In Kohistan, Deobandi ulema does not challenge the law allowing women to be candidates—but they say they cannot campaign.
Massimo Introvigne
Bloody Regimes and “Drunk Drivers”: The IRF Summit Rocks Washington DC
The largest religious liberty event of the year challenged the brutality of China and Russia but also noted that democratic countries such as Japan look like dangerous intoxicated drivers.
China Does It Again: Italian Tax Police Uncovers $2 Billion Money Laundering Operation
CCP-controlled Chinese banks continue to make money through massive illegal operations in Italy
Pakistan, Ahmadi Cemetery Desecrated in Daska
At least 80 graves were destroyed just two weeks before the elections.
China, New White Paper Hails “Deprogramming” of “Religious Extremists”
The “Legal Framework and Measures for Counterterrorism” attacks Western critics and hail the Chinese way of “reeducating” dangerous religionists.
Taoism, Education, and Tai Ji Men
Taoist sages embody and transmit to others compassion, humility, and wisdom, even when confronted with persecution. It is the story of Dr. Hong and Tai Ji Men.
Is Japan Introducing State-Sponsored Deprogramming?
At a Cabinet Meeting on January 19, proposals were made aimed at inducing current members of the Unification Church to leave the “cult” with the help of apostate ex-members.
Tai Ji Men Case: Scholars Visit the Swiss Mountain Villa
Collateral damage in the ill-founded harassment of Tai Ji Men: a beautiful and precious property lies in ruins.
Pakistan: Christian Musarrat Bibi, Acquitted of False Blasphemy Charges, Lives Under Constant Threat
A judge ruled that charges of Quran-burning were fabricated but she lost her job and has to live in hiding.
China, ISIS, and Pakistan: Unholy Alliance Eyes Maldives
A new pro-China President has asked Indian troops to leave the Maldives within two months. The United States wants to know what he plans to do with ISIS-connected terrorists.
Massimo Introvigne
Massimo Introvigne (born June 14, 1955 in Rome) is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of some 70 books and more than 100 articles in the field of sociology of religion. He was the main author of the Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia (Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy). He is a member of the editorial board for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion and of the executive board of University of California Press' Nova Religio. From January 5 to December 31, 2011, he has served as the "Representative on combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against Christians and members of other religions" of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2012 to 2015 he served as chairperson of the Observatory of Religious Liberty, instituted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to monitor problems of religious liberty on a worldwide scale.