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10 Most Religious Cities In The World

Published

2 years ago

September 8, 2024

Editor

Religion has long played a crucial role in shaping human societies, providing both unity and division throughout history.

The following ten cities have witnessed epic religious events and continue to serve as pilgrimage sites for millions.

1. Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, attracts millions of Muslims each year for the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. This journey is obligatory for every capable Muslim at least once in their lifetime. Non-Muslims, however, are not permitted to enter Mecca. The city’s history dates back to a pre-Islamic legend involving Adam and Eve. More accurately, around 2000 BC, Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Kaaba, Islam’s most sacred site. In 570 AD, the Prophet Muhammad was born here, and later in 630 AD, he declared the city a center for Muslim pilgrimage.

2. Lhasa, Tibet

Lhasa, meaning “place of the gods,” was the home of the Dalai Lamas from the 1600s until 1959. Although Tibetans are now a minority, the city remains a hub for Tibetan Buddhism. Notable sites include Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many pilgrims come to Lhasa to follow one of the three pathways that lead around Jokhang Temple, seeking spiritual merit.

3. Bethlehem, West Bank

Bethlehem is revered as the birthplace of Jesus, making it a major pilgrimage destination for Christians, especially during Christmas and Easter. It is also historically significant as the birthplace of David, the King of Israel. Despite the city’s tumultuous past, including numerous invasions and occupations, it remains a focal point of Christian pilgrimage. The Church of the Nativity, one of the world’s oldest churches, is believed to mark the location of Christ’s birth.

4. Varanasi, India

One of India’s most sacred cities, Varanasi holds religious importance for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Legend states that the city was founded by Lord Shiva, while historical records suggest it emerged 3,000 years ago as a center for textiles. Many Hindus come to Varanasi to bathe in the Ganges River, which is believed to cleanse sins. The city is also notable as the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon.

5. Vatican City

Situated in Rome, Vatican City is the epicenter of the Roman Catholic Church. The world’s smallest independent state, it holds some of the most significant religious and cultural sites, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. Once part of the Papal States, it became independent in the 20th century after a treaty signed by Mussolini.

6. Haifa, Israel

Haifa, a city on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean, is a center for the Bahá’í faith. The Bahá’í World Center, with its golden-domed shrine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bahá’í, a religion founded in 19th-century Iran, emphasizes unity among all religions and the oneness of humanity.

7. Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers escaping persecution. Today, it serves as the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The city’s religious landmarks include the iconic Salt Lake Temple, which took 40 years to complete, and the Family History Library, the largest genealogical library in the world.

8. Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is a spiritual hub for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It has been a focal point of religious significance for millennia and has faced destruction and invasion multiple times. Sites like the Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Western Wall draw millions of pilgrims annually. The Old City of Jerusalem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains a testament to the city’s profound historical and religious legacy.

9. Pushkar, India

One of India’s oldest cities, Pushkar is a sacred site for Hindus. The city is associated with Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Pilgrims visit Pushkar Lake and the Brahma Temple, one of the few temples dedicated to Brahma. The city is also home to the Pushkar Fair, one of the world’s largest camel fairs.

10. Medina, Saudi Arabia

Medina is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca. It is where the Prophet Muhammad sought refuge after being driven from Mecca. The Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid al-Nabawi, stands on the site of Muhammad’s home and is where he is buried. Only Muslims are permitted to enter the city, which serves as a key stop during the Hajj pilgrimage.

These cities offer a deep spiritual experience for visitors, filled with history and religious significance.

VANGUARD

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Woman Passes Out After Receiving 100 Strokes Of Cane

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

A woman has passed out after she and her partner were each flogged 100 times in public for engaging in sex outside marriage under strict Sharia laws in Indonesia’s Aceh province.

The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, was later carried away after the punishment was carried out in Banda Aceh, located at the northern tip of Sumatra island on Thursday.

A masked official dressed in brown robes administered the caning before members of the public who gathered to witness the punishment.

Her partner was also seen wincing in pain while receiving the lashes.

The pair were among several individuals punished for violating Sharia regulations in the province.

Authorities from the Banda Aceh Sharia Court and the Prosecutor’s Office handed down punishments ranging from 25 to 100 lashes for offences including extramarital sex allegedly arranged through online applications.

Aceh remains the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia operating under Sharia law, where unmarried couples are prohibited from having sexual relations.

