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Events Headlines
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS (due 10 June 2020): KAICIID Fellows Programme
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
WEB EVENT, 10 June 2020 (10:30 am EDT): USCIRF virtual hearing on safeguarding religious freedom in Northeast Syria
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
ONLINE EVENT, 9 June 2020 (5 pm EDT) : China at a Crossroads: Standing up for Human Rights During the Pandemic
(Organizer, Montreal Institute For Genocide and Human Rights Studies & Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights)
GAiN Europe Series Launches May 30, 2020
(Victor Hulbert/Corrado Cozzi, Adventist News Network)
WEBINAR, 29 May 2020 (9 am EDT): "Nation State Formation and the Muslim-Majority World" with Recep Senturk
(Recep Şentürk, Jeremy Barker, and Osman Softić, Religious Freedom Institute)
EVENT: 29 May 2020 Webinar: Covid-19 and Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion
(Danish Office of the Special Representative for Freedom of Religion or Belief)
COVID-19, Religion and Belief: Webinar Series Landing Page
(BYU Law ICLRS, LDS-Europe, CRS, DISPOC, FGV Direito RIo, FBK-ISR)
International Headlines
Digest archive
AP Week in Pictures: Middle East
(Associated Press)
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #71: Basic Ecclesial Communities (CEBs) Respond to the COVID-19 Crisis
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
The Xinjiang class: How the CCP tries to 'convert' the Uyghurs—and fails
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)
Israeli PM: Palestinians in Jordan Valley won’t be citizens
(Associated Press)
Indigenous leader calls for help in Brazil’s biggest reserve
(Yesica Fisch and Mauricio Savarese, Associated Press)
So-called honor killing of teen girl brings outcry in Iran
(Associated Press)
China passes national security law for Hong Kong despite backlash
(Olivia Miller, International Chrisitan Concern)
Armenian church defaced in Turkey
(Olivia Miller, International Christian Concern)
Christian watchdog group finds China’s increased control over Hong Kong ‘concerning’
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
20 Christians killed, others injured or missing in Fulani attacks that displaced 20,000
(Samuel Smith, The Christian Post)
Canadian city Calgary bans 'conversion therapy'
(Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post)
Religious engagement in development work: A continuing journey
(Katherine Marshall, Nomos elibrary)
What religion can offer in response to COVID-19
(Katherine Marshall, World Politics Review)
How faith actors can help fight Covid-19 crisis
(Aisha Binte Abdur Rob, The Daily Star (Bangladesh))
Religious freedom in jeopardy as China passes new Hong Kong ‘security laws’
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)
Catholic gift shops near Vatican struggle to reopen after coronavirus lockdown
(Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency)
Vatican archives will reopen to scholars June 1
(Hannah Brockhaus, Catholic News Agency)
Freeing workers: Labor and plague in the Islamic World
(Shireen Hamza, The Revealer: A Review of Religion and the Media)
Netanyahu not destabilized over Palestinians cutting security coordination
(Mazal Mualem, Al-Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Egypt registers highest number of coronavirus cases in single day
(Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Saudi airlines to start domestic flights again
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
As Hifter loses ground in Libya, Egypt weighs options to support him
(Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)
Speculation grows in Iran about outgoing parliament speaker's possible presidential bid
(Sarbas Nazari, Al-Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Rainbow flags over Baghdad fan debate, spur fear
(Gilgamesh Nabeel, Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Israeli doctors fly to Sudan to save diplomat who strove to normalize ties
(Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Settlers argue over Netanyahu’s annexation plan
(Danny Zaken, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Putin appoints third special envoy to Syria
(Anton Mardasov, Al-Monitor: Russia Pulse)
AUCCRO initiates another meeting with the prime minister since the adaptive quarantine fails to meet the believers' needs
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
The Impact of Ethnic and Religious Diversity on Nigeria's Development Priorities
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs | World Faiths Development Dialogue)
Freedom House calls for vigilance to dombat abuses during coronavirus pandemic
(Freedom House)
USCIRF condemns arrest of Ahmadi Muslim on blasphemy charges in Pakistan
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
COVID-19 in Chile: will all religious gatherings be banned?
