2006-MAR-02: Canada: School ban on ceremonial dagger overturned: The Supreme Court of Canada delivered a unanimous ruling on a difficult case. Like so many past decisions, the court attempted to strike

1. "Ban overturned: Top court okays kirpan in schools. Religious freedom at stake, justices say," The Toronto Star, 2006-MAR-03, Page A6.

 a balance between two conflicting concerns. In this case, it is religious freedom, and public safety.

A public school board in Montreal had prohibited its Sikh students from wearing a ceremonial dagger, called a kirpan. Others schools in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia allow the practice, which orthodox Sikhs believe is compulsory for all adults. The Court overturned the ban, writing that that religious tolerance is "a very important value of Canadian society." ₁ More details.

2006-MAR-26: USA: Celebration of Black Marriage Day: The Wedded Bliss Foundation is a U.S. initiative to promote marriage in the black community. They hope that Black Marriage Day, celebrated on the fourth Sunday in March of each year, will be celebrated in 150 communities in 2006. They do not promote and celebrate all marriages, only opposite-sex marriages. ₂

2006-MAR-18: Iran: Islamic conference in Iran: A two-day conference was held in Isfahan in central Iran. It was called "Constructive religious dialogue -- Framework for a world order." Attending scholars came from almost 40 countries. Some were concerned that Western nations are attempting to associate the religion of Islam and terrorism. Conference chairman Mahmoud Mohammedi-Araqi said that "After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States was looking for another enemy and eventually decided to target Islam." Lebanese scholar Assad al-Sahmadani said: "There is a grave necessity for scholars to show the true face of Islam in order to remove prejudice." The Persian Journal reports:

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