Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 4 March 2024
WCC expresses solidarity as Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemn “wanton attack against innocent civilians”
(World Council of Churches)
Member of Fiqh Councils in Europe and North America: The Islamic Nation must wage jihad to help the Palestinians; Sykes-Picot borders have no legal status in religious laws of jihad
(The Middle East Media Research Institute)
EVENT, 4 March 2024 (3PM CET): Inspire Inclusion: Empowering women's freedom of religion or belief, European Parliament (Brussels, Belgium)
(Ms. Anga Haga MEP (EPP, Netherlands), European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
EVENT, 4 March 2024 (18:00 GMT): Weaponisation of Faith Against Uyghur Women (London, UK)
(Rachel Harris, Rahima Mahmut, Ewelina U. Ochab, René Cassin)
Iraq: Unregistered marriages harm women and children
(Human Rights Watch)
The political views of these Christian nationalists might surprise you
(Anthea Butler, MSNBC)
Support for Christian nationalism in all 50 states: findings from PRRI's 2023 American Values Atlas
(PRRI)
Girl Scout troop resolved to support migrants despite backlash
(Sara Herschander, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
A message for nonprofits: Black churches are powerful potential allies
(Drew Lindsay, The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
The 19th Explains: Will states follow Alabama in ending IVF access?
(Shefali Luthra, The 19th)
Why a US state court ruling on the rights of children before birth is unjust
(Dominic Wilkinson, The Conversation)
Hulu will let Texas church promote services after reversing ‘religious indoctrination’ ban
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Half of evangelicals see immigrants as drain on resources, new poll shows
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Canadian measure would remove free speech protection for quoting Bible, sacred texts
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
EU Court rules on asylum seeker's religious c/onversion: impact on international protection standards
(Olalekan Adigun, BNN)
French bishops lament progress of vote to enshrine abortion
(John Burger, Aleteia)
A/HRC/55/47/Add.2: Visit to Sweden - Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea (Advance unedited version)
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
The Catholic Church in Hungary is deeply politicized—and shrinking
(Bridget Ryder, America: The Jesuit Review)
Morocco: Family law in Morocco: A cultural battleground
(Hassan Al-Ashraf, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center)
Malaysia: Harmonising Sharia and Malaysia’s constitution by the end of the year
(Steve Suwannarat, AsiaNews)
Pakistan: Two Christian brothers freed of blasphemy charges by Pakistan court in landmark case
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Pakistan’s bumpy road to Islamic finance goals
(Kimberley Long, The Banker)
“Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth” Unveils an Islamic Approach to Environmental Stewardship at the United Nations Environment Assembly
(Parliament of the World's Religions)
Zimbabwe and Liberia: “Forgiveness at the Roots of Faiths – How Understanding the Science of Forgiveness Can Better Heal and Restore Communities of Faith” training of the trainers
(Religions for Peace)
Sarajevo hosts launch of IPPFORB's Southeast Europe Network (IPPFORB SEE) for Freedom of Religion or Belief
(International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB))
Voucher expansion leads to more students, waitlists and classes for some religious schools
(Holly Meyer, Associated Press)
Antisemitic threats to kill yield prison sentence
(U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan, U.S. Department of Justice)
Articles of interest - 4 March 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
RLUIPA safe harbor does not extend to claims for monetary damages
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Alito argues that religious bias is better than any other kind
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
India: ‘Run or die’: Muslims left mourning as police raze another mosque in northern India
(Yashraj Sharma, Religion News Service)
Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500k in defamation case and is expected to close
(Associated Press)
Occupation's Religious Administration seeks to annex Muslim communities in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest Feb. 16-29
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russian occupiers in Ukraine thanked several Belarusian monasteries for assistance
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Rolls-Royce, Baringa, most faith-friendly UK workplaces
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
UK churches’ outreach to Muslim migrants scrutinized after Clapham attack
(James Thompson, Christianity Today)
Richard Tice warns UK heading for Sharia law as he demands ban: ‘Keep religion out of politics!’
