Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 15 November 2023
India: Protecting faith, freedom in India has become life threatening
(Muhammad Hanif, Pakistan Observer)
India: BJP leaders make provocative speeches in the name of religion: Raj CM Gehlot
(Hindustan Times)
Native American tribes halt a $10 billion renewable energy project running through religious and cultural sites
(Susan Montoya Bryan and The Associated Press, Fortune)
A solid news peg for the under-covered story of Christian persecution
(Richard Ostling, Religion Unplugged)
Reverend Marian Edmonds-Allen advocates for a balanced approach that preserves religious liberty protections and LGBTQIA+ rights
(Arienne Calingo, University of Notre Dame Law School)
Reconstructing religious liberty in a time of religious and secular extremes
(Alana Crosby, Adventist Review)
Finnish parliamentarian found not guilty of “hate speech” for Bible Tweet and other expressions
(ADF International)
Lawmaker, Lutheran bishop acquitted of hate speech in Finland’s second ‘Bible trial’
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Appeal likely after Christians acquitted a second time of Bible booklet ‘hate crimes’
(Joy Pullmann, The Federalist)
Sri Lanka: Suppressing free speech & religious freedom by labelling them hate speech
(S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, Colombo Telegraph)
Alleged Islamic State 'Beatle' jailed for terrorism offences
(Reuters)
What a rabbi and an imam are doing to bring peace to college campuses
(Hanna Seariac, Deseret News)
Jewish protesters and allies stage sit-in at California federal building demanding Gaza cease-fire
(Associated Press)
Thousands rallied on the National Mall in support of Israel. Here’s what they had to say
(Héctor Alejandro Arzate and Tyrone Turner, DCist)
Jury hears Canadian man who killed Muslim family was on drugs
(Nadine Yousif, BBC News)
Do people of faith recognize their religion when it appears on the big screen?
(Rebecca Olds, Deseret News)
Nepal's stolen gods seek new homes: Communities want statues to become a part of living heritage again
(Bibek Bhandari, Foreign Policy)
After controversy, Texas school board says transgender student can sing in school musical
(Ayden Runnels, The Texas Tribune)
11th Circuit: No Bivens remedy for Free Exercise infringement by government contractor or its employees
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Pennsylvania repeals ban on religious garb for public school teachers
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Michigan passes institutional desecration ban
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
SCOTUS' new ethics code includes guidance on involvement with religious organizations
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
As Europe’s Jews see a new era of antisemitism, governments struggle over how to respond
(Shira Li Bartov, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The UGCC calls for prayer for the release of two clergymen from Russian captivity
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Uganda’s High Court directs Anglican church to use canon law in election fight
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)
Korean religious groups join call for labor-friendly law
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Domestic abuse and child contact: Luca v The Republic of Moldova
(Ronagh McQuigg, Strasbourg Observers)
American Atheists wins in West Virginia religious coercion lawsuit
(American Atheists)
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
WEBINAR, 14 November 2023 (15:00 GMT+1): Changing Hearts and Minds: Uganda and Nigeria in the Fight Against HIV Stigma
(World Council of Churches)
Monday, 13 November 2023
Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Women in Islam
(United Nations)
Indonesia: Ministry highlights importance of cross-cultural religious literacy
(Antara News)
Indonesia: Conservative Muslims protest Coldplay’s planned concert in Indonesia over the band’s LGBTQ+ support
(Fadlam Syam and Niniek Karmini, Associated Press)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13-14 November 2023: Human Dignity and Rule of Law for a Peaceful and Inclusive Society
(Institut Leimena)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13 November 2023 (12PM ET): On the Significance of Religion for the Sustainable Development Goals
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The Vatican says priests can baptize transgender people
(Jason DeRose, NPR)
More than 180,000 people across France march against soaring antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war
(Associated Press)
Antisemitism surges in France after the Hamas attacks on Israel
(The Economist)
Teenager arrested in France after kicking a rabbi in Paris Metro
(Reuters)
Macron condemns rising antisemitism and Israeli bombing of civilians
(Katya Adler, BBC News)
Manx church to apply to be first to offer same-sex marriages
(BBC News)
Muslim Council of Britain condemns Home Secretary’s inflammatory comments on peaceful protests
(Muslim Council of Britain)
Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary by Rishi Sunak after pro-Palestine march row
(Adam Forrest and Archie Mitchell, The Independent)
Church Moderator visits university as part of celebration of faith and diversity
(The Church of Scotland)
Baby Indi Gregory dies after life support is withdrawn
(Jamie Bullen, The Telegraph)
Law and religion round-up – 12th November
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
UK sentences ISIL member to eight years in prison
(Al Jazeera)
Joe Metcalfe jailed for plotting mosque terror attack dressed as PC
(Chloe Laversuch, BBC News)
WCC demands immediate ceasefire, humanitarian corridors in Palestine and Israel
(World Council of Churches)
Archbishop in Jerusalem addresses Synod with call for ceasefire and plea for peace in Israel and Gaza
(The Church of England)
Jerusalem’s church leaders call for sober Christmas in Holy Land as war rages
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)
