Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
India: The Hindu right and India's religious diplomacy
(Ian Hall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Competing understandings of Islamic codes pertaining to women in the Arab world
(YouTube Video, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Rep. Mike Johnson says he's 'not trying to' make Christianity the national religion
(David Moye, The Huffington Post)
Mike Johnson symbolizes a new turn for the religious right
(Ronald Brownstein, CNN)
‘Only Catholics need apply’: Is religion a barrier to getting a job as a primary teacher?
(Peter McGuire, The Irish Times)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – October
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Leave your conscience at the Court: Religious tax protest before and after RFRA
(Samuel D. Brunson, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Muslim women in the West in the crosshairs of Zionists, white ‘feminists’
(Sahar Aziz, Al Jazeera)
Poll: More religious Americans support the use of political violence
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)
Sweden’s soccer fans to be advised against wearing national team clothing on trips abroad
(Steve Douglas and Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press)
Holy See decries racism against migrants and religious discrimination
(Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News)
Ohio State research focuses on interactions among people of different faiths
(Chris Bournea, Ohio State News)
Japan: The proposed freezing of assets of religious corporations the government seeks to dissolve: a danger for all faiths in Japan
(Bitter Winter)
Australia: Voluntary assisted dying is finally being considered in the ACT. How would it differ from state laws?
(Ben White and Lindy Willmott, The Conversation)
10 things to know about China’s policies on religion
(Pew Research Center)
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
VIRTUAL EVENT, 31 October 2023 (9:30 ET): The International Religious Freedom Act at 25
(The United States Institute of Peace)
Monday, 30 October 2023
HYRBID EVENT, 30 October 2023 (5PM MT): Dialogue: What can we learn about bridging divides in America today? (Salt Lake City, UT, USA)
(BYU Law, The University of Utah, Equality Utah, 1st Amendment Partnership, Fairness For All Initiative, Braver Angels, Tolerance Means Dialogues)
Turkish police arrest 28 Daesh/ISIS terror suspects
(Zeynep Yesildal and Mustafa Gungor, Anadolu Agency)
U.S. bishops mark 25th anniversary of International Religious Freedom Act
(Diocese of Scranton)
As Turkey’s Christians celebrate a new church, religious minorities still call for respect
(David I. Klein, Religion News Service)
Statement from President Joe Biden on the 25th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act
(The White House)
International Religious Freedom Day – 25th anniversary of IRFA
(Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Department of State)
Canada: Western University fires Muslim chaplain over 'divisive' social media post
(CBC News)
Tynemouth Station: Palestine refugee mural removed after threat
(BBC News)
Law and religion round-up – 29th October
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Hundreds attend vigil for Israel and Gaza
(BBC News)
Religions for Peace and the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID announce the reaffirmation of their commitment to strengthening inter-institutional dialogue, cooperation and understanding
(Religions for Peace)
Around the web - 30 October 2023
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Recent cases of intolerance and desecation
(Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe)
Broad array of religious groups support medical nonprofit at 6th Circuit
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Creating 21st century religious freedom advocacy
(Knox Thames, Real Clear Politics)
Theo-diplomacy: Peace and reconciliation in international and Islamic law
(Kaleem Hussain, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Can faith groups drive action on climate change?
(Hanane Benadi and James Walters, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
States must address prejudice and discrimination based on religion or belief at all levels – UN expert
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
3 mosques in Germany receive threat messages
(Anadolu Agency)
Religious actors are key to achieving a sustainable future in a multipolar world
(International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development)
New book: Secularism and Islam in Bangladesh: 50 Years After Independence
(Abdul Wohab, Routledge)
Centering the Black Muslimah: Interrogating Gendered, Anti-Black Islamophobia
(Rabiat Akande, SSRN)
Gender Equality and the Scope of Religious Freedom in S.A.S. v. France
(Ilias Trispiotis, SSRN)
Resisting hate: A French garden project advocates for peace (video)
(Deutsche Welle)
West Virginia school system mandates religious training following revival assembly lawsuit
(Leah Willi, Associated Press)
In Benin, Voodoo’s birthplace, believers bemoan steady shrinkage of forests they revere as sacred
(Sam Mednick, Associated Press)
India police detain man as suspect in explosion that killed 3 people at Jehovah’s Witness gathering
(Associated Press)
US officials to meet Jewish leaders as anti-Semitism surges on campuses
(Al Jazeera)
Jewish and Muslim chaplains navigate US campus tensions and help students roiled by Israel-Hamas war
(Mariam Fam, Associated Press)
Afghanistan: Islamic State group claims responsibility for an explosion in Afghanistan, killing 4
(Associated Press)
Threats to kill Jewish students at Cornell prompt police to monitor kosher dining hall
(Jackie Hajdenberg, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Satanic Temple lacks standing to challenge Indiana abortion ban
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 30 October 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Palestinian Christians and Muslims have lived together for centuries—and several were recently killed in a historic church