(Ben Chapman, GB News)
Altars – some consistory court judgments
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Ecumenical group meets to revise Charta Œcumenica
(Conference of European Churches)
Nigeria: Uniting Voices for Democracy: The inaugural KAICIID supported RCDP meeting in Nigeria
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
U.S. Christians more likely than ‘nones’ to say situation at the border is a crisis
(Dalia Fahmy, Pew Research Center)
Supreme Court should affirm role of religious homeless shelters
(Becket)
Will religious freedom claims trump public health? Braidwood and HIV prevention
(Devon R. Minnick, Richard H. Hughes IV, Ada Peters, Naomi Seiler, Sara Rosenbaum, Health Affairs)
Brazil: Campo Grande City Hall establishes Religious Freedom Day (Portuguese)
(Anna Gomes, Uol)
Sunday, 3 March 2024
HYBRID EVENT, 2-3 March 2024: Fall of the Ottomans to the OIC - Reflections, Dreams & Aspirations of Power
(Islamic Courses, a project of Islamic Circles)
Higher Ground: Americans wary of the First Amendment
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Friday, 1 March 2024
Canada: Appeal Court upholds Quebec law that bars teachers, police from wearing religious symbols
(Verity Stevenson, CBC News)
Canada: How Canada’s flourishing far-right movement is fuelling violent Islamophobia
(Sarah Green, The Telegraph)
Ghana’s parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ+ bill that could imprison people for more than a decade
(Francis Kokutse, Associated Press)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest Feb. 16-29
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: Free detained Tibetan demonstrators
(Human Rights Watch)
Indonesia: End hijab-linked bullying in schools
(Human Rights Watch)
Iranian women 'ready to pay the price' for defying hijab rules
(Caroline Hawley, BBC News)
Prince William condemns rise in antisemitism during synagogue visit
(Alex Binley, BBC News)
UK Catholic groups glad committee doesn’t endorse assisted suicide
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Ordination after remarriage: Synod motion approved
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Stakeholder update from the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households
(The Church of England)
Church of England’s divisions over same-sex marriage sink unity measure at General Synod
(David Paulsen, Episcopal News Service)
Bishop welcomes MPs' recommendations for end-of-life care
(The Church of England)
First Minister urged to review ‘advancement of religion’ as a charitable purpose
(Emily Harle, Third Sector)
A heckler’s veto on Christian street preaching in the UK
(Kelly-Ann Cannon, Law & Religion UK)
Holy See: Religious freedom is violated in one third of the world
(Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News)
Asylum-seekers who convert in EU can’t be automatically rejected, court rules
(Article 18)
USCIRF urges sanctions on Russian officials abusing FoRB prisoners
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Landmark ECJ ruling recognises conversion in subsequent asylum application
(Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe)
Far-left vandals threatening priest in Barcelona
(Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe)
Argentina: Milei ends Argentine government use of ‘inclusive language’ promoted by gender ideology advocates
(Julieta Villar, Catholic News Agency)
Georgia Republicans say religious liberty needs protection, but Democrats warn of discrimination
(Jeff Amy, Associated Press)
Austria’s top diplomat appeals for a pause in Mideast fighting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan
(Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Bassem Mroue, Associated Press)
Jewish students sue Columbia University charging pervasive antisemitism
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Election of student school board member by public school students did not violate Free Exercise clause
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
BJC: New rule from nine federal agencies safeguards religious freedom
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
The right way to cover the intersection of religion and politics
(Heidi Przybyla, Politico)
Uzbekistan: Large fines for sharing beliefs with permission
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
Evangelicals urge Biblical response to immigration reform
(Diana Chandler, Religion Unplugged)
Church leaders accuse Nigerian military of being complicit in the murder of Christians
(Tom Osanjo, Religion Unplugged)
In New York, Israeli conscientious objectors find community after ostracism
(Carolyn Gevinski and Claudia Gohn, Al Jazeera)
Atheist group demands IRS pull tax-exempt status of church over endorsement of Steve Garvey
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
A discussion with Kevin Hyland on human trafficking
(G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Lao house church reopens after being attacked
(Radio Free Asia)
WCC and partners share insights on debt crisis, climate, land and food sovereignty at World Social Forum
(World Council of Churches)
European Sunday Alliance issues new Manifesto promoting a Work-free Sunday for all
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Czech lawmakers approve more rights for same-sex couples, just not marriage
(Reuters)
Christians come together in Latvia to influence society
(Christian Network Europe)
Trial by media and the right to respond in Narbutas v. Lithuania
(Donatas Murauskas, Strasbourg Observers)
Federal court greenlights destruction of Oak Flat
(Becket)
Supreme Court asked to prevent pro-life doctors from being forced to perform abortions
(Lauren Canterberry, World)
From a funeral image, the textures of faith and state in Russia
(Valerie Hopkins and Oleg Matsnev, The New York Times)
Russia jails Jehovah's Witness for 8 years after 'mole' secretly films worship meeting
(Reuters)
Russians hit Jesus Christ Church in Kupiansk. A pastor found dead under rubble
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
My Malaysia ordeal shows how religion can fuse with populist nationalism to silence dissent
(Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation)
Brazil: Debaters defend choosing a day off according to the worker's religion (Portuguese)
(Agência Senado, Senado Federal)
The conflict between animal welfare and the right to religious freedom in Europe (Spanish)
(Anastasio Argüello Henríquez, Noemí Castro Navarro, Sergio Romeo Malanda, The Conversation)
The Government creates the General Directorate of Religious Freedom (Spanish)
(Jesús Bastante, El Diario)
Thursday, 29 February 2024
HYBRID EVENT, 29 February 2024 (10AM GMT+1): Assessing China’s Governance and Human Rights Landscape (Brussels, Belgium)
(Benedict Rogers, Geoffrey Nice, Roy Chun Lee, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
WEBINAR, 29 February 2024 (9AM EST): Global Histories of Coexistence
(Pankaj Mishra in Conversation with Mohsin Hamid, Ranjit Hoskote, and Ece Temelkuran, Georgetown Global Dialogues)
Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Russian beaten by Chechen leader's son is jailed for Koran burning
(Reuters)
Hamas raises stakes in Gaza truce talks by calling for Ramadan march
(Nidal Al-Mughrabi, Jana Choukeir and Maayan Lubell, Reuters)
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