Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 29 January 2024
Two weeks in review, 15 – 28 January 2024
(Tal Gross, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Egyptian composer gets 6-month jail term for insulting Quran
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
Pope Francis receives COMECE President Mgr. Crociata to discuss about Europe
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Iran: Monthly digest – Religious persecution and issues in January
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russia: EU sanctions against an Orthodox military training company
(Dr Evgeniia Gidulianova with Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russia: Russian Orthodox Church Conference “The war on Ukraine is a Sacred War”
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
“Gender critical” victories in tribunal cases
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Church of England leader says a plan to send migrants to Rwanda undermines the UK’s global standing
(Jill Lawless, Associated Press)
Law and religion roundup – 28th January
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Canada: Memo: Alberta's Budget 2024 Consultation
(Cardus)
The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life
(Michael Wear, Zondervan)
Friday, 26 January 2024
Holocaust Remembrance Day
(Council of Europe)
Holocaust remembrance vital as antisemitism rises in Europe (video)
(Alexandra von Nahmen, Deutsche Welle)
Italy’s leader denounces antisemitism; pro-Palestinian rally is moved from Holocaust Remembrance Day
(Nicole Winfield and Paolo Santalucia, Associated Press)
Statement from President Joe Biden on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
(The White House)
USCIRF cautions against rising antisemitism on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
2024 Holocaust Remembrance and Education
(United Nations)
Congressman Tom Lantos' human rights legacy -- Ep. #124 (podcast)
(Katrina Lantos Swett, Never Again Is Now)
In religious conflicts, bolstering the role of military chaplains
(Melissa Nozell and Knox Thames, The United States Institute of Peace)
Nepal: Pastor must begin prison term for praying after Nepali Supreme Court denies his appeal
(ADF International)
Nepal: Peace harmony and religious tolerance
(United Religions Initiative)
A retrospective: 25th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Shortcomings of the State Department’s CPC designations (podcast)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
The EU’s hate-speech bill is not simply about being tough on prejudice. But it is a crackdown on dissent and a restriction on democracy
(Laurie Wastell, Brussels Signal)
Germany steps up crackdown on anti-abortion protests
(Helen Whittle, Deutsche Welle)
Poland's new government to propose legislation easing near-total abortion ban
(France 24)
A statement on a letter received by IFN’s co-chairs from Secretary of State, Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
(The Inter Faith Network)
Top UN court orders Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza but stops short of ordering cease-fire
(Mike Corder and Raf Casert, Associated Press)
Member of white supremacist group convicted of defacing Michigan synagogue with neo-Nazi symbols
(US Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, U.S. Department of Justice)
Russia fires a top geneticist who claimed people could live to 900 before sins caused Biblical flood
(Associated Press)
Haiti: Six nuns and two other people kidnapped in Haiti have been released, archbishop says
(Associated Press)
Presumption of discrimination in Virginia fair housing law held unconstitutional
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
County revises policy on religious head coverings in booking photos in settlement of suit by Muslim woman
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
11th Circuit rejects RLUIPA challenge to novel execution method; Supreme Court denies review
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Saudi Arabia opens its first liquor store in over 70 years as kingdom further liberalizes
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)
Nicaragua released imprisoned priests, but repression is unlikely to relent – and the Catholic Church remains a target
(Kai M. Thaler, The Conversation)
Uyghur Youth Initiative video on genocide goes viral
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
The Head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine met with the Leader of the European People's Party
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Uzbekistan: Muslim prayer rooms closed, Bukhara Baptists unable to meet
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
“Sufficient interest” in faculty petitions – II
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Churches face fines for providing warming shelters during winter months
(Brittany Smith, Religion Unplugged)
International Religious Freedom Summit aims for worldwide grassroots movement promoting liberty
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
India: Muslim shopfronts torn down in Mumbai after religious clashes
(AFP, Arab News)
India: Catholics request security after Hindu radicals assault churches in central India
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Iraq: Beware of Rayan al-Kildani and the ‘Christian’ Babylon Brigade
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Bishop approved by pope ordained in China in apparent thaw in relations
(Philip Pullella, Reuters)
UN Human Rights Commissioner: From tech to ceasefires, a call for dignity and peace
(Francesca Merlo, Vatican News)
Vietnam sentences ethnic minority man to 4½ years for religious activities
(Radio Free Asia)
We are proud of our religious diversity, which does not depend on any political conjuncture - Azerbaijani official
(Azvision.az)
Mexico: What is the status of medically assisted death in Mexico?
(Amapola Nava, Medscape)
Argentina: Milei government official ‘repents’ remarks against Pope, Judaism, Islam
(Juan Pablo Kavanagh, Buenos Aires Times)
Thursday, 25 January 2024
VIRTUAL EVENT, 25 January 2024 (3:30PM ET): Religious Freedom in Southeast Asia: Techno-Authoritarianism and Transnational Influences
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
WEBINAR, 25 January 2024 (3:30-5:30PM (CET): ICLARS--Freedom of Religion and New Technologies
(ICLARS and Fondazione Bruno Kessler-Trento, ICLARS and Fondazione Bruno Kessler-Trento)
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
Religious ‘nones’ in America: Who they are and what they believe
(Gregory A. Smith, Patricia Tevington, Justin Nortey, Michael Rotolo, Asta Kallo and Becka A. Alper, Pew Research Center)
Greek PM: We are discussing decisions of Greek State, unrelated to theological beliefs
(Orthodox Times)
Greek evangelicals among majority opposing ‘marriage’ status and adoption rights for same-sex couples
(Joel Forster, Evangelical Focus)
Greek Church blasts proposed same-sex civil marriages, will present its views to congregations
(Associated Press)
Why did the Israeli Supreme Court strike down judicial reform?
