Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 24 June 2024
Law and religion roundup – 23rd June
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Australia: Proposed extraordinary immigration powers and religious protections face uncertain future
(Brett Worthington, ABC News Australia)
Israel: Heads of churches say Israeli government is demanding they pay property tax, upsetting status quo
(Julia Frankel, Associated Press)
Israel: Some good news from Israel: a new program in interreligious dialogue
(Ron Kronish, The Times of Israel)
'Not in the name of Islam': Muslims speak out against Hamas
(The Jerusalem Post)
Pakistani Christian praised for documenting blasphemy victims. Most are Muslims.
(Jayson Casper, Christianity Today)
Pakistan Defence Minister admits minorities being targeted in name of religion
(Mid-Day)
Defendant in Vatican trial takes case to UN, accuses pope of violating his rights with surveillance
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Miami bagel shop vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti for the fourth time since October 7
(Michael Starr, The Jerusalem Post)
Louisiana's Ten Commandments law raises new concerns over separation of church and state in the US
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Arrest warrant issued for Turkish Youtuber over Sharia comments
(Medyascope)
Afghanistan: Minister announces media law update emphasizing Sharia and privacy
(Mohammad Yousuf Hanif, TOLOnews)
CALL FOR PAPERS: The development of Islamic law in Muslim or non-Muslim countries
(De Jure: Jurnal Hukum dan Syar'iah)
New Buddhist temple opens in Berlin
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Supreme Court rejects challenge to Connecticut law that eliminated religious vaccination exemption
(Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 24 June 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Saudi Arabia: What's behind deaths at this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia?
(Zahra Fatima and BBC World Service,, BBC News)
DC Circuit: No tax-exempt status for church promoting psychedelics unless it has received DEA or judicial exemption
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Papal charity flags Islamic extremism in Africa’s Sahel as major threat
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
European bishops say Pope Francis concerned with abortion, EU unity
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Asia/South Korea: Tensions between North and South Korea: Catholics pray for reconciliation and national unity
(Agenzia Fides)
Canada: In Quebec, the delicate end of the religious culture course
(Alexis Gacon, La Croix International)
SBC clarifies new IVF and religious liberty resolutions
(David Roach, Religion Unplugged)
Africa’s challenges to peace and security: Interreligious approaches and promise
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Ukraine: The war, religious beliefs and conscientious objection
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Syria: Army commander promises protection to Christian community in Ras Al-Ein
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Putin and Kim Jong Un’s alliance: A new Cold War threat to religious freedom
(Adriana Azarian, National Catholic Register)
Legal Journal Number 8 (19): June (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)
Legal Spirits 060: Memorial Day, the Knights of Columbus, and the National Park Service (podcast)
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Friday, 21 June 2024
US lawmakers meet Tibet's Dalai Lama, pressure China on talks
(Charlotte Greenfield, David Brunnstrom and YP Rajesh, Reuters)
Macron condemns antisemitism after Jewish girl is raped
(BBC News)
As France reels from alleged rape of a Jewish girl, antisemitism comes to fore in election campaign
(Associated Press)
France launches widespread raids on Muslims ahead of Olympics
(CAGE International)
Free exercise of religion and Catholic responsibility
(Thomas Farr, The Catholic Thing)
Iran: USCIRF condemns severe medical mistreatment of imprisoned Gonabadi Sufi in Iran
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Information regarding the situation of Iranian Christian refugees (with focus on Türkiye)
(Article 18)
China: Beijing’s crackdown on Islam is coming for kids
(Ruslan Yusupov, Foreign Policy)
Vatican doubles down on courtship of China
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
New book: Culture, Secularization, and Democracy: Lessons from Alexis de Tocqueville
(Edited by Sophie van Bijsterveld, Hans-Martien ten Napel, Routledge)
New book: The Crisis of Civil Law: What the Bible Teaches about Law and What It Means Today
(Benjamin B. Saunders, Lexham Press)
New book: The New Governance of Religious Diversity
(Tariq Modood and Thomas Sealy, Wiley)
World Jewish Congress launches Institute for Technology and Human Rights
(World Jewish Congress)
Pakistan police register a case against a mob that killed a man suspected of desecrating the Quran
(Associated Press)
Pakistan: Authorities must end escalating attacks on minority Ahmadiyya community
(Amnesty International)
Pakistan: Ten long years: Reflections on the Supreme Court ruling that promised much for Pakistan’s religious minorities
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Mine Yildirim and the Freedom of Belief Initiative: Monitoring religious freedom and hate crimes in Turkey
(European Endowment for Democracy)
Arizona is sending taxpayer money to religious schools — and billionaires see it as a model for the US
(Casey Tolan, Rene Marsh and Nelli Black, CNN)
Louisiana’s Ten Commandments mandate violates its own religious freedom heritage
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law challenges bad Supreme Court precedent
(Natan Ehrenreich, National Review)
New Louisiana law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments churns old political conflicts
(Kevin McGill and Sara Cline, Associated Press)
FFRF, coalition to file lawsuit against new Louisiana 10 Commandments law
(Freedom From Religion Foundation)
Communication bridges differences at the 9th Annual Interfaith Solidarity March
(Scientology)
Major Archbishop Shevchuk says Ukraine’s freedom is essential for religious freedom
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The 2024 General Election manifestos on the Prevent Duty and extremism
(Rebecca Riedel, Law & Religion UK)
Canterbury Cathedral to offer Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples
(Canterbury Cathedral)
Nigel Farage comments worrying for Muslims, says community leader
(The Independent)
Colorado town faces religious liberty lawsuit after cracking down on church's shelter ministry for homeless
(Taylor Penley, Fox News)
Americans want values-based foreign policy
(Knox Thames, The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs)
South Africa: Parental rights discussion (video)
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Free speech and how Christianity in Ireland will be persecuted under hate speech laws
(Theo McDonald, The Irish Catholic)
Mexico: Peace must be a priority, say Catholic leaders on anniversary of priests’ violent deaths in Mexico
(María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
Wheeler Trucking to pay $65,000 to resolve EEOC discrimination and retaliation lawsuit
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Brazilian Supreme Court justice accuses bishops of ‘disinformation’ on marijuana debate
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
German government reports rise in extremist crimes, partly due to Israel-Hamas war
(Toby Axelrod, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Russia: Heavy prison terms for 9 Jehovah’s Witnesses in the occupied territory of Crimea
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
Russia: Who ordered torture of Jehovah's Witness prisoner of conscience?