Caning is commonly used in the province as punishment for offences such as gambling, alcohol consumption, same-sex relations and sex outside marriage.

Under Aceh’s Sharia regulations, child rape offenders face some of the harshest penalties, including up to 200 strokes of the cane, a prison sentence of as long as 200 months or fines equivalent to two kilograms of gold.

The punishments are usually carried out publicly as a way of shaming offenders in addition to inflicting physical pain.

Such canings are often conducted outside mosques or in open public spaces, with residents watching and taking photographs during the exercise.

Human rights organisations have continued to condemn the practice, arguing that it causes emotional trauma and violates international human rights standards.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly criticised the punishments, saying they conflict with Indonesia’s constitution and global legal obligations.

Amnesty said in a statement: “Caning contravenes Indonesia’s constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards.

‘It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.’”

Despite the criticism, local authorities have defended the punishments as part of Aceh’s religious and cultural identity, insisting they serve as a deterrent against immoral behaviour.

Earlier in January, another couple in the province reportedly received 140 lashes each after being found guilty of drinking alcohol and engaging in sex outside marriage.

(Daily Mail)

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Senegal’s President Sacks Prime Minister After Months-long Feud

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of rising political tension between the two former allies.

The decision was announced in a surprise decree read on national television by a presidential aide, stating that Faye had “ended the duties” of Sonko and “consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who are members of the government”.

Sonko, who remains a highly influential figure among Senegal’s youth, responded on social media, saying he would “sleep with a light heart”.

The political fallout comes at a time of growing economic strain in the country, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) putting Senegal’s public debt at 132% of its GDP.

His removal followed a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday, where Sonko openly criticised President Faye’s handling of the debt situation.

The development is striking given that Faye’s rise to power was largely tied to Sonko’s popularity and political backing.

Sonko would almost certainly have contested the presidency himself in 2024, but was barred from the race due to a defamation conviction. Instead, he threw his support behind Faye, rallying voters with the slogan “Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye”.

The alliance helped unseat former President Macky Sall in a dramatic electoral victory, despite both men having been released from prison only days before the vote.

Tensions between the two leaders had been building for months, with Faye reportedly accusing Sonko of excessive dominance within the ruling Pastef party, while Sonko accused the president of weak leadership and failing to defend him against critics.

(BBC News)

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Six Nigerians Arrested In Thailand Over AI-Powered Romance Scam

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

Six Nigerian nationals have been arrested by the Thailand Police Force for allegedly operating an AI-powered deepfake romance scam syndicate from a luxury condominium along the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi Province, following a cocaine trafficking investigation that exposed their activities.

Thai authorities said the operation began after police arrested a Nigerian suspect identified as Patrick and three associates in April over alleged drug trafficking offences. During the raid, officers reportedly seized assets valued at about 2.5 million baht.

Investigators said financial transactions linked to the suspects led them to several foreign nationals living in a high-end riverside condominium near Phra Nangklao Bridge in Nonthaburi. Police discovered that many of the occupants were staying in groups of five or six per apartment under student visas despite not being enrolled in any educational institution or engaged in lawful employment.

According to Thai police, officers executed search warrants on three condominium units on May 22. The suspects allegedly refused to open their doors, forcing authorities to break into the apartments.

Videos circulating on X captured the moment police officers forcefully gained entry into one of the apartments before arresting the suspects.

During the operation, one suspect reportedly attempted to escape by climbing over a balcony, while another was found hiding on the bathroom floor while allegedly sending warning messages to occupants in neighbouring units.

Police recovered 18 mobile phones, three laptop computers and three bank passbooks from the apartments. Authorities said some of the phones were still logged into active conversations with victims at the time of the raid.

Investigators alleged that the syndicate specialised in romance scams targeting older Thai women by using AI-generated faces and manipulated video calls to create fake online identities.

The suspects allegedly posed as pilots, United States military officers, doctors and engineers to gain the trust of victims before requesting money under false pretences.

Police said the fraudsters typically claimed that valuable packages or gifts sent to victims had been withheld by customs officials and required payment of clearance fees before release.

Authorities also said they recovered scripts for sexually explicit conversations allegedly used to emotionally manipulate victims into transferring funds. Investigators claimed the group relied heavily on artificial intelligence technology to generate realistic Western faces for fake video interactions.

Thai police said all six suspects are currently facing preliminary charges bordering on illegal association and immigration overstay, while additional fraud and romance scam charges are expected to follow as investigations continue.