Israel-Hamas is not a religious war and this is not your rapture
(Thomas Lecaque, Religion Dispatches)
India: ‘Beacon of hope’: Amid Gaza war, Indian Muslims take care of synagogues
(Monideepa Banerjie, Al Jazeera)
India: An interview with Ian Hall on the Hindu Right and India’s religious diplomacy (video)
(Religion & Diplomacy: A Resource of the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy)
India: The movement to expel Muslims and create a Hindu holy land
(Tusha Mittal and Alishan Jafri, Coda Media)
India: Appointment of Christian judge in India’s top court lauded
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)
USCIRF releases report on threats to religious sites in Turkey
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
How the global anti-LGBTQ movement found a home in Turkey
(Frankie Vetch, Coda Media)
Germany's Scholz 'ashamed' at antisemitism wave as 'Kristallnacht' pogrom marked
(Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke, Reuters)
A pastor’s suicide brings grief, warnings of the dangers of outing amid erosion of LGBTQ+ rights
(Kim Chandler, Associated Press)
Groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State take root on the coast of West Africa
(Sam Mednick, Associated Press)
Native Alaskan healer named North America’s first female saint in Orthodox Church
(Meagan Saliashvili, Religion News Service)
US Jews plan historic March for Israel at National Mall Tuesday
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Hong Kong: The insidious undermining of religious freedom in Hong Kong
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
United Nations condemns Nicaragua’s anti-Catholic and anti-religious persecution
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Australia: Melbourne synagogue evacuated on Shabbat as tensions over Israel-Hamas war flare in Australia
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Australia: Labor to overhaul misinformation bill after objections over freedom of speech
(Josh Taylor, The Guardian)
Around the web - 13 November 2023
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Faith and climate change: Engaging religious communities in climate discourse
(Cameron Howes, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Sofia-Moscow tensions surge over St. Nicholas Church crisis
(Sofia News Agency)
Religion Watch, Volume 38 No. 12
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
The dignity of the human person from a Hindu perspective (video)
(Facebook, Elijah Interfaith Institute)
IGE and Vietnam Government sign new agreement to build religious freedom
(Institute for Global Engagement)
Criminalizing Indigenous Belief: The Constitutional Deficits of Uganda’s Witchcraft Act
(Busingye Kabumba, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
Divorcing abroad, sharīʿah style: Legal reforms and Moroccan women
(Federica Sona, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
Iran: More than 20 Baha’i homes invaded in violent raids and many arrested in Iran as crackdown intensifies
(Bahá’í International Community)
Global Interfaith Monitor No. 17
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
New UAE fertility law: Emirati doctor calls on scholars to legalise surrogacy in Islam
(Nasreen Abdulla, Khaleej Times)
Malaysia: Religious affairs minister: Members of special committee to draft Shariah laws will be appointed soon
(Malay Mail)
China: “Good person of Nanjing”: Catholic nun honored as a “moral role model” by the authorities
(Agenzia Fides)
China’s new law on religion: A great leap backward
(Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, The Japan Times)
China: Online antisemitism spikes amid Israel-Hamas war (video)
(Phoebe Kong, Deutsche Welle)
The grand bargain of religious freedom and religious responsibility: The Mennonite example
(Dennis R. Hoover, Institute for Global Engagement)
Guilty plea for making violent, antisemitic threats
(U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan, U.S. Department of Justice)
Jewish students assaulted and Hillel targeted at Ohio State, prompting state to beef up police presence
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
More than 1,600 Jewish Harvard alumni threaten to withdraw donations over antisemitism concerns
(Nicole Goodkind, CNN)
Articles and books of interest - 13 November 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Kenya bishops says high taxes threaten the country, especially the poor
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
COMECE Assembly called on the EU to rebuild the global architecture of peace
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Ivory Coast: Small Jewish communities emerge in Ivory Coast
(Isabel Bonnet, Al Jazeera)
European Policy Dialogue Forum (EPDF) unites seven religions, young people and policymakers in Rotterdam to foster social inclusion
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
How a federal agency is attempting to undermine religious liberty in the workplace
(Allison Cantrell, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)
Nigeria: WCC urges government of Nigeria to do more to address economic injustice
(World Council of Churches)
Spanish anti-Jehovah’s-Witnesses group loses court case—but claims it won
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Fired Christian physician assistant clears important hurdle in court case
(Kayla Toney, Religious Freedom Institute)
Higher Ground: Photographer notches religious freedom win
(Mark A. Kellner and Billy Hallowell, The Washington Times)
Ghana must have regulatory framework to protect religious rights of students – Speaker Bagbin
(Modern Ghana)
Parents in a Connecticut town worry as "After School Satan Club" plans meeting
(Sarah Al-Arshani USA TODA, USA Today)
WCC calls on COP28 to “rise above,” act collectively in addressing climate change
(World Council of Churches)
Global Faith Leaders Summit – Interfaith statement released in pre-COP28 event
(International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development)
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