Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 7 August 2023

Venezuela’s Maduro castigates silence of European leaders on Quran burning
(TASS)

Houses of worship would be exempt from emergency orders under proposed constitutional amendment [Wisconsin]
(Anya van Wagtendonk, Wisconsin Public Radio)

The new Chinese measures for religious activity venues come into force on September 1: The full text
(Hu Zimo, Bitter Winter)

Malaysia: Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Dept to be intervener in constitutional challenge to state’s Shariah law
(Malay Mail)

Counterfeit forms of Russian Orthodoxy as a challenge to religious freedom
(Michael Cherenkov, Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Hard-hit Argentina workers ask saints, not politicians, for jobs
(Claudia Martini and Miguel Lo Bianco, Reuters)

Sunday, 6 August 2023

EVENT, 6 August 2023: Nuclear Prayer Day 2023
(United Religions Initiative)

Saturday, 5 August 2023

CALL FOR BIDS, deadline for responses 5 August 2023: Protect and Improve Freedom of Religion and Belief in Iraq
(John Bunyan Fund, British Embassy Baghdad)

Friday, 4 August 2023

Australia: Sikh Queenslanders allowed to carry ceremonial knives in schools after court ruling
(George Roberts, ABC News Australia)

Australia: Ban on religious knives in Queensland schools overturned (video)
(Sydney Morning Herald)

Australia: NSW Parliament approves law prohibiting religious vilification
(Mirage)

Australia will soon have its first Islamic bank. What does this mean, and what are the challenges?
(Md Safiullah (Safi) and Abul Shamsuddin, The Conversation)

The refugee crisis in the Americas
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

LGBTQ+ at Yeshiva University: The path forward
(Netanel Zellis-Paley and E.Y. Zipris, Tablet Magazine)

USCIRF commemorates the ninth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Egypt: USCIRF releases new report on religious freedom conditions in Egypt
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

The 9th anniversary of the Yezidi genocide
(Matthew Miller, U.S. Department of State)

2023 report to Congress on section 5 of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-441) [as amended]
(U.S. Department of State)

How the United States promotes religious liberty abroad
(Voice of America)

Division on civil rights issues guidance to places of public accommodation in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis
(New Jersey Attorney General)

Pope Francis’ ‘peace offensive’ in Ukraine puts dialogue over demonization
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

Russian shelling hits a landmark church in the Ukrainian city of Kherson
(Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press)

Court upholds accreditation requirement for religious university
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Russian patriarch reminds Africans of advantages in following Kremlin’s lead
(Tom Heneghan, Religion News Service)

For many Pittsburgh Jews, Robert Bowers deserves the death penalty
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

'Islamic State' group announces death of its leader
(Deutsche Welle)

ASEAN interreligious dialogue to focus on religious activism for peace
(The Jakarta Post)

Indonesia: Blasphemy cases are rising rapidly
(Samira Yusuf, The Islamic Information)

Calls for release of Indonesian cleric arrested for blasphemy
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

The rights of religious expression in public schools
(Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)

Colombia: WCC underscores support for Colombia peace process
(World Council of Churches)

WCC Ecumenical Disabilities Advocates Network newsletter focuses on inclusive technology
(World Council of Churches)

‘The Justins’ seem like civil rights-era throwbacks. But 2023 isn’t 1968.
(Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)

Russia: FORB Bimonthly Digest: religious persecutions and issues (16-31 July)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Denmark to tighten border controls after Quran burnings
(Al Jazeera)

Denmark is seriously considering a ban on burning holy books, such as the Quran. Other Scandinavian countries still hesitate.
(Christian Network Europe)

China steps up political control over religious venues, sermons and activities
(Gao Feng, Radio Free Asia)

Chinese persecution of the Uyghur: A case of genocide
(Ali Çaksu, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

India: Burkha controversy in Mumbai: Muslim students denied entry over dress code, ignites religious freedom debate
(Chota Khabari)

India: Nuh: Mosque set on fire, cleric killed in religious clashes in India's Haryana
(BBC News)

New publication: India's Communal Constitution: Law, Religion, and the Making of a People
(Mathew John, Cambridge University Press)

Indian court allows survey of a 17th-century mosque to see if it was built over a Hindu temple
(Biswajeet Banerjee, Associated Press)

India: What would Uniform Civil Code mean for Muslim women?
(Shakeel Sobhan, Deutsche Welle)

India: Muslims in fear in India’s Gurugram after attacks on mosque, businesses
(Arbab Ali, Al Jazeera)

India: Discriminatory policies trigger religious violence in India
(Meenakshi Ganguly, Human Rights Watch)

After synagogue gunman’s death sentence, Pittsburgh’s Jews feel relief, resilience — and gratitude
(Ron Kampeas, Religion News Service)

Adidas is donating Yeezy sales to anti-hate groups. US Jews say it’s making best of bad situation
(Luis Andres Henao, Mariam Fam, and Tiffany Stanley, Religion News Service)

Muslim missionaries accused of trafficking Amazon Indigenous boys to Turkey
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Religion News Service)

In joint letter to European Union, CEC and the World Council of Churches urge lifting blockade of Nagorno-Karabagh
(Conference of European Churches)

