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Editor's note:
Protests in Iran, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16, 2022, in police custody, show no sign of easing. At the forefront of these protests are young women, with their hair uncovered, defiantly facing the police.
Images of these unveiled women, widely used in the media, seem to convey that wearing of the veil is the single most powerful measure of oppression, and that its removal signals emancipation. However, this simplistic understanding ignores the history of veiling as a political symbol – even in pre-revolutionary Iran.
The presence of unveiled women was necessary, writes scholar Amy Motlagh of the University of California, Davis, for the modernization project of the Pahlavi regime of the Shah, and women were forced, at times violently, to remove the head garment.
Religion News
Midterms reinforce Christian voter trends on abortion, GOP
In the midterm elections, evangelical Christians across the nation reconfirmed their allegiance to conservative candidates and causes, while Catholic voters once again showed how closely divided they are -- even on abortion. By David Crary, Peter Smith and Nuha Dolby/The Associated Press
Muslim Americans make historic gains in 2022 midterm elections
'When Muslims run for office today, in 2022 and beyond … it's rewarded by voters,' said Mohammed Missouri, executive director of Jetpac, a nonprofit that works to increase Muslim representation in US government and politics. By Alejandra Molina/Religion News Service
The United Methodist Church moved toward becoming more progressive and LGBTQ-affirming during U.S. regional meetings this month. Conservatives say the developments will only accelerate their exit from the denomination. By Peter Smith/The Associated Press
US Catholic bishops elect Archbishop Timothy Broglio as conference president
Broglio’s election does not appear to be a radical ideological departure from his predecessor. By Jack Jenkins/Religion News Service
Some LGBTQ fans skip Qatar World Cup, fearing hostility
Qatar’s laws against gay sex and treatment of LGBTQ people are flashpoints in the run-up to the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, or in any Arab or Muslim country. By Mariam Fam and Luis Andres Henao/The Associated Press
Commentary and Analysis
People across much of North Africa were subject to racist laws and suffering at the hands of European powers during the Second World War. By Sarah Abrevaya Stein and Aomar Boum for The Conversation
The genre of contemporary Christian music has been around for decades, but the line between CCM and secular pop music has always been blurry. By David W. Stowe for The Conversation
Combatting antisemitism isn't just about 'calling it out' – it's about helping people understand what antisemitism is in the first place. By Dov Waxman for The Conversation
'I needed to learn that I get to decide what my life looks life,' says Rachel Rueckert, author of the new memoir 'East Winds.' By Jana Riess/Religion News Service for The Conversation
A Hindu woman lights oil lamps on the bank of the Hooghly River on the occasion of Hindu festival Dev Deepawali in Kolkata, India, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
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- This Week in Religion is a publication of the Global Religion Journalism Initiative, a collaboration among the Religion News Service, The Associated Press and The Conversation U.S.
- The three news organizations work to improve general understanding and analyze the significance of developments in the world of faith.
