Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 2 February 2024
Harmony in diversity: Exploring religious freedom worldwide on World Religion Day Brian J. Grim PhD.
(YouTube Video, South Asia Research Institute for Minorities)
Church drafting letter to MPs on same-sex marriage
(ekathimerini)
Hong Kong: It’s time to defend what’s left of Hong Kong’s religious freedoms
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Navigating religious inclusion at work
(Theresa Agovino, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM))
Canada: Statement following attack against a Mississauga mosque
(Twitter, Justin Trudeau)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest Jan. 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: Mayflower Church persecution (video)
(Twitter, IRF Summit)
Poland grapples with changes to abortion law as Catholic Church hits back
(Catholic Herald)
Eleventh Circuit clarifies RLUIPA substantial burden inquiry
(Eden (Hunter) Yerby & Evan Seeman, RLUIPA Defense Blog)
At religious freedom summit, Johnson, others condemn antisemitism
(Susan Crabtree, Real Clear Politics)
Weekend Plug-in: Religious freedom summit covers mental health, antisemitism, persecution
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)
IRF Summit 2024: RFI highlights
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Recorded statements made to church leaders and pastor not privileged
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Mother sues school for socially transitioning her daughter
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Argentine bishops renounce government-funded stipends
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Occupied Ukraine: "Disappeared" Greek Catholic priests in Russian Investigation Prisons?
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – January (II)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Ecclesiastical Law Journal: Volume 26 - Issue 1 - January 2024
(various, Cambridge University Press)
Two MPs push for further crackdown on silent prayer despite outcry over “thought crime” arrests
(ADF UK)
Catholic groups join opposition to UK plan to deport migrants to Rwanda
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Threats to religious liberty in the U.K.
(Richard Turnbull, Acton Institute)
India: Couples must comply with anti-conversion law to legalise marriage even if they changed religion in past: Allahabad High Court
(Bar and Bench)
India: Hindu prayers begin inside India’s Mughal-era mosque after court order
(Al Jazeera)
COMECE on the Artificial Intelligence Act: “It does justice to the ethical foundations of the EU”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Cuba: A life of struggle and survival: the reality of religious oppression in Cuba
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Decorum without democracy in the Hungarian Parliament: The Grand Chamber’s potential intervention in Ikotity and Others v Hungary
(Dániel Karsai and Viktor Kazai, Strasbourg Observers)
From businesses and banks to colleges and churches: Americans’ views of U.S. institutions
(Pew Research Center)
Nigeria: Freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria
(Eleanor Gadd and Louisa Brooke-Holland, House of Commons Library, UK Parliament)
Bloody regimes and “drunk drivers”: The IRF Summit rocks Washington DC
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Myanmar: The need of trust-building in a future, post-coup Myanmar
(Seng Mai Aung, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
China introduces strict rules in Xinjiang on Islam, other religions
(Ruslan Medelbek and Reid Standish, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
China: Religious regulations tighten for Uyghurs
(Human Rights Watch)
House Speaker Mike Johnson calls on Biden to enforce China sanctions over Uyghur persecution
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
China, new white paper hails “deprogramming” of “religious extremists”
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Hong Kong: Hostile Takeover: The CCP and Hong Kong’s Religious Communities
(Frances Hui, The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation)
CALL FOR PAPERS AND PANELS, deadline for responses 31 January 2024: Seventh ICLARS Conference: The Accommodation of Religion or Belief in the Public Sphere: Undeserved Privilege or Fundamental Right?