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
New report, side event highlight faith actors and their role in civic space
(World Council of Churches)
Nigeria: MURIC urges Kwara government to protect rights of female Muslims
(The Guardian)
In Nigeria, churches stride forward together in response to HIV and AIDS
(World Council of Churches)
Macedonian courts’ failure to recognize rights and balance interests concerning adoption in the case of Mitrevska v. North Macedonia
(Vesna Stefanovska, Strasbourg Observers)
One Sunday, the new NATO leader, Mark Rutte, preached in the church about the talents from Matthew 25
(Bart-Jan Spruyt, Christian Network Europe)
Tajikistan: Hijab ban: Know all details and reasons behind government’s decision here
(Organiser)
Israelis are getting religion, in spite of a coercive Chief Rabbinate
(Kenneth Brander, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
How churches are stepping up to fill the affordable housing gap
(Sydney Jezik, Deseret News)
Nicaragua: Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes attends masses under surveillance of the Sandinista Police (Spanish)
(Nicaragua Actual)
9th Circuit reverses dismissal of suit challenging refusal to grant religious exemptions to vaccine mandate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Court says EEOC exceeded its authority in new rules under Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Thursday, 20 June 2024
EVENT, 20 June 2024: Religious Freedom Annual Review: Becoming Peacemakers Through Supporting Religious Freedom and Pluralism (Provo, UT, USA)
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)
Wednesday, 19 June 2024
Statement by President Joe Biden on the occasion of Eid al-Adha
(The White House)
Court protects Catholic ministries from federal abortion mandate
(Becket)
Probe finds two universities failed to protect Jewish, Muslim students
(Laura Meckler, The Washington Post)
Protecting fundamental rights: The EU’s demands for China to respect freedom of religion
(CAP Liberté de Conscience)
Reflecting on state cooperation with religion in Europe
(Silvia Meseguer Velasco, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
EVENT, 19 June 2024 (10AM GMT+1): The effectiveness of human rights in a multilevel legal order under threat? (Nijmegen, Netherlands)
(Jasper Krommendijk, Radboud University)
Around the web - 17 June 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Indigenous and African-descent Religious Leaders meet in Belém, Brazil to discuss issues with IF20, part of G20 Social
(G20 Interfaith Forum)
China: Hundreds of Uyghur village names change
(Human Rights Watch)
Sunday school – Monday through Friday: Oklahoma joins states with ‘release time’ laws letting K-12 kids leave school for religious lessons
(Charles J. Russo, The Conversation)
United Nations takes a step to combat Srebrenica genocide denial
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Religion Unplugged)
9th Circuit: Homeowner's intrusive Christmas display at center of fragmented decision on Fair Housing Act claims
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
With world’s highest rates of religiously unaffiliated, East Asia remains spiritually vibrant
(Chloë-Arizona Fodor, Religion News Service)
Cake shop owner asks Colorado Supreme Court to find he was right to refuse transgender birthday cake order
(Amanda Pampuro, Courthouse News Service)
Freedom of religion or belief and the UK general election: what do the manifestos say?
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Illegal disposal of pews: Church of St Michael, Bath, Twerton-on-Avon
(Shirani Herbert, Law & Religion UK)
Clergy Discipline Commission: Annual Report 2024
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Building inclusive cities: Addressing urbanization, migration, and gender inequality at the KAICIID Global Dialogue Forum
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Annunciation House lawyer says Texas' lawsuit attacks Catholic religious liberty
(Kate Scanlon, National Catholic Register)
The relationship between religion and politics in America (podcast)
(Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)
"Yes in God's backyard"—a useful, but limited form of housing deregulation
(Ilya Somin, Reason)
Russian pressure weighs heavily on Bulgarian church election
(Andreja Bogdanovski, Balkan Insight)
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