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Sunday: Pope in Marseille; Khalistan; Definition of Islamophobia

Pope in Marseille; Khalistan; Definition of Islamophobia

BBC Radio 4 - Sunday, Pope in Marseille; Khalistan; Definition of Islamophobia

Edward Stourton takes a look at the ethical and religious issues of the week.

Pope Francis stands with migrants in Marseille, Canada and India row over the death of a pro-Khalistan activist, and should the definition of Islamophobia be revised in the UK?

This weekend Pope Francis made an historic visit to Marseille, France; the first papal visit to the port city since Clement VII in 1533. The purpose of the trip is to show solidarity with the migrants as the French government takes a stricter stance amid rising Mediterranean crossings. Edward Stourton speaks to French Christian Journalist, Sophie Lebrun.

Relations between Canada and India have become strained after the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau linked the Indian state with the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil. Hardeep Singh Nijjar - a Canadian citizen - is the third prominent Sikh figure to have died unexpectedly in recent months. India strongly denies the allegations and further suspended visa processing for Canadian nationals travelling to India. BBC Monitoring's Nurussanda Garg has the latest on the story and Professor Gurharpal Singh explains the origins of the pro-Khalistan movement.

One in seven local authorities in England have adopted a definition of Islamophobia that was rejected by the Government in 2019. While it’s since been adopted by Labour, the Lib Dems and the Scottish Conservatives, free speech campaigners say it’s confusing and in danger of conflating race and religion. Linsay Taylor from Muslim Engagement and Development and Stephen Evans from the National Secular Society discuss whether the term adequately differentiates between the discrimination of Muslims and the right to be able to criticise a religion. 

Presenter: Edward Stourton
Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Jonathan Hallewell
Editors: Tim Pemberton & Dan Tierney.

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