Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 20 August 2021
5th Circuit en banc upholds Texas "dismemberment abortion" ban
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Churches in Zambia and southern Africa rejoice after Zambia’s 3rd transfer of power through elections
(The European Times)
Warrior, servant, mother, unifier – the Virgin Mary has played many roles through the centuries
(Eric M. Vanden Eykel, Religion News Service)
Responding to: Russian Orthodoxy and Nationhood in the Age of COVID-19
(Cyril Hovorun, Nikolas K. Gvosdev, Irina du Quenoy, Alexander Agadjanian and Scott Kenworthy, J. Eugene Clay, John P. Burgess, Nicolai N. Petro, Kristina Stoeckl, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Faith leaders raise concerns over online censorship of religious speech
(Catholic News Service)
The looming threat to religious colleges
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Moscow patriarchate complains about alleged government negligence
(TASS, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Another Jehovah's Witness convicted in Birobidzhan
(Credo.Press, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Five supporters of the Caliphate detained in Crimea
(Interfax-Religion)
The SBU conducted anti-terrorist exercises so that Jews could safely celebrate the New Year
(Interfax-Religion)
Kazakhstan: New controls on religious meetings: delayed, abandoned or imminent?
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
For Albania's 'sworn virgins,' the West's culture war over gender roles is a non-starter
(Ira Rifkin, GetReligion)
The Taliban says it will rule under sharia law. What does that mean?
(Andrew Jeong, Jennifer Hassan, Ellen Francis and Sarah Pulliam Bailey, The Washington Post)
Keep Kabul’s airport open to save lives
(Knox Thames, Rehman Chishti, Knox Thames)
What Sharia law for Afghan women under the Taliban might mean
(Lisa Beyer, The Washington Post)
As vulnerable Afghans flee Kabul, US faith groups prepare to aid them
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the escalating violence in the Situation in Afghanistan
(Karim A. A. Khan, International Criminal Court)
The unconquerable Islamic world
(Robert Nicholson, The Wall Street Journal - Opinion)
Christian family in Afghanistan appeals to pope to help them flee persecution
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
What will happen to the Christians in Afghanistan?
(Evangelical Focus Europe)
Papal foundation warns of ‘bleak future’ for religious freedom in Afghanistan
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
RFI Executive Vice President weighs in on the current threat to religious minorities in Afghanistan
(Religious Freedom Institute)
COVID-19 legislation and guidance: update to 21 August
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
German Adventists honor Jewish church member killed by the Nazis
(Adventistische Pressedienst, and Adventist Review)
Fate of rock churches of Lalibela raises concerns among US Ethiopians
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)
European Journal of International Law: Volume 32, Issue 2, May 2021 (free and fee articles)
(European Journal of International Law)
Law and Christianity in Latin America: The Work of Great Jurists (edited by M.C. Mirow and Rafael Domingo)
(John Witte, Jr., Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Education Department eyes reversing Trump-era protections for religious groups at colleges
(Mark Kellner, Washington Times)
Order of the courts: how the Catholic court system works
(The Pillar)
Wednesday, 18 August 2021
With the Taliban takeover, world Islam – and the press – have much at stake in the future
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
Infrastructure bill includes energy efficiency grants for houses of worship
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
The world must not look away as the Taliban sexually enslaves women and girls
(Vrinda Narain, The Conversation)
U.S. bishops urge quick action on relocating Afghan refugees
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Sharia law: What do the Taliban’s religious rules mean for Afghan women?
(Katie Strick, Evening Standard)
Ecumenical, evangelical church world groups gravely concerned after Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
‘Give refugee status to fleeing Afghan nationals, irrespective of religion’
(The Hindu)
WCC calls for prayers for people of Afghanistan as fears of violence grow
(World Council of Churches)
Mullah’s rise charts Taliban’s long road back to power: Taliban say they seek an “inclusive, Islamic” government
(Kathy Gannon, Associated Press)
An Afghan woman in Kabul: ‘Now I have to burn everything I achieved’
(The Guardian)
Xhoxhaj v. Albania: The aftermath of the vetting process in Albania
(Ina Xhepa, Strasbourg Observers)
Disenfranchisement of woman with a disability (yet again) reveals ECtHR’s struggle with CRPD in Caamaño Valle v. Spain
(Merel Vrancken, Strasbourg Observers)
Ethiopia Orthodox faith UNESCO heritage site overrun by rebels
(The South African)
A letter of resignation from the chairperson of the Muslim Burial Society of South Africa
(Haji Mohamed Dawjee, The Daily Maverick: Opinionista)
Leaders from community leaders, form committee to heal rifts in South Africa community
(Chris Makhaye and Nce Mkhize, The Daily Maverick)
U.S.: Performing abortion, gender transitions not mandatory for Christian doctors: A Texas federal district court permanently enjoined enforcing anti-discrimination provisions to compel health care providers to act against their conscience.
