Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 10 May 2023
An Arizona lawmaker (who is also a minister) is under investigation for a Bible prank
(Ben Giles, NPR)
YU launches historic Jewish studies conference in Dubai
(Yeshiva University News)
In NC, a church network turns unused church buildings into homes for refugees
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Faith-based employee groups at US State Department
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
Catholic, Coptic Orthodox popes offer joint Vatican blessing
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Why we put a holocaust cattle car in the yard
(Jacob M. Miller, The Harvard Crimson)
Texas Legislature passes bill allowing chaplains in public schools
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Network for Dialogue retreat injects new energy into work with refugees and migrants
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
What one man learned about religion visiting every country in the world
(Ken Chitwood, Religion Unplugged)
Communism poses top threat to Christian lives worldwide, religious freedom expert says
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Church leaders want ASEAN to combat human trafficking
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Most U.S. parents pass along their religion and politics to their children
(Alan Cooperman, Pew Research Center)
Monday, 8 May 2023
EVENT, 8-9 May 2023: Social Media, Cyber-religion and Culture, 25th IFSSO International Conference, Mumbai, India
(International Federation of Social Science Organizations)
Iran hangs 2 in rare blasphemy case as executions surge
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)
Iran executes two men convicted of blasphemy
(David Gritten, BBC News)
USCIRF alarmed by worldwide blasphemy enforcement
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF documents 2,000 victims, calls attention to millions persecuted for religion or belief
(United States Commission on International Religious Freedom)
U.N. conference highlights global unity but limited leverage over the Taliban
(Belquis Ahmadi, Kate Bateman, Andrew Watkins, and Scott Worden, The United States Institute of Peace)
Sweden arrests far-right politician Rasmus Paludan in absentia: Report
(Beyza Binnur Donmez, Anadolu Agency)
Onions and prayer rugs: Turkey approaches its decisive battle for democracy
(Christian Oliver, Politico)
Police detain 74 ISIL suspects in 23 provinces
(Hurriyet Daily News)
Corporal punishment on the rise in Afghanistan
(Patricia Gossman, Human Rights Watch)
How China is hell-bent on antagonizing Nepali Buddhists?
(Khabarhub)
The long road to confronting China’s war on religion: Part II
(Susan Crabtree, Real Clear Politics)
Chinese Christians face hefty fines for ‘illegal gatherings’
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Canada expels Chinese diplomat accused of targeting lawmaker
(Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer, Reuters)
Lebanon’s unique religious diversity is under threat
(Knox Thames, Religion News Service)
May/June 2023 issue
(Liberty Magazine)
Saving international religious freedom
(Knox Thames, Liberty Magazine)
A new status quo for Temple Mount
(Alan Baker, Israel Hayom)
Israel: Knesset members relaunch Christian Allies Caucus in Israeli parliament
(The Jerusalem Post)
Our first freedom is in the crosshairs
(Eric Patterson, World)
In 5 years the Church in Nicaragua has suffered more than 500 attacks, 90 in 2023 alone
(Walter Sanchez Silva, Catholic News Agency)
Deaths raise fresh fears over cow vigilantism in India
(BBC News)
Forbidden transactions between Muslims and Hindus in Gujarat, India
(Sabah Gurmat, Center for Religion and Media at NYU)
Anti-Muslim Twitter feed in Spain: ‘A recipe for disaster’
(David Klepper, Associated Press)
Secular Europe: "The law on religious freedom should be repealed and replaced by a law on freedom of conscience" (Spanish)
(Raúl Bocanegra, Púnlico)
CAIR urges Montana Legislature to allow prayers of all faiths
(Ibrahim Hooper, Council on American-Islamic Relations)
Muslim women wrestlers just want to compete — but they can't for an arbitrary reason
(Rowaida Abdelaziz, The Huffington Post)
VIRTUAL COURSE: Seeking Religious Literacy
(Parliament of the World’s Religions and The Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement)
Articles of interest - 8 May 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Dutch police arrest 154 soccer fans over antisemitic chants
(Claire Moses, The New York Times)
No, the framers were not more about protecting religion from the state than vice versa
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
Government allows Catholic hospital to keep sanctuary lamp burning
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Restricting religious freedom is no way to address immigration
(Samuel Rodriguez, Newsweek)
Conference essay: City of Atlanta faith-based initiative
(Wesley Myrick, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Statement from the Secretary General on Sudan
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Elementary school district settles lawsuit over ditching evangelical Christian university’s interns
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
With interfaith elements in the coronation, King Charles III will promise to defend the Church of England as the state religion
(Rosalind Ward, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
