”
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
“In every battle against ignorance and bigotry we have fought, we sought greater freedom for all faiths,” said STAND International Director Edward Parkin. “Our purpose is to enable every person on this earth to believe as he or she chooses, exactly in alignment with the European Convention on Human Rights.”
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
In the year since the ban, which applies to teachers, police officers, judges, prison guards and other public servants, many religious Canadians in the public sector have seen their lives change. Some who can, have simply gone “underground,” wearing their insignia under their clothing, as many Catholic women have done, covering their crucifixes with their sweaters or tucking them under their blouses.
COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE
The Secretary-General of the United Nations joined with the U.S. State Department and India’s External Affairs Ministry in denouncing the incident in which dozens of civilians were killed and injured.
COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, people of Christchurch gathered at the Al Noor and Linwood Mosques in a simple but powerful gesture of community.
TOLERANCE
The lone bright spot in the terror was the courage and compassion of the community’s Sikhs, many of whom risked their lives to give food and shelter to their Muslim neighbors.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
“Today is a total victory for religious freedom,” said International STAND Director Edward Parkin. “The Superior Court of California’s decision to uphold the sanctity with which religious agreements are born is a vindication for truth, decency, honor and integrity over lies, deceit, subterfuge and fraud. Truth always prevails in the end.”
COMBATING BIGOTRY & HATE
In the wake of a rash of hate crimes against individuals and institutions of the Jewish faith, people from many religions gathered in Mineola, New York, to protest the attacks.
TOLERANCE
Continuing a tradition established by Pope Paul VI in 1968, Pope Francis proclaimed January 1, 2020, the 53rd World Day of Peace. In a message commemorating the special day, he described peace as “a journey made together in constant pursuit of the common good, truthfulness and respect for law.