(Ori Aronson, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
EVENT, 24 January 2024 (8:30AM GMT+1): Freedom of religion or belief and Article 17 Dialogue (Brussels)
(Vincent Depaigne and Juan José García Carreño, European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Elon Musk visits Auschwitz after uproar over antisemitic messages on X
(Czarek Sokolowski, Associated Press)
LIVING FAITH Religious freedom is critical for the building up of Zion, says Elder Dushku to legal professionals
(Joel Randall, Church News)
India: Muslim group denounces opening of Hindu temple on site of demolished historic Babri Mosque in India
(Middle East Monitor)
India PM Modi inaugurates Hindu temple on razed Babri mosque site
(Geeta Pandey and Yogita Limaye, BBC News)
UK: Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami proscribed as a terrorist group
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
UK officials probe Iran generals' antisemitic talks to students
(Ed Thomas, BBC News)
Church of England safeguarding response group
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Turkish lawmakers rail against Islamophobic, anti-Turkish sentiments in France
(Daily Sabah)
US rights group condemns slap on wrist for NYC Islamophobe
(Daily Sabah)
USCIRF calls for greater protection of religious sites in conflict areas
(United States Commission on International Religious Freedom)
BIC Geneva: Iranian thought leaders call for an end to the “historical shame” of Bahá’í persecution
(Bahá’í International Community)
Indonesia country update
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Indonesian diocese to build church after 15-year wait
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
"Self-Censored" - Documentary Film (2024)
(YouTube Video, Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe)
Ex-Obama official Stuart Seldowitz gets plea deal in NYC hate crime case
(Zoe Sottile and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN)
Elon Musk claims he will fund legal challenges to Irish hate speech legislation
(David Kent, Irish Examiner)
Time to criminalise hate speech and hate crime under EU law
(European Parliament)
Great Basin tribes want Bahsahwahbee massacre site in Nevada named national monument
(Brittany Peterson, Associated Press)
A pastor and a small Ohio city tussle over the legality of his 24/7 homeless ministry
(Patrick Orsagos and Mark Scolforo, Associated Press)
Myanmar: Churches, temples and monasteries regularly hit by airstrikes in Myanmar, activists say
(Associated Press)
Another nurse practitioner sues CVS Health for denying religious accommodation for prescribing contraception
(First Liberty)
Trinity Health-Michigan to pay $50,000 to settle EEOC religious discrimination lawsuit
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Rome’s Chief Rabbi voices ‘great disappointment’ with Vatican over Gaza
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Amid a housing crunch, religious groups unlock land to build homes
(Stacey Freed, The New York Times)
Kazakhstan: "harsh" religion law changes to reach Parliament soon?
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
In Ukraine, the rights of believers are protected by law," - Lubinets on World Religion Day
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
The European Parliament condemns China for persecuting Falun Gong, mentions organ harvesting again
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter)
DRC: Catholic bishops set agenda for reelected DR Congo president
(La Croix International)
Pakistan: Islamic studies no longer compulsory for Pakistan's non-Muslims
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Bay Area Muslim organizations hold first-of-its-kind FBI training on Islamophobia
(Anser Hassan, ABC7 News)
Symposium highlights why collaborations between UN, faith-based groups are paramount
(World Council of Churches)
Alabama faith leaders take a stand against execution
(Starlette Thomas, Good Faith Media)
Brazil: Curitiba may declare African Religions cultural heritage (Portuguese)
(Redação, Tribuna PR)
Brazil: On National Day to Combat Religious Intolerance, MDHC [Human Rights Ministry] reinforces reporting channel and commitment to promoting religious freedom (Portuguese)
(Ministério dos Direitos Humanos e da Cidadania)
Tuesday, 23 January 2024
VIRTUAL EVENT, 23 January 2024 (8:30AM ET): 10th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs
(World Council of Churches)
Monday, 22 January 2024
Indonesia: A step for freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia
(Andreas Harsono, Human Rights Watch)
India Hindu temple opening stokes religious minority fears
(Meenakshi Ganguly, Human Rights Watch)
India: Modi inaugurates controversial Ayodhya temple
(Deutsche Welle)
India: Modi opens Hindu temple built on ruins on razed mosque, in political triumph for prime minister
(Biswajeet Banerjee, Sheikh Saaliq and Krutika Pathi, Associated Press)
Email Subscription
The International Center for Law and Religion Studies maintains a Law and Religion Headlines service covering news about freedom of religion or belief internationally. All interested may subscribe to this service, free of charge, using the link below.
Subscribe