The Coronation: Materials and commentaries
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
UK PM Rishi Sunak reads from biblical book at multi-faith Coronation
(The Economic Times)
Against the odds, The King has proved himself a true Defender of the Faiths
(Charles Moore, The Telegraph)
Coronation ceremony marks turning point in Catholic-Anglican relations
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Religious lessons and symbolism from a King’s coronation
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)
Faith and the Coronation of King Charles III: What to know about a changing Britain
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)
Law and religion round-up – 7th May
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Anti-cultism à la mode de Caen: To avoid a court hearing, MIVILUDES humors Scientology
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Diverse cultures and shared experiences shape Asian American identities
(Neil G. Ruiz, Luis Noe-Bustamante and Sono Shah, Pew Research Center)
Islamophobia incidents are rising in Massachusetts public schools, report finds
(Ashley Soebroto, Boston Globe)
Gunmen in Nigeria kidnap 40 worshippers from church
(Reuters)
Ukraine: second conscientious objector jail sentence
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Autocephaly, geopolitics, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
(Nicholas Denysenko, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs)
Brazil: Religious intolerance crimes triple in Espírito Santo [State] in one year (Portuguese)
(Redação, A Gazeta)
In the Assembly, a draft Law on religion in Ecuador was presented (Spanish)
(Roger Vélez, El Comercio)
Sunday, 7 May 2023
Two weeks in review, 24 April – 7 May 2023
(Tal Gross, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Friday, 5 May 2023
Canada: CSIS head tells MP Michael Chong that he and family were targeted by China
(Steven Chase and Robert Fife, The Globe and Mail)
Canada: Ontario offers $10K grants to religious, cultural institutions for anti-hate measures
(CBC News)
Canada: Bill C-11’s effect on religion remains to be seen
(Quinton Amundson, B.C. Catholic)
EVENT, 5 May 2023 (9AM ET): A Public Forum on Policy Interventions for the Rohingya Crisis (Washington, DC)
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Readout of White House listening session on Islamophobia
(The White House)
The Gambian Parliamentary FORB Caucus in action
(Express News)
How governments and civil society can help China's Uyghurs
(Maya Wang, Human Rights Watch)
China: Phone search program tramples Uyghur rights
(Human Rights Watch)
US Commission: China’s suppression of Tibetan Buddhism intensified
(International Campaign for Tibet)
Remarks by Homeland Security advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall to the Anti-Defamation League
(The White House)
S4, Ep. 20: The Ten Commandments (podcast)
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)
Religion and the crisis of displaced persons: Nigeria
(Lena Musoka, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The Muslim prayer hall that may spark the next Israeli-Palestinian battle
(Daoud Kuttab, Religion News Service)
State Department forced Muslim security guard to shave beard, lawsuit claims
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Russia and the Jehovah’s Witnesses again: Nabokikh
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Conference essay: A defense of the compulsory deference approach for church property litigation
(Matthew R. Goldammer, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Religious minorities bear the brunt of Myanmar's repression
(Valentin Cebron, La Croix International)
We can work together to build a more just and peaceful future for all
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
India trashes USCIRF report, calls it misrepresentation of facts
(The Times of India)
India: Deleting history, deepening the divisive agenda
(Ram Puniyani, South Asia Monitor)
Kerala Story: Film on alleged Indian ISIL recruits gets pushback
(Shaheen Abdulla, Al Jazeera)
Islam’s influence on the US
(Al Jazeera)
No application of Iranian inheritance law in Maryland court
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Church leaders in Papua: “the current situation is a human tragedy”
(World Council of Churches)
WCC moderator speaks on ethical considerations in light of the war of aggression against Ukraine
(World Council of Churches)
French politician: Secularism law not meant as weapon against Christian students
(Christian Network Europe)
Campaigning pastor: Getting arrested is an opportunity to experience God
(Christian Network Europe)
Cupiał v Poland: What could this case offer on religious upbringing?
(Betül Durmuş, Strasbourg Observers)
Photos of the week: Vesak festivities; Coronation prep
(Religion News Service)
Leaders of Islamic State have a short life-expectancy
(The Economist)
11th Circuit considers religious freedom of Buddhist meditation center
(Gabriel Tynes, Courthouse News Service)
A zero-tolerance policy has helped Bangladesh contain terrorism and militancy
(Kamal Uddin Mazumder, South Asia Monitor)
Bangladesh, Myanmar and food diplomacy: Can it lead to resolution of the Rohingya refugee crisis?
(Harunur Rasid, South Asia Monitor)
Saudi Arabia says LGBTQ visitors are now welcome
(Julia Buckley, CNN)
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