Religious liberty doesn’t have to make polarization worse
(Thomas C. Berg, Christianity Today)

Nicaragua: Police and paramilitary infiltrate Nicaraguan churches
(Havana Times)

Iraq: A feud between a patriarch and a militia leader adds to the woes of Iraqi Christians
(Abby Sewell and Salar Salim, Associated Press)

Application for tax exemption does not violate organization's free exercise rights
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Ecclesiastical abstention doctrine bars court from deciding dispute over parish funds
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Denying Satanic Temple's invocation request upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

The Supreme Court’s ‘neutral’ stance on religion creates more chaos than clarity
(Steven Smith, Deseret News)

Iran’s political agenda: Women’s bodies at the intersection of religion and law
(Faegheh Shirazi, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Malaysia: Woman convert fails to get High Court leave in bid to be declared Christian after divorcing Muslim man
(Ida Lim, Malay Mail)

Will non denominational surge lead courts to review more intra-church disputes?
(Jason Chahyadi, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)

Sanchez v. France: Are the expanded liability rules foreseeable for social media users?
(Meri Baghdasaryan, Strasbourg Observers)

Connecticut law ending religious vaccine exemptions for children is upheld
(Jonathan Stempel, Reuters)

Misconceptions of Religious Freedom: Toward an Empirical Study of Religious Freedom Awareness
(Anthony Blasi, Olga Breskaya, Giuseppe Giordan, MDPI)

Slaughter of Nigerian Christians warrants international attention
(Max Primorac, The Heritage Foundation)

Nigeria: 2023 elections was a charade-Catholic Church
(Fred Ezeh, The Sun Nigeria)

Nine years later but in an important precedent the UK acknowledges that acts of genocide have been committed by ISIS against Yazidis
(Lord David Alton)

British academics slam Quran desecrations as 'extremist acts'
(Anadolu Agency)

“Selling the family silver”?: Re St Mary and All Saints Willingham
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Collaboration between Church of England dioceses
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Wednesday, 2 August 2023

2023 Oxford Conference: Polarized Constitutionalism
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law)

2023 Oxford Conference: International Sermon Studies Association Conference: Sermons and Human Dignity
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law)

A proclamation on establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
(The White House)

Meeting of U.S. officials with Taliban representatives
(U.S. Department of State)

EVENT, 2 August 2023 (5:30 PM ET): Religicide: A Tanenbaum Book Talk with Dr. Georgette F. Bennett (New York City)
(Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding)

‘We have more religious freedom now than ever in our lifetime,’ says top conservative legal expert Kelly Shackelford
(Tal Heinrich, All Israel News)

Philippines: Religious groups express support, concern on Religious Freedom bill
(Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News)

Philippines: ‘Red-tagging’ Christians to silence govt critics in the Philippines
(Tony Davenport, Vision)

Metropolitan of Sweden: We oppose to any kind of effort that disparages sacred symbols
(Orthodox Times)

Sweden plans to step up border controls as security situation worsens during Quran burning crisis
(Associated Press)

WCC urges renewal of joint peace message on 70th anniversary of Korean War Armistice Agreement
(World Council of Churches)

Korean Catholics march for environment, social justice
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

KAICIID and WOSM to renew MoU and enhance youth leadership at the 25th Edition of World Scout Jamboree
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

UK acknowledges acts of genocide committed by Daesh against Yazidis
(Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, GOV.UK)

MoCo principals’ document shows concern over LGBTQ books, ‘opt-out’ denial: CAIR
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

The human rights backlash in criminal justice: The case of Russia’s exit from the European Convention on Human Rights
(Konstantin Skoblik, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Pakistan: ISIL claims responsibility for Pakistan bombing that killed 54 people
(Al Jazeera)

New Zealand: Muslim students report bullying starts at preschool, then it just gets worse
(Jody O'Callaghan, Stuff)

Grosam v. the Czech Republic: being the master of characterisation, not the master of transformation
(Rianne Herregodts, Strasbourg Observers)

Oklahoma parents, faith leaders and education group sue to stop US’s first public religious school
(Sean Murp, Associated Press)

Christian nationalists can’t wait for this school in Oklahoma to open
(Rachel Laser, The New York Times)

The opening of a religious charter school is not Christian nationalism
(Natan Ehrenreich, National Review)

How Oklahoma became ground zero in the war over church-state separation
(Samuel L. Perry, Time)

Nigeria: Music video controversy in Nigeria: Logos Olori misreads a religious time bomb
(Sanya Osha, The Conversation)

Denmark will continue close dialogue with Muslim countries over Quran burnings
(Middle East Monitor)

We must guard against the dangers of AI and religious extremism | Opinion
(Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Newsweek)

OIC slams Sweden, Denmark response as both mull ban on Quran burning
(Daily Sabah)

Pittsburgh synagogue shooter sentenced to death
(Aditi Sangal and Mike Hayes, CNN)

Pittsburgh synagogue gunman gets death penalty
(Nadine Yousif, BBC News)

Religious liberty protects Christian college from sex discrimination claim, attorneys say
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Why America’s secularization is good for American democracy
(Phil Zuckerman, Religion News Service)

Religious discrimination in California
(Michael A. Helfand, City Journal)

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