France
Christena Cleveland shifts from ‘white male God’ to ‘Sacred Black Feminine’
By Adelle M. Banks — February 8, 2022
(RNS) — The author of ‘God Is a Black Woman' said she’s a theist but ‘my understanding of God is not what most people would say is orthodox Christianity.’
France moves closer to banning veils in sports competitions
By Samuel Petrequin — January 20, 2022
(AP) — The French soccer federation already bans women from wearing headscarves in official matches, as well as at competitions it organizes.
European diversity campaign celebrating Hijab ended after French backlash
By Joseph Hammond — November 8, 2021
(RNS) — A Council of Europe spokesperson told the BBC the organization had taken down the campaign tweets, 'while we reflect on a better presentation of the project.'
France returns marble angels stolen from Italy church in ’89
By Associated Press — October 19, 2021
Italy’s art police said Tuesday that the angels, decorated with strategically placed vine of leaves and fruit, had been stolen from the St. Sebastian church in Guardia Sanframondi, northeast of Naples, on Dec. 13, 1989.
A rebel and freedom fighter, Elaine Mokhtefi translates their remarkable life in her husband’s memoir
By Joseph Hammond — August 6, 2021
(RNS) — 'I Was a French Muslim' recounts the role of Islamic faith and Catholic priests in the French Algerian War.
Like many hajj traditions in a pandemic year, Zamzam water gets a reboot
By Joseph Hammond — July 21, 2021
(RNS) — In an effort to keep COVID-19 transmission to a minimum, Saudi authorities have deployed 20 robots to serve bottles of Islam's holiest water to often bemused pilgrims.
Anger as French protesters compare vaccines to Nazi horrors
By Angela Charlton and Constantin Gouvy — July 20, 2021
PARIS (AP) — “I wore the star, I know what that is, I still have it in my flesh,” Holocaust survivor Joseph Szwarc said Sunday.
France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam
By Nicolas Vaux-montagny — July 7, 2021
Mila, who describes herself as atheist, was 16 when she started posting videos on Instagram and later TikTok harshly criticizing Islam and the Quran.
Halimi and Oubaali: Boxing champions united by different faiths
By Joseph Hammond — June 22, 2021
(RNS) — Two French bantamweights, one Jewish, one Muslim, rode boxing from the edges of French society to international prominence.
An architect of European unity moves ahead on sainthood path
By Frances D'emilio — June 21, 2021
(AP) — Schuman, whom the Catholic Church calls 'a man of faith', died in 1963 after serving as the first president of the forerunner of the European Parliament.
Iranian politician, Hezbollah founder, dies of COVID-19
By Joseph Hammond — June 7, 2021
(RNS) — Mohtashamipour, 74, was one of the last living members of a generation of Iranians who played essential roles in the founding of Iran’s largely theocratic state.
France fights hold of Islamist radicals with dragnets, laws
By Elaine Ganley — February 15, 2021
(RNS) — The proposed legislation is intended to re-anchor secularism in a France where Muslims are increasingly visible and Islam is gaining a stronger voice.
COVID-defying nun toasts 117th birthday with wine and prayer
By John Leicester — February 11, 2021
(AP) — A French nun who is believed to be the world’s second-oldest person was celebrating her 117th birthday in style on Thursday.
Lawmakers debate bill to rout out radical Islam in France
By Elaine Ganley — February 1, 2021
PARIS (AP) — Critics say the bill covers ground already addressed in current laws, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen says the bill doesn't go far enough.
3 dead in attack at French church; country on high alert
By Lori Hinnant — October 29, 2020
PARIS (AP) — It was the third attack in two months in France that authorities have attributed to Muslim extremists.