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Online protest against the continuing repression of freedom of religion or belief in eritrea on 28 May
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Australia’s bishops seeking ‘whole-of-Church’ approach for child protection
(Christopher White, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
House sends Uyghur human rights bill to Trump's desk
(Haley Byrd, CNN)
Kazakhstan: warned for violating coronavirus regulations, but fined for leading worship
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
The Quran, round 2: Publishing commentary based on Christian perspectives makes news
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
Working with China can’t be at the expense of our values or the rule of law
(Guy Saint-Jacques, The Globe and Mail)
As Covid-19 crisis grows, Latin America’s basic ecclesial communities step up to help
(Eduardo Campos Lima, America: The Jesuit Review)
How ancient Christians responded to pandemics
(Michael Flexsenhar III, OUPblog Religion)
USCIRF welcomes passage of Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act in House of Representatives
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Costa Rica celebrates first same-sex weddings
(BBC News)
Initiative for the decriminalization of abortion rejected in Guanajuato
(The Yucatan Times)
Italy’s most notorious unsolved mystery illustrates Vatican’s trust deficit
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Hindu nationalists attack film set depicting a church in India
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Hong Kong church leaders divided on protests
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
The facts about ‘sharia’ may surprise you
(Sumbul Ali-Karamali, Religion Dispatches)
Canadian MP raises concern over Tibet in the Parliament
(Choekyi Lhamo, Phayul Newsdesk)
Man gets Federal Court’s nod to proceed with challenge of Selangor’s Shariah law criminalising unnatural sex
(Ida Lim, Malay Mail)
The real virus to the Chinese Communist Party: religious freedom
(Michael Waltz, The Hill)
Cuba uses the coronavirus crisis to continue to harass, imprison religious leaders | Opinion
(Teo Babun, Miami Herald)
A bitter feud over power and money erupts in Syria
(Christoph Reuter, Spiegel International)
United Methodists reschedule meeting — and decision on splitting — to 2021
(Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service)
Oman ending lockdown in capital
(Al-Monitor: Gulf Pulse)
Iran opens new parliament packed with Rouhani critics
(Al-Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Kirkuk tribesmen rally as IS launch new wave of attacks
(Shelly Kittleson, Al-Monitor)
Erdogan dashes hopes of Turkey-Israel reconciliation
(Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Will Israel fully legalize use of cannabis?
(Mordechai Goldman, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Europe Headlines
DAILY HIGHLIGHT #72 - Russia: COVID-19 Causes Rumbles in Orthodox-State Relations
(COVID-19: Exploring Faith Dimensions, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)
COMECE launches an online platform for live streaming masses
(COMECE: The Catholic Church in the European Union)
AP Photos: Romanian port city marks Easter late due to virus
(Vadim Ghirda, Associated Press)
Covid-19: Vatican urges OSCE to promote religious freedom amid rising intolerance
(Devin Watkins, Vatican News)
The COMECE Social Affairs Commission releases statement on proposed EU recovery plan
(COMECE: The Catholic Church in the European Union)
Let Europe recover through justice: Reaction of the COMECE Social Affairs Commission to the proposed recovery plan
(Position Paper, COMECE: The Catholic Church in the European Union)
Hungary outlaws changing birth gender on documents
(BBC News)
Germany: Halle synagogue shooter charged with double murder
(Deutsche Welle)
Turkey readies for 'new normal' after declaring success against coronavirus
(Ayla Jean Yackley, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Italian court upholds lease of historic abbey to conservative Catholic group with American ties
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Steve Bannon wins first major battle for medieval monastery
(Cristina Ruiz, The Art Newspaper)
Four Jehovah's Witnesses awaiting trial finally freed from custody
(Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
COVID-19: latest guidance from the Church of England
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Does a church charity have a right to leasehold enfranchisement? Hope Community Church
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
The German Constitutional Court and the right to end life
(Justin Collings, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
New CofE guidance: fabric and building maintenance
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
North Macedonia’s Muslim leader sacked over choice of bride
(Associated Press)
Crimean Jehovah's Witness sent to Russian prison camp
(Credo.Press, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))
Trial of Aum Shinrikyo's Russian cell head begins in Rostov-on-Don
(Interfax-Religion)
Jewish Labour Movement welcomes party’s new general secretary
(Jewish News)
Intel: US, Italy to co-host virtual meeting of anti-IS coalition
(Al-Monitor)
Turkey conducts rare strike in Iraq's Sulaimaniyah province against PKK
(Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Pedersen et al v. Norway: Progress towards child-centrism at the European Court of Human Rights?