(Christine Shepardson, Religion News Service)
ISW explains why Putin assembled Russia's Orthodox, Rabbis, and Muftis
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Sierra Leone: Caritas in Sierra Leone calls for national "health emergency" to combat synthetic marijuana abuse
(La Croix International)
Ukrainian religious leaders on navigating Russia-Ukraine war (video)
(C-SPAN)
Russia blames Ukraine for antisemitic riot at airport in Dagestan
(Pjotr Sauer and Andrew Roth, The Guardian)
Examples of conscience, justice, and religious liberty issues in California
(Hans Noot, Bitter Winter)
Vietnam: Official calls for constructive dialogue on religious issues between Vietnam, US
(Vietnam Plus)
Moldova president says church must work for European integration
(Alexander Tanas, Reuters)
Guatemala commemorates International Religious Freedom Day
(GT News)
Positive Biden Administration policy on engaging with religious communities
(Stanley Carlson-Thies, Center for Public Justice)
Sunday, 29 October 2023
CALL FOR INPUT, deadline 29 October 2023: Advocacy of Hatred Based on Religion or Belief - Transformative Responses
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Saturday, 28 October 2023
Israel: Arab Israeli Christians share an ‘identity crisis’ and prayers for peace
(Erik Tryggestad, Religion Unplugged)
The unfulfilled promise of the International Religious Freedom Act
(Thomas F. Farr, Real Clear Politics)
Sweden: Report: Quran-burning protester is ordered to leave Sweden but deportation on hold for now
(Associated Press)
Canada: Statement regarding health Canada's fourth annual report on MAiD deaths
(Cardus)
Air Canada apologizes after British MP questioned 'because his name is Mohammad'
(Brishti Basu, CBC News)
China: IRFBA Chair’s statement on Uyghur religious prisoner of conscience, Dr. Gulshan Abbas
(U.S. Department of State)
Building on 25 years of religious freedom advocacy
(Knox Thames and Peter Mandaville, Religion News Service)
West Virginia school settles suit over religious activities
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
China shows off a Tibetan boarding school that’s part of a system some see as forced assimilation
(Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press)
Antisemitism has moved from the right to the left in the US − and falls back on long-standing stereotypes
(Arie Perliger, The Conversation)
OK Supreme Court: Church autonomy doctrine requires dispute over disaffiliation to be dismissed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Justice Department secures agreement requiring New York village to end discrimination against Orthodox Jewish residents
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Baptist leader, Rep. Maxwell Frost urge Christians to reject Christian nationalism
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Public schools and faith-based chaplains: Texas’ new combination is testing the First Amendment
(Charles J. Russo, Religion News Service)
US Jews fracture over support for Israeli retaliation
(Yonat Shimron, Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Religious objection to vaccination: Re WSP (A Child)
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Officers investigate more “thoughtcrimes” amidst widespread criticism of “woke policing”
(ADF UK)
Indi Gregory: European judges reject appeal over ill baby's case
(Dan Martin, BBC News)
India: Church welcomes relaxation of hijab ban in Indian state
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Israel-Gaza: Bucks faith leaders unite against violence
(Louise Parry and Amy Holmes, BBC News)
India: TPNRD Releases new report on Indian religious diplomacy
(Religion & Diplomacy: A Resource of the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy)
Iran: Twenty-six Baha’is in Iran sentenced to 126 years in prison as 10 Baha’i women arrested in Isfahan, and 3 Baha'is in Yazd
(Bahá’í International Community)
Türkiye: Antisemitism rises in Turkey during Israel-Hamas war
(Pelin Ünker, Deutsche Welle)
Biden on 5th anniversary of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting: Hamas invasion is ‘deepening the wound’ of antisemitism
(Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Religious persecution is threat to U.S. national security, experts tell Congress
(Peter Pinedo, Catholic News Agency)
Our right to religious freedom requires ceaseless defense
(Mike Lee, Deseret News)
Kyrgyzstan: Six-month jail term for questioning official religious policy
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
303 Creative v. Elenis, Groff v. DeJoy and the difference a sentence can make
(Mark Satta, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Report highlights Christian perspectives on religious freedom
(Conference of European Churches)
A united pursuit in difficult times: MJLC and EuLeMa convene in Sevilla for groundbreaking show of Muslim-Jewish solidarity
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Indonesia: The dilemma of political involvement among Muslim theologians in Indonesia
(Norshahril Saat and Ahmad Muhajir, Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS))
WCC general secretary meets with new executive director of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
(World Council of Churches)
SoHO Regulation: COMECE releases Position Paper ahead of final trilogue negotiation
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Antisemitism in Europe reaching levels unseen in decades, says top Rabbi
(Maria Psara, Euronews)
Russia: A Jehovah’s Witness deprived of his citizenship and deported
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
France: Religious leaders in France are surprisingly nuanced when it comes to euthanasia
(Christian Network Europe)
From California to Maine, some states really seem to dislike religious education
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)
Supreme court roundup: 12 pending cases that could impact religious freedom
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)
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