Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 29 March 2023
West Virginia Legislature enacts RFRA, with abortion carveout
(Josh Blackman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly news digest in March 2023
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Court case Jehovah's Witnesses Norway kicked off
(Christian Network Europe)
Interfaith partners publish “Faith Action on the SDGs: Clean Water & Sanitation”
(Parliament of the World's Religions)
Archbishop: ‘We want to be treated as Iraqi citizens’
(Aid to the Church in Need)
New York law threatens First and Second Amendments | Opinion
(Jeremy Dys, Newsweek)
India: Hate speech will end the moment politicians stop using religion: SC
(The Tribune)
Nigeria: 2023 national census: No question will be asked on religion – NPC
(Vanguard)
Faith leaders and religious groups voice opposition to Biden’s plan to restrict asylum
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)
Jewish Religious Education Program connects families worldwide
(Anna Morelock, U.S. Army)
Israel is neither halachic or Western, it is a unique democracy - opinion
(Hanan Shai, The Jerusalem Post)
An Afghan girls' education activist has been arrested, the U.N. says
(Rahim Faiez, Associated Press)
Church in Mexico seeks an end to domestic violence (Spanish)
(Ana Paula Morales, ACI Prensa)
Mexico: 160 years after the law that extinguished religious communities in Mexico (Spanish)
(Jaime Septién, Aleteia)
Chile: Religious denominations offer their contribution to the project of the new Constitution of Chile (Spanish)
(Julieta Villar, ACI Prensa)
Brazil: City Hall promotes seminar on facing religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Débora Oliveira, Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte)
Maine law blocking religious schools from tuition payments is ‘poison pill,’ church says in lawsuit
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Monday, 27 March 2023
EU Bishops exchange with Italian Foreign Affairs Minister and elect Presidents of COMECE Commissions
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
As Italy faces new migrant records, Pope welcomes controversial NGO
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
WEBINAR, 27 March 2023 (1PM ET): Public Freedoms in the Islamic State
(Yale University)
Visiting churches: a tradition for Muslim families in Iraq
(Syriac Press)
Christian Front calls on churches and political parties to ensure continued Christian presence in Lebanon
(Syriac Press)
One year on, the Taliban still attacking girls’ right to education
(Sahar Fetrat, Human Rights Watch)
1st hijab-wearing judge takes oath to join bench at US Court in New Jersey
(Faruk Zorlu, Anadolu Agency)
Muslim population in Spain increased 10 times in last 30 years
(Senhan Bolelli, Anadolu Agency)
Lack of higher education fuels frustrations among Rohingya in Bangladesh
(Md. Kamruzzaman, Anadolu Agency)
India: Demand to scrap welfare benefits for India's tribal Christians
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
India: Supreme Court makes stay on Uttarakhand HC order banning fatwas absolute
(Sohini Chowdhury, Live Law)
Who is controversial Indian preacher Amritpal Singh?
(Zoya Mateen and Arvind Chhabra, BBC News)
Anti-Semitism in America is becoming flashier, louder and rarer
(The Economist)
Shia Muslims are no longer in the ascendant
(The Economist)
Freedom improved in the Middle East, but authoritarian repression persists
(Cathryn Grothe, Freedom House)
Support for Myanmar’s junta only prolongs the country’s conflict
(Billy Ford, The United States Institute of Peace)
The future of Jewish South Africa
(John Besche, The Tablet)
Iraq marks somber Ramadan amid economic, political crises
(Ali Mamouri, Al-Monitor)
ADF urges Biden admin not to reinstitute discrimination against religious students
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Around the web - 27 March 2023
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Nigeria: ‘Weaponisation of religion’ in elections sickening – Kaigama
(Friday Olokor, Punch)
Threatened Nigerian bishop pleads for attention from the West
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Photos of the week: Ramadan begins; Day of Silence
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
What interfaith families can teach us about the First Amendment
(Freedom Forum)
Türkiye condemns desecration of Quran, Turkish flag in Denmark
(Daily Sabah)
Tensions on the rise at revered Kyiv monastery complex
(Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press)
Yeshivas win partial victory in challenge to New York's substantial equivalency rules
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 27 March 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
NYPD administrative review of religious exemption claim was arbitrary
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
COVID-19 sent houses of worship online. Will congregations come back in person?