(International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS))
EVENT, 30-31 January 2024: IRF Summit 2024 (Washington, DC, USA)
(IRF Summit)
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS, deadline 31 January 2024: Young Scholars Fellowship on Religion and the Rule of Law (hosted at Christ Church, Oxford)
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)
Türkiye nabs 6 Daesh terror suspects wanted by Interpol
(Daily Sabah)
Nepali pastor to be jailed for praying after Supreme Court denies appeal
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Ukraine has right to crackdown on ‘weaponized’ churches, religious freedom expert says
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)
Nazi death camp survivors mark 79th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation on Holocaust Remembrance Day
(Czarek Sokolowski, Associated Press)
Auschwitz survivor decries rise of the far right and increased antisemitism in Germany
(Associated Press)
Chicago pastors help the city grapple with flood of migrants
(Rebekah Barber, Religion News Service)
Demand for minerals sparks fear of mining abuses on Indigenous peoples' lands
(Julia Simon, NPR)
Canada: Muslim students at McGill call on university to address Islamophobia on campus amid Israel-Hamas war
(Alyssia Rubertucci, City News)
Canada: Statement on recommendation to delay expansion of MAiD
(Rebecca Vachon, Cardus)
How religious freedom promotes peace and security
(YouTube Video, The United States Institute of Peace)
CEC initiative Pathways to Peace moves forward
(Conference of European Churches)
Conversion therapy banned
(The Portugal News)
Faith is for the public sphere, Harvard professor says at BYU Forum
(Hanna Seariac, Deseret News)
Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief role takes step closer to becoming permanent
(Premier Christian News)
Ecclesiastical court judgments – January (I)
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Christian and Jewish leaders condemn ‘political, spiritual persecution’ of Paivi Rasanen
(Ben Johnson, Washington Stand)
18 year prison sentence imposed for firebombing church
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Court rules on class action certification of claims by religious objectors to covid vaccine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Mike Pence has a message for the religiously oppressed worldwide: ‘Never give up hope’
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)
Maryland bishops urge lawmakers to reject physican assisted suicide
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pakistan: Meet the Hindu politician breaking barriers in Muslim-Majority Pakistan
(Amit Pandey, Religion Unplugged)
Kenya declares cult an ‘organised criminal group’ after starvation deaths
(Al Jazeera)
India: ‘Emperor of Hindu hearts’: Narendra Modi rebranded
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
India: Modi’s party set to bring contentious common civil laws across religions in India
(Al Arabiya News)
India: Hate crime tracker Hindutva Watch blocked in India ahead of national vote
(Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera)
Palestinian and Muslim students demand investigation into Harvard for allegedly failing to protect them from harassment
(Matt Egan, CNN)
COMECE on farmers protests: “A sustainable future of our food system and a secure and flourishing future for farmers can coexist”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Pope Francis meets with President of Guinea Bissau
(Vatican News)
The times are “dark”, but Christian schools in Europe are growing
(Joe-Lize Kruijsse-Brugge, Christian Network Europe)
We can have secure borders without denying those fleeing persecution
(Jamie Ivey and Briana Stensrud, Religion News Service)
Four Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced to seven years each in Russia
(Reuters)
Russia: Another trial of Muslims meeting to study Nursi's works
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest Jan. 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
The religious landscape in France: increasing diversity since the law of 1905 (French)
(Kekeli Koffi, religactu)
Japan’s dispute with church a test of liberty everywhere
(Ben Wolfgang, The Washington Times)
‘Emperor of Hindu hearts’: Narendra Modi rebranded
(Mervyn Thomas, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Monday, 29 January 2024
2 masked men kill a person in attack on Catholic church in Istanbul. Officials detain 2 ISIS members
(Mehmet Guzel, Associated Press)
VID shows sub-Saharan countries are the epicentre of modern martyrdom
(Ronald Boyd-MacMillan and Dennis P. Petri, International Institute for Religious Freedom)
EVENT, 29 January 2024 (1:30PM ET): Women in FoRB: Making a Difference (Washington, DC, USA)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
EVENT, 29 January 2024 (4PM ET): Tolerance and Respect: Educational Paths in Indonesia (Washington, DC, USA)
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
An East Texas school district’s flagpole raises questions about America’s separation of church and state
(Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune)
Nebraska bill boosting religious freedom protections advances
(Martha Stoddard, Omaha World-Herald)
Daesh woman in Sweden suspected of genocide against Yazidis: prosecutors
(Arab News)
US, Iraq to discuss future of American military presence amid calls for withdrawal: Report
(Servet Günerigök, Anadolu Agency)
Catholic church criticises new Polish government’s abortion and contraception plans
(Notes from Poland)
France’s biggest Muslim school went from accolades to defunding – showing a key paradox in how the country treats Islam
(Carol Ferrara, Françoise Lorcerie, Vincent Geisser, The Conversation)
Emmanuel Macron is playing a dangerous game with abortion rights in France
(Cécile Simmons, The Guardian)
Around the web - 29 January 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Human rights need religion
(Daniel Philpott, Arc of the Universe)
Myanmar: Catholics in Myanmar’s civil war
(Antonio Graceffo, Providence)
Photos of the week: Ayodhya Ram temple; March for Life
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Israel: Identity and connection: how the war has changed religion in Israel
(Lianne Kolirin, Religion Media Centre)
Why religion is a critical ingredient to a post-Oslo peace process
(Kristian Noll, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Religions for Peace Executive Committee announces the appointment of Ms. Deepika Singh as Deputy Secretary General
(Religions for Peace)
Biden praises Black churches and says the world would be a different place without their example
(Zeke Miller, Associated Press)
Brazil: Catholic hospital’s refusal to implant IUD stirs controversy in Brazil
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
High-ranking Orthodox prelate warns against spread of antisemitism by religious officials
(Costas Kantouris and Demetris Nellas, Associated Press)
Nationalism, religion, and discrimination in the Western Balkans
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Muslims and Jews in Bosnia observe Holocaust Remembrance Day and call for peace and dialogue
(Sabina Niksic, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 29 January 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
How can we engage in ‘sacred witness’ amid deep conflict? A conversation with Najeeba Syeed
(Eboo Patel, Deseret News)
In Kyiv, experts provided evidence of the occupiers' crimes against religious communities and violations of International Humanitarian Law
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
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