EVENT, 12 May 2026: Brussels Family Policy Exchange & 2026 European Family Values Award (European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sutherland Institute)

EVENT, 20 May 2026: Strengthening Religious Freedom Through Civil Dialogue (Chattanooga, TN, USA)(Religious Freedom Alliance Council) (Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Chattanooga African American Museum, Chattanooga Faith Forum)

HYBRID EVENT, 29 May 2026: 12th Annual Law and Religious Freedom Conference (Kansas City, MO, USA)(Religious Freedom Alliance Council) (University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law)

EVENT, 14 June 2026: Flag Day Fireside: Discussion on the Blessings of Religious Liberty (Nashua, New Hampshire, USA)(Religious Freedom Alliance Council)

EVENT, 15 June 2026: RFAC Dinner (Provo, Utah, USA)(Religious Freedom Alliance Council)

EVENT, 16 June 2026: Religious Freedom Annual Review: The USA at 250: Life, Religious Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (Provo, Utah, USA) (International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)

EVENT, 30 August 2026: Festival of Faiths (Indianapolis, IN, USA)(Religious Freedom Alliance Council)

Articles of interest - 11 May 2026 (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Australia and Fiji

Man charged with disturbing place of worship after allegedly making threats at north Brisbane mosque (Sarah Richards, ABC News Australia)

One small country set the model for reintegrating ISIS families from Syria. Here’s what Australia can learn (Helen Stenger, The Conversation)

Legislation to shut down illegal places of worship passes parliament (NSW Government)

Villagers call for Fiji to be recognised as Christian state (Sosiveta Korobiau, Fiji Sun)

Asia

China codifies and escalates its policy on the “sinicization of religion” (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

In new signature drive, Filipino Church breaks bonds of political dynasties (Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Religion steers Bengal politics in Bangladesh, India — again (Anupam Deb Kanunjna, Deutsche Welle)

When regulation becomes repression: The expanding question of state power in India (FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Vatican's Vesak message calls on Buddhists and Christians to become “artisans of peace” (Francesca Merlo, Vatican News)

Japan’s Muslim residents face increasing barriers to Islamic burial (Muslim Network TV)

Vatican official making rare trip to Taiwan for Buddhist charity celebrations (Reuters)

Middle East

Cleric slams arrest of Shia scholars in Bahrain (International Quran News Agency (IQNA))

Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly Digest April 2026 (Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Theocratic visions and liberal vacuums: Iran’s crisis of meaning (Religion Unplