Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 20 May 2024
Yemen: UN experts reiterate call for release of detained Bahá'ís
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Australia: People with dementia aren’t currently eligible for voluntary assisted dying. Should they be?
(Ben White, Casey Haining, Lindy Wilmott, and Rachel Feeney, The Conversation)
Myanmar: Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Nigeria: UN experts demand release of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Eco-theo-logical Hope: Subjectivity, Religions, and Human Rights—A Translational Approach
(Melisa Liana Vazquez, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
UCCRO met with a delegation headed by Morten Dahlin, Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs of Denmark
(Institute for Religious Freedom, Ukraine)
Volume 39 - Issue 1 - January 2024
(Cambridge University Press, Journal of Law and Religion)
Georgia’s prime minister joins tens of thousands in a march to promote ‘family purity’
(Associated Press)
Civil rights commission holds briefing on prisoners' religious freedom
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 20 May 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Longer bus routes for parochial school students upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
India: Modi’s anti-Muslim rhetoric taps into Hindu replacement fears that trace back to colonial India
(Archana Venkatesh, The Conversation)
New report finds ‘surge’ in corporate attention to religious diversity
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
DRC: After meeting president, Congo cardinal plays down church/state crisis
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Police in Rouen, France, shoot and kill man who set fire to a synagogue
(Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
King Charles new patron of Council of Christians and Jews
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)
Law and religion roundup – 19th May
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Churches affirm the place of Christian values in European politics and society
(Conference of European Churches)
Vietnamese church in land dispute dating back to 1975
(Radio Free Asia)
Brazil: Backlash to Anitta’s music video evokes a painful history in Brazil
(Orlando Mayorquín, The New York Times)
Brazil: Just like Anitta, terreiros of African-based religions in Rio suffer from attacks of religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Thayná Rodrigues and Giulia Ventura, O Globo)
Brazil: Authorities support religious freedom proposal in Jundiaí (Portuguese)
(Redação, Tribuna de Jundiaí)
ECHR rules Flanders ban on visible religious symbol in schools compatible with freedom of religion
(Miu Satake, Jurist)
Lawsuit dropped in wake of Biden rule restoring religious-freedom protections for people using federally funded social services
(Americans United for Separation of Church and State)
Sunday, 19 May 2024
EVENT, 17-19 May 2024: Faith in Action: Advancing Human Rights and Peace for All (Washington, DC, USA)
(Ecumenical Advocacy Days)
Friday, 17 May 2024
Inadmissibility decision concerning Belgium
(The European Court of Human Rights)
European Court upholds Belgium's school head scarf ban
(Reuters)
Article 9 and hijabs in school again: Mikyas
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Nigeria: Appeal court reduces sentence for President of the Nigerian Humanist Association
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Mexico: Displaced Protestants pressured by government to accept illegal agreement
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Cuba: Afro-Cuban drums, Muslim prayers, Buddhist mantras: Religious diversity blooms in once-atheist Cuba
(Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)
EVENT, 15-17 May 2024: Politics as an Area for Expressing Christian Values in Everyday Life (Thessaloniki, Greece)
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Opinion: Brandon v. Royce
(Second Circuit Court of Appeals)
2nd Circuit reverses dismissal of Muslim inmate's complaint about Eid meal
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Apache stronghold seeks full-court rehearing to save sacred land
(University of Notre Dame Law School)
Advancing freedom of religion or belief through religiously inclusive education
(Knox Thames)
New book: Rethinking Law and Religion
(Russell Sandberg, Edward Elgar)
Widespread bullying of Sikh students isn’t just a Sikh problem
(Harman Singh, Religion News Service)
Lawmakers unveil statue of Billy Graham in US Capitol
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Jews were excluded from California county’s death penalty juries for decades, new evidence reveals
(Jackie Hajdenberg, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution – Bimonthly Digest May 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Experts in The Hague discuss Russia's crimes against Ukraine's cultural heritage
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
God & country: A look at white Christian nationalism that both enlightens and disappoints
(David Little, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
KAICIID Global Dialogue Forum opens in Lisbon
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Faith and labor organizations forge new paths in just transitions
(World Council of Churches)
S5, Ep. 29: LGBTQ rights and religious freedom (podcast)
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
French evangelicals welcome new law to combat cults
(Evangelical Focus)
As conservatives put religion in schools, Satanists want in, too
(Tyler Kingkade, NBC News)
Azerbaijan: A beacon of religious tolerance
(S. Rob Sobhani, The Washington Times)
Madagascar’s Catholic bishops fault bill to castrate child rapists as “against human dignity”
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)
German bishop urges Christians to combat anti-Gypsy prejudices
(Jonathan Luxmoore, Church Times)
Thursday, 16 May 2024
