Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 12 February 2024

India: Balancing Faith and Equality: Examining the Adequacy of the Doctrine of Essential Religious Practices from Gender Perspectives in India
(Sumit Sonkar, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)

Canada: Quebec wants Criminal Code exemption so people can request MAID in advance
(The Globe and Mail)

Leaders warned of varied threats to religious freedom
(Ellen Teague and Patrick Hudson, The Tablet)

Once marginalized, New York’s Muslims celebrate growing political influence on Muslim Day
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)

Every week is World Interfaith Harmony Week for devotees of Swami Vivekananda
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

Jesuits in US bolster outreach initiative aimed at encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics
(David Crary, Religion News Service)

WEBINAR, 12 February 2024 (4:30PM GMT): Reclaiming Justice in Humanity
(Jerry White and Karen Tse, United Religions Initiative)

The rise of African prophets: the unchecked power of the leaders of Pentecostal churches
(Josiah Taru, The Conversation)

Ohio city drops criminal charges against church that opened 24/7 for homeless
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Webinar review: Ubuntu: traditional southern African philosophy
(JoAnne Wadsworth, Viewpoints, a blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association)

Pakistan: A good Supreme Court decision for the Ahmadis--but what's next? The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ordered the release of a man who had distributed an Ahmadi commentary to the Holy Quran.
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)

Around the web - 12 February 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Anticipated challenges to online free expression and international religious freedom in 2024
(YouTube Video, Pepperdine School of Public Policy)

Iran: Religious freedom no where to be found after 45 years of 'revolution' in Iran
(Katie O'Malley, Mission Network News)

Indonesia: Tale of two cities: Religious tolerance in Bekasi & Depok
(Nur Janti, The Jakarta Post)

Indonesia: Faith, democracy, and politics in Indonesia: Explaining the lack of Islamic mobilisation in 2024
(Chris Chaplin and Syarifuddin Jurdi, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)

United Nations’ experts call for immediate release of Jimmy Lai
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Recognizing the extraordinary courage of victims/survivors of the holocaust and others
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Kazakhstan: Spiritual principles basis for strengthening the family
(Bahá’í World News Service)

UAE: First stone-built Hindu temple in the Middle East rises in the UAE ahead of Modi’s latest visit
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)

Nicaragua’s crackdown on Catholic Church spreads fear among the faithful, there and in exile
(Giovanna Dell'Orto, Associated Press)

Nicaragua: Exile and resistance: An interview with Félix Maradiaga
(Freedom House)

A shooter opened fire in a Houston church. Gunfire has also scarred other Texas places of worship
(Jim Vertuno, Associated Press)

On Super Bowl broadcast, ‘He Gets Us’ ads featuring Jesus stand out for change-of-pace message
(Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press)

Argentina: After rough start, pope and Argentina’s Milei meet amid speculation Francis might finally go home
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)

Articles and books of interest - 12 February 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Bolivia: Church’s pleas fall on deaf ears amid Bolivia’s political crisis
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Lebanon’s sectarian dynamics and the Israel-Hezbollah war
(Antonio Graceffo, Providence)

Law and religion roundup – 11th February
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Church calls for minimum unit pricing of alcohol to be increased to 65p
(The Church of Scotland)

What I wish more people knew about American evangelicalism: For all the bad that’s come out of this movement, there are still countless stories of personal transformation leading people to live better lives.
(John Fea, The Atlantic)

Two weeks in review, 29 January – 11 February 2024
(Tal Gross, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Dutch Muslims respond to Quran desecration with 'Don't Burn, Read' event
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))

WCC submits comments on draft UN “Pact for the Future”
(World Council of Churches)

Christian advertising receives criticism but has not yet been forbidden
(Evert van Vlastuin, Christian Network Europe)

Japan’s Shinto religion contributes to global dialogue at Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
(The Astana Times)

Faith-based organizations concerned about immigration policy landscape
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)

Brazil: MP calls for religious freedom to be guaranteed in schools after case in São Luís de Montes Belos (Portuguese)
(Barbara Noleto, Jornal Opção)

The questionable safeguarding of religious liberty (Spanish)
(Javier Porras Belarra, ABC Sociedad)

Costa Rica: Chamber IV: Judiciary violated the religious freedom of an official by forcing him to work on Saturdays (Spanish)
(Yeryis Salas, La Nación)

Georgia’s Black churches unite for voter engagement campaign
(Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill)

S5, Ep. 15: Black America’s changing religious landscape (podcast)
(Sabrina E. Dent and Anthony Pinn, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Friday, 9 February 2024

IRFBA Chair’s statement on Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan religious prisoners of conscience the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, writer Go Sherab Gyatso, and separation of Tibetan children from their heritage and language
(International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), U.S. Department of State)

City drops charges against pastor as sides negotiate over Ohio church’s 24/7 ministry
(Patrick Orsagos and Mark Scolforo, Associated Press)

Malaysia’s top court invalidates state’s Islam-based laws on incest, sodomy and other offenses
(Eileen Ng, Associated Press)

India: Haldwani: Uttarakhand on alert after four dead in clashes over mosque demolition
(BBC News)

India: Small Indian state passes landmark civil code opposed by Muslims
(Rupam Jain, Reuters)

Ecuador becomes second Latin American state to decriminalise euthanasia
(Patrick Jackson, BBC News)

