In Gujarat, an amendment to the marriage registration law introduces new requirements that risk hindering unions between people of different religions or castes. The High Court of Allahabad, in Uttar Pradesh, had to reiterate that interfaith relationships between consenting adults do not constitute a crime. Two parallel cases that reignite the debate on the relationship between state legislation, constitutional rights and political campaigns against so-called “love jihad”.
Built around 1526, the protected structure is at the center of a legal dispute that has caused violence: Hindu petitioners claim it was built on top of a Shiva temple. The Archaeological Survey of India states that it has no documents on the state of the site prior to construction. The Central Information Commission has rejected the appeal.
Asian bishops express concern over the escalation in the Middle East. In communion with Leo XIV, they call for stability, dialogue, and reconciliation that “prioritize human dignity.” They also call for prayers for civilians and migrant workers affected by the conflict; meanwhile, prayer initiatives for peace are growing at the diocesan level.
In Karachi, several people die in an attempted assault on the US consulate. Tensions were high across Pakistan, home to the world’s second-largest Shia community, with the authorities imposing a ban on public demonstrations. Protests also erupted in India, from Lucknow to Kashmir, as well as in the Karnataka city where Iran's late supreme leader opened a hospital in 1986.
The attacks launched by Israel and the United States on the eve of Purim and Iran's retaliation against US bases in the region have already claimed the life of one Asian immigrant, a Pakistani national working in Abu Dhabi. In India, the opposition has criticised Modi, who has just returned from Israel. Indonesia’s Prabowo (who promised soldiers for Gaza) offers to mediate. China ponders the repercussions.
With a reserved order, the court halted for “for 15 days” the film's premiere, today. Questions remain about the certification and classification of a work that presents an "unfiltered" reality. Of greatest concern are the repercussions at the community level, given the sensitive issues such as reconversions.
