Afghan Shiite leader in Pakistan after killings of miners

ISLAMABAD (AP) — An influential Afghan Shiite leader is visiting Pakistan where members of the minority sect are still reeling from the brutal killing of 11 Shiite coal miners, nine of whom were Afghan immigrants, earlier this month. The miners, who were abducted and killed by militants from the Islamic...

Turkish televangelist gets life term for sex abuse, offenses

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish court on Monday sentenced a controversial Muslim televangelist and cult leader to life in prison, finding him guilty of forming a criminal gang and sexual abuse of minors, among several other offenses. Adnan Oktar, who was known for holding theological discussions surrounded by...

China denies coercive birth control measures in Xinjiang

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese official on Monday denied Beijing has imposed coercive birth control measures among Muslim minority women, following an outcry over a tweet by the Chinese Embassy in Washington claiming that government polices had freed women of the Uighur ethnic group from being...

US group appeals for Pakistani woman jailed on blasphemy

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The U.S. religious watchdog appealed Friday for the rights of a Pakistani woman from the country’s minority Ahmadis who has been jailed on blasphemy charges, declaring her a prisoner of conscience and urging Prime Minister Imran Khan's government to immediately set her free. The...

Indonesia's top Islamic body OKs China's Sinovac vaccine

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's highest Islamic body on Friday gave its religious approval to China's Sinovac vaccine, paving the way for its distribution in the world's most populous Muslim nation. The Indonesian Ulema Council announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is holy and halal, or fit for...

Indonesia's top Islamic body gives religious approval to China’s Sinovac vaccine, paving the way for its distribution

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's top Islamic body gives religious approval to China’s Sinovac vaccine, paving the way for its distribution.

Chicago priest stepping aside after sex-abuse allegation

CHICAGO (AP) — Nationally known activist Chicago priest the Rev. Michael Pfleger has been asked to step aside due to an allegation of sexual abuse that occurred decades ago, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago announced. The archdiocese said Tuesday that its Office for Child Abuse Investigations and...

Pakistani court orders rebuilding of destroyed Hindu temple

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered authorities Tuesday to rebuild a century-old Hindu temple that was vandalized and set on fire by a mob last week, drawing condemnation from the government and leaders of minority Hindus. The court ruled after authorities said they arrested more than 100...

Central African Republic president Touadera reelected

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera has won a second term in office, according to provisional results announced by the electoral commission Monday. Touadera was reelected in the first round of the Dec. 27 presidential vote with 53.9% of the...

Pakistan arrests 31 people over demolishing of Hindu temple

PESHAWAR, pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police arrested at least 31 people in overnight raids after a Hindu temple was set on fire and demolished by a mob led by hundreds of supporters of a radical Islamist party, officials said Thursday. Meanwhile, dozens of Hindus rallied in the southern port city of...