Thailand, Muslim separatists agree on new plan to end violence
(Al Jazeera)

EVENT, 8-9 February 2024: Charting the Future of Church and State (Malibu, CA, USA)
(Caruso School of Law)

What a new plan to save the UK’s churches says about their purpose in society
(Alanna Cant, The Conversation)

Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: further consultation
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Cathedrals and churches to mark Racial Justice Sunday
(The Church of England)

Catholic to lead Northern Ireland’s government for first time in history
(Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency)

As fewer profess faith, research shows religion and spirituality improve well-being, mental health
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)

America’s becoming less religious. Is politics to blame?
(Samuel L. Perry, Time)

H. Res. 82 (designating Nigeria as a CPC)
(Congress.gov)

Pakistan: Ahmadi community in Pakistan boycotts national elections amid resurgent violence
(Rizwan Shah, BNN)

EP Resolution on attacks against Christians in Nigeria: COMECE highlights Religious dimension
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

European Parliament “strongly condemns” Christmas Eve massacre of Christians in Nigeria, but blames climate change
(ADF International)

Expressed hostility to religious belief of vaccine exemption applicant did not violate 1st Amendment
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Canadian court upholds denial of tax exemption for island owned by Shinto organization
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Canada: Jewish groups decry Robinson's cabinet exit, as Eby slams 'hateful messages' on constituency office
(CBC News)

Argentina: Amid church/state clashes in Argentina, prelate says pope ‘plays in the major leagues’
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

American bishops urge passage of anti-human trafficking bill
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

How did the Irish women’s basketball team become embroiled in controversy over Israel?
(Mary Hannigan, The Irish Times)

In an increasingly secular world does freedom of religion or belief really matter?
(Brendan McNamara, The Irish Times)

Muslim women on a mission: Condemning Hamas, fighting antisemitism
(Susan Crabtree, Real Clear Politics)

Armenia: Appeal court upholds conscientious objector's jail term
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Faith agendas at the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, January 2024
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Iraq's Basra marathon bars women after online row
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Boosting Islam-Christianity interfaith dialogue discussed in Yerevan
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))

Rwanda: Polish President visits Kibeho shrine, praises work done by Catholic nuns in education
(Arnold Neliba, Catholic Information Service for Africa)

RFI co-hosts 35th Annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference
(Religious Freedom Institute)

Sri Lanka: Prison overcrowding in Sri Lanka: Repurposing religious spaces as makeshift detention areas
(Ebenezer Mensah, BNN)

Brazil: STF [Supreme Court] judges religious freedom in photo for identification documents (Portuguese)
(Redação, Migalhas)

Brazil: Religious freedom and Western civilization (Portuguese)
(Bruno Irion Colleto, Gazeta do Povo)

Guided tours of Parliament to the Religious Freedom exhibition (Portuguese)
(7Margens)

The promoter of Rosario de Ferraz requests protection from the TC for violation of the right to religious freedom (Spanish)
(El Debate)

Thursday, 8 February 2024

WEBINAR, 8 February 2024 (2PM ET): Ubuntu: Traditional Southern African Philosophy
(Isaiah Zimba Chabala, Remi Alapo, Fainos Mangena, Arline Woodbury, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

EVENT, 8 February 2024: Youth Interfaith Summit 2024: Faith and Climate for a Sustainable Future (London, UK)
(The Faith & Belief Forum)

WEBINAR, 8 February 2024, 12:00 pm MST (US and Canada): Ubuntu: Traditional Southern African Philosophy
(G20 Interfaith Forum)

Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Hatred on the basis of religion or belief (Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief)
(Nazila Ghanea, United Nations)

Turkiye arrests 47 alleged Daesh members over Istanbul church attack
(Middle East Monitor)

Turkey plans to convert another iconic Byzantine era church into a mosque
(Turkish Minute)

How difficult is it to be a Christian in Turkey? What you need to know
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)

Forum: The (costly) arc of religious freedom
(Christie Allen, BYU News)

Children held in B.C. Doukhobor camp in 1950s offered $10M compensation package
(CBC News)

FRC releases updated report detailing the intensifying intolerance toward Christians in the west
(Family Research Council)

Canada: War in Gaza taking heavy toll on Manitoba Muslims
(John Longhurst, The Free Press)

Canada: Pro-euthanasia activists to sue Catholic hospital in Canada
(Thomas McKenna, National Review)

Canada needs time for 'deeper conversation' on assisted dying, mental health: Holland
(Laura Osman, The Canadian Press)

Canada: Catholic Church challenging Quebec MAID law in court on religious freedom grounds
(The Globe and Mail)

Canada: B.C. math instructor fired for 'deeply intolerant' YouTube videos loses human rights complaint
(Bethany Lindsay, CBC News)

Canada faces hate crime headache 7 years since mosque shooting
(Daily Sabah)

Canada appoints first representative to fight Islamophobia
(Al Jazeera)

China, pro-government Buddhist abbott defrocked after a sexual scandal
(Ding Bohai, Bitter Winter)

China urges religious leaders to be more purposeful in the Sinicization drive in New Year greetings
(Tibetan Review)

China: Elderly Uyghur women imprisoned in China for decades-old religious ‘crimes’, leaked files reveal
(The Guardian)

Erasing Tibet: Chinese boarding schools and the indoctrination of a generation
(Tenzin Dorjee and Gyal Lo, Foreign Affairs)

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