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Judge blocks enforcement against Franciscan Alliance plaintiffs of prohibition on discrimination based on gender identity, pregnancy termination
(Katie Keith, Health Affairs)
A pandemic 'report card'
(James Christie, Viewpoints: A blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum)
Interfaith deal helps pandemic-hit people in Indonesia
(Konradus Epa, UCA News)
How a Cuban exile became a judge and fell in love with the Constitution
(Erica Evans, Deseret News)
Ghana bill discriminates against LGBTQi+ community
(Graeme Reid, The Daily Maverick: Opinionista)
Religious belief deserves protection
(Vanessa Cheng and Mark Spencer, The Sydney Morning Herald)
Armenian church in Turkey to reopen after decades
(International Christian Concern)
How blasphemy laws are choking religious freedom and why the West should care
(Sofia Hörder, Christian Today)
Escaped from death row into Europe: Son of imprisoned Pakistani couple speaks out on ordeal
(ADF UK)
Kurt v Austria: A missed chance to tackle intersectional discrimination and gender-based stereotyping in domestic violence cases
(Lisa Maria Weinberger, Strasbourg Observers)
Flashback to 'catacomb' Masses after Pope Francis crackdown on the Latin Mass?
(Terry Mattingly, OnReligion)
PM to deliver opening speech at interfaith anti-trafficking forum
(Mom Kunthear, Phnom Penh Post)
The Anti-Cult Ideology and FECRIS: Dangers for religious freedom. A white paper
(Luigi Berzano, Boris Falikov, Willy Fautre, Liudmyla Filipovich, Massimo Introvigne, and Bernadette Rigal-Cellard, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
6 facts about Jainism in India
(Pew Research Center, Kelsey Jo Starr)
Police fire tear gas to break up Muslim gathering in Kashmir
(Shah Abbas, Associated Press)
Gujarat defends anti-conversion law in High Court
(The Hindu)
Refugee aid groups criticize Biden for stumbles in evacuating ‘desperate’ Afghans
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Weekly Highlight #169: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Religious gatherings; vaccine mandates
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
The LGBT lobby rejected in court in Mexico
(Elsa Méndez, FSSPX.news)
USCIRF releases report highlighting religious freedom violations in North Korea
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
US judge blocks medical college’s vaccine requirement
(Kevin McGill, Associated Press)
German minister criticizes Vatican stance on gay couples
(Associated Press)
Chinese archbishop: Three stages to 'drama' involving church, communists
(Catholic News Service)
Detainee says China has secret jail in Dubai, holds Uyghurs
(Associated Press)
Seventh-day Adventist clergy get heavy jail sentences in Guizhou
(Wu Guoxuan, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
China’s Communist Party expels censor accused of corruption
(Associated Press)
Treasury Department to release impounded religious tiles
(Associated Press)
Historic American church set to integrate its slavery ties
(Mark Pratt, Associated Press)
Suit challenges Arizona's new abortion law
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Center and partners sue to stop new Arizona abortion restrictions
(Center for Reproductive Rights)
Court sorts out standing issues and substantive challenges to Vermont town tuition program
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Hajj during a pandemic – almost entirely a Saudi ritual
(The European Times)
Catholic refugee agency urges ‘safe routes’ to UK for Afghan refugees
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The free speech of Christians in the public square must be protected - UK comment
(Jeremiah Igunnubole, Christian Today)
Scottish Catholic aid agency warns about ‘race against time’ on climate change
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Resolving another “upholstered chairs” impasse
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Nicaragua’s vice president calls priests and bishops ‘devils’
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Nigerian bishop highlighting anti-Christian violence draws government criticism
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Both Muslims and Christians benefit from religious freedom. Why don’t they work together?
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Big Tech is coming for conservative Christians
(Cassandra Hedelius, Deseret News Opinion)
Orthodox areas are among the fastest growing in New York and New Jersey, census data shows
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
More than ten criminal cases of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russian-occupied Crimea
(Alexander Dremligin, Kommersant, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Russia: Freedom of religion or belief : Special bimonthly FORB digest (01-15.08.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russian religious leader and Commissioner for Children's Rights argues against compulsory vaccine
(Religion Today)
Adherents of Muslim sect convicted in Russian-occupied Crimea
(Forpost Sevastopol, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
When pinning wild COVID-19 quotes on a cardinal, it helps to be precise about fine details
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
When it comes to covering disasters in Haiti, the Catholic media have the best connections
(Julia Duin, GetReligion)
New anti-semitism treats Israel as ‘the Jew among the nations’
(Abe Foxman, The Wall Street Journal - Opinion)
Rihanna's Savage X Fenty hit with $10 million suit over use of Islamic Hadith
(Maiysha Kai, Yahoo News)
In the wake of ISIS, Kurdish authorities are controlling religious messaging
(Rebecca Collard, The World)
WEBINAR, 18 August 2021 (11AM ET): USCIRF Conversation: New Report on Religious Freedom Violations in North Korea
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Tuesday, 17 August 2021
WEBINAR, 17 August 2021 (6PM CEST (Amsterdam): Made in the Image of God: The Role of Sacred Texts in Helping or Hindering Gender Equality
(G20 Interfaith Forum)
Monday, 16 August 2021
Afghanistan falls to Taliban: updates
(Rachel Pannett, Jennifer Hassan, Katerina Ang and Erin Cunningham, The Washington Post)
What a Taliban takeover in Afghanistan means for Christians
(Katey Hearth, Mission Network News)
Violence erupts at Kabul airport as Afghans try to flee Taliban
(Saeed Shah, Yaroslav Trofimov and Gordon Lubold, The Wall Street Journal)
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