(Ryan Burge, Religion News Service)
Refugees and Islamophobia in Western Europe: The boomerang effect
(Jocelyne Cesari, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Religion and the crisis of displaced persons: The Rohingya
(Lena Musoka, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The Myanmar Rohingya tragedy: Religious dimensions of a refugee crisis
(Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Catholic leaders blast new US-Canada immigration deal
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Jewish leaders say only 16% of European nations have lived up to pledges to fight antisemitism
(David I. Klein, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Nancy Pelosi talks abortion, health care, women’s ordination and prayer at Georgetown University
(Michael J. O’Loughlin, America: The Jesuit Review)
Norwegian minister works on extending ‘preaching ban’ in schools
(Christian Network Europe)
Christianity is not necessary for democracy
(Paul D. Miller, Christianity Today)
Appeal of the Eastern Catholic Bishops of the United States for peace in Ukraine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Law and religion round-up – 26th March
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Archbishop blasts ‘inauthentic’ politics in UK asylum law debate
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Church of Scotland welcomes Scottish Government strategy for Faith and Belief
(The Church of Scotland)
The effects of proscription on the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
(Ioana Emy Matesan, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Two weeks in review, 13 March – 26 March
(Tal Gross, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Explainer: Department of Education weakens protections for religious groups on campus
(Hannah Daniel, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)
Tools equipping a new generation for interreligious dialogue
(World Council of Churches)
Human Rights Council adopts Universal Periodic Review outcomes of Indonesia, Algeria and the United Kingdom
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Israel's crisis
(Elliott Abrams, Council on Foreign Relations)
Australia: Faith groups hopeful new NSW Labor government will invest in religious communities
(Michael Kenny, The Catholic Weekly)
Audit of antisemitic incidents 2022
(Anti-Defamation League)
House China panel turns focus to plight of Uyghurs
(Kevin Freking and Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press)
Decade after Central African takeover, justice still needed
(Lewis Mudge, Human Rights Watch)
Distressing rise of hate on agenda for activist’s lecture
(Brenda Suderman, Winnipeg Free Press)
Theologian attacked by reactionary group
(Hurriyet Daily News)
Ankara slams anti-Islam, anti-Türkiye protests in Denmark
(Hurriyet Daily News)
Afghanistan girls' education: 'When I see the boys going to school, it hurts'
(Yogita Limaye, BBC News)
Who is Humza Yousaf, the new SNP leader?
(Stuart Nicolson, BBC News)
Idaho gov. signs anti-trans 'bathroom bill,' other anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
(Trudy Ring, The Advocate)
Republicans, religious freedom advocates oppose rollback of faith-based student group protections
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Sunday, 26 March 2023
The forces behind anti-trans bills across the U.S.
(Russell Contreras, Axios)
Friday, 24 March 2023
Report: Antisemitic incidents soared to 'historic levels’ in 2022
(Masood Farivar, VOA)
Antisemitism spiked in 2022, but physical assaults were few, ADL reports
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Georgia bill on antisemitism lives again after new vote
(Jeff Amy, Associated Press)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and religious freedom: Dmytro Vovk’s testimony before the USCIRF
(Dmytro Vovk, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Occupied Ukraine: After 4 months, are "disappeared" Greek Catholic priests still alive?
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Podcast: Painful fighting inside Ukrainian Orthodoxy? Schism began long before the war
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
EVENT, 23-24 March 2023: The First Latin American Forum of Journalism and Religion
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)
WEBINAR, 24 March 2023 (2PM in Zurich): HRC52 Parallel Event | Recognising the Diversity of Yemen - Safeguarding the rights of every Yemeni to determine their religion or belief
(Jubilee Campaign USA)
Sturgeon issues apology over forced adoption
(BBC News)
The Taliban are digging an enormous canal
(The Economist)
Failed unions: Arab Americans were the test cases for mass surveillance and we let it happen
(Justine El-Khazen, The Tablet)
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Christian preacher's challenge to university
(John Kruzel, Reuters)
Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch plans Lithuanian branch, in blow to Moscow
(Andrius Sytas, Reuters)
Chinese bishop wants Catholics to abandon 'undergound' Church
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
The witness: why is global outrage about the Uyghur genocide muted?
(Amy Mackinnon, Foreign Policy)
IRFBA chair’s statement on Vietnamese religious prisoners of conscience Y Yich and Y Pum Bya
(U.S. Department of State)
2023 Annual Report: rights violations against Christians in Iran
(Article 18)
Internet shutdowns, dozens of arrests and a manhunt. What's happening in India's Punjab state?
(Nick Logan, CBC News)
NSIRA review of the CRA is not enough
(National Council of Canadian Muslims)
Calls for a ‘green’ Ramadan revive Islam’s long tradition of sustainability and care for the planet
(Noorzehra Zaidi, The Conversation)
Muslims pray at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa at start of holy month of Ramadan
(Alarabiya News)
Muslim world facing historic test over Al-Aqsa Mosque: IUMS
(Middle East Monitor)
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