EVENT, 16 May 2024 (16:00 AEST): Law and Politics of Religious Fraud Regulation: Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong (ACT, Australia)
(Jianlin Chen, Australian National University)
EVENT, 16 May 2024 (9AM - 1:15PM ET): Bonds of Affection: Is Unity Possible in a Divided America? (Washington, DC, USA)
(Wheatley Institute, Brigham Young University)
Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Opinion: Apache Stronghold v. USA, et al
(Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)
Apache Stronghold will ask Supreme Court to save Oak Flat
(Becket)
9th Circuit rejects bid for full rehearing in Oak Flat dispute
(Crystal Owens, Law360)
China is reversing its crackdown on some religions, but not all
(Ian Johnson, Council on Foreign Relations)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest May 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
One simple thing you can do today to address division
(Marley Pierce, Interfaith America)
USCIRF highlights religious freedom violations in Eritrea amidst two decades of pastors' imprisonment
(United States Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Religious freedom challenge to Kentucky abortion ban heard in court
(Sylvia Goodman, Louisville Public Media)
Fourth Circuit holds firm against expansion of religion-based defenses to discrimination (US)
(Laura Lawless, The National Law Review)
Applying Groff, Indiana District Court rules in favor of employer in religious accommodation claim
(Brian L. McDermott and Tina Dukander, Jackson Lewis)
CEC president highlights the significance of human dignity and rights
(Conference of European Churches)
Mexico: Win for church autonomy in Mexico: Court protects Catholic baptismal records from gender ideology
(ADF International)
This, too, could pass: Christian group’s rule keeping beaches closed on Sunday mornings may end
(Wayne Parry, Associated Press)
Pakistani Hindu refugees find new hope in India’s Citizenship Amendment Act
(Amit Pandey, Religion Unplugged)
India’s parliament has fewer Muslims as strength of Modi’s party grows
(Sheikh Saaliq and Krutika Pathi, Associated Press)
Nigeria: Mosque attack in Nigeria’s north injures at least 24 people, including children
(Chinedu Asadu, Associated Press)
1,200 Jewish professors call on Senate to reject controversial antisemitism definition
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Modern slavery: Breaking the chains
(Diocese of Salford)
John Smyth Review – a further update
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
WCC general secretary speaks to churches in Germany about role of anti-racism
(World Council of Churches)
Interreligious dialogue highlighted as key to strengthening European democracies at Berlin CoE Conference
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
France Prime Minister announces frightening figure: 366 anti-Semitic incidents in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 300% year-on-year
(Yossi Lempkowicz, European Jewish Press)
Clergy-led demonstrations raise concerns over separation of church and state in Armenia
(Aze.Media)
Japan: What place is there for religion in a democracy?
(The Japan News)
Ghana: Bawumia pledges to strengthen church-state partnership for national development
(3News)
Media: friends or foes of religious freedom—and the Tai Ji Men case
(Willy Fautré, Bitter Winter)
Maryland parents can't opt kids out of LGBTQ book curriculum, court rules
(Nate Raymond, Reuters)
Vatican conference on ‘climate resilience’ is the latest in a long line of environment initiatives by Pope Francis and the Catholic Church – 5 essential reads
(Molly Jackson, The Conversation)
Protection of religious sites during armed conflict
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Tuesday, 14 May 2024
VIRTUAL EVENT, 14 May 2024 (9:30AM ET): Harmony in Diversity - "Bahá'í Faith" with Rachel Bayani
(European Union and United Nations Offices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Monday, 13 May 2024
Lebanon religious authorities go after comedian over prayers sketch
(AFP, Barron's)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13 May 2024 (3:30 PM CEST): UDHR Beyond 75, Ep. 1: Global Education Initiatives
(Katherine Cash, David Kirkham, Eleonora Mura, European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Family religious dynamics and interfaith relationships
(PRRI)
Berlin conference on how religious leaders can help to re-invigorate European democracies
(Council of Europe)
Justice Alito warns of threats to freedom of speech and religion
(Adam Liptak, The New York Times)
His dreadlocks shaved by prison guards, Rastafarian man turns to Supreme Court
(Adam Liptak, The New York Times)
First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, faces expulsion for having a woman pastor
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Freedom of the press as an element of freedom of belief
(Karolina Maria Kotkowska, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)
Podcast: Clamping down on religious freedom in Central Asia
(Bruce Pannier, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
The situation in Afghanistan under review by the United Nations
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Religion Unplugged)
Sacred values and traditional wisdom of the indigenous peoples
(JoAnne Wadsworth, Viewpoints, a blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association)
Eritrea: USCIRF highlights religious freedom violations in Eritrea amidst two decades of pastors’ imprisonment
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Church Reporter, Vol. 9, 15 April 2024
(Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro – České Budějovice)
Global Interfaith Monitor No. 23
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Religion Watch, Volume 39 No. 6
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Articles of interest - 13 May 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Australian court lifts order blocking X on church stabbing video
(Reuters)
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