(Katre Luhamaa and Jenny Krutzinna, Strasbourg Observers)
Poland shocked by documentary exposing church pedophilia
(Monika Sieradzka, Der Spiegel)
United States Headlines
Announcing the Religious Freedom Annual Review: Religion and Religious Freedom in the COVID-19 Era: Finding Community and Hope
(The International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
10 lessons on the beauty of interfaith harmony
(Samuel B. Hislop, Public Square Magazine)
Texas Supreme Court rules against Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth in property dispute
(Egan Millard, Episcopal News Service)
Religious Freedom in Focus, Volume 86 - May 2020
(The United States Department of Justice)
As churches reopen, Supreme Court faces balancing act between physical and spiritual health
(Richard Wolf, USA Today)
UN experts urge US states to honor reproductive rights amid COVID-19 pandemic
(Alanah Lockwood, Jurist: Legal News & Research)
Justice Departments sends letter to California governor calling for equal treatment of religious gatherings
(The United States Department of Justice)
Justice Department files suit against Jackson, New Jersey alleging zoning code used to keep out Orthodox Jewish schools and residents
(The United States Department of Justice)
North Lauderdale, Florida changes zoning code to equalize treatment of places of worship
(The United States Department of Justice)
Missouri man indicted for hate crime and arson charges
(The United States Department of Justice)
Rastafarian prisoner released from solitary confinement after Justice Department files brief supporting religious liberty claim
(The United States Department of Justice)
Broad opposition to religious exemptions during stay-at-home orders
(PRRI)
LA allows shopping, worship sooner than expected in pandemic
(Brian Melley, Associated Press)
President Trump says ‘justice will be served’ for death of George Floyd as Romney urges action
(Leonardo Blair, The Christian Post)
Ill. churches ask Supreme Court to stop state’s lockdown order limiting worship attendees
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Planned Parenthood staff admit to selling aborted baby body parts in sworn depositions
(Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post)
'Complete victory': ACLU drops suit against pro-life 'sanctuary cities for the unborn'
(Michael Foust, Christian Headlines)
Free Abortions, Pre-K Sex Education Part of Boise Mayor's Transition Report
(Michael Foust, Christian Headlines)
Transgender athlete policy violates Title IX, Education department rules
(Catholic News Agency)
Church reopening debate revolves around religious freedom, public safety
(Dennis Sadowski, Catholic News Service)
Maryland county lifts ban on Communion
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
US senators concerned over potential COVID-19 outbreak at Guantanamo Bay
(Erin Napoleon, Jurist: Legal News & Research)
County reopens in-person religious services under attendance limitations
(Hector Hernandez Jr., Highland Community News)
St. Augustine bishop calls for end to Florida death penalty
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)
Indianapolis Muslims call for hate crime investigation into mosque shooting on Eid
(Aysha Khan, Religion News Service)
Before reopening, houses of worship should consider what their faith holds most dear
(Simran Jeet Singh, Religion News Service)
The fight over reopening churches reaches the Supreme Court
(Ian Millhiser, Vox)
DOJ sues New Jersey town over anti-Jewish zoning ordinances
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Justice Department files lawsuit against Township of Jackson, New Jersey, and the Township's planning board for zoning restrictions that target the orthodox Jewish community
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Family of 12 challenges Virginia restrictions on worship services of over ten persons
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Virginia family sues governor over ban on religious gatherings
(Calvin Freiburger, LifeSiteNews)
Settlement in suit against Georgia city by anti-gay preacher
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
The First Amendment and religious freedom compel me to refute Trump’s position on churches reopening
(Wendell Griffen, Baptist News Global)
Amazon’s board endorses viewpoint discrimination against conservative and Christian organizations
(The National Center for Public Policy Research)
Medical groups ask FDA to ease access to abortion pill during the pandemic
(Sarah McCammon, National Public Radio)
Could Democrats win more Latter-day Saint Votes? Here's where they diverge from evangelicals
(Ryan Burge, GetReligion)
Considerations for religious institutions in times of crisis
(Barry Black and John B. Madden, law.com)
Church challenges Colorado's limitation on size of worship services
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Church sues Colorado governor over public health order
(Janet Oravetz, 9News)
Churches challenge Oregon's COVID-19 limits
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Oregon governor sued over COVID-19 order that allows numerous gatherings, restricts churches
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Could Democrats win over Mormon votes? Here’s where they diverge from Evangelicals
(Ryan Burge, Religion Unplugged)
Religion story, maybe? Bible Belt Pentecostal preacher bounces into fame on 'The Voice'
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
This is a news story: Shuttered churches fuel death of Catholic newspapers during pandemic
(Clemente Lisi, GetReligion)
Former Obama staffer offers a primer on religion in public life
(Eric C. Miller, Religion & Politics: Fit for Polite Company)
LDS church should always report sex abuse. Arizona Legislature must make that clear
(Arizona Central OpEd)
New USAID religious-freedom adviser has history of anti-Islam comments
(Josh Rogin, The Washington Post)
Rights groups call on USAID to fire new religious adviser over anti-Muslim views
(Middle East Eye)
Maryland county bans Eucharist in church reopening order
(Christine Rousselle, Catholic News Agency)
At Manhattan mosque, an imam eases a pandemic’s grief
(Selin Thomas, Religion News Service)
Kneeling to venerate hate: The meaning of a police killing in Minnesota
(Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, Religion News Service)
COVID-19 Special Coverage from Jurist (with University of Pittsburgh)
(Timeline of US legal events, Jurist)
The opinions expressed or biases reflected in the headlines in this digest do not necessarily represent opinions or attitudes of those who maintain this headline news service. We strive for balance in presenting issues of potential interest to our readers.
This service is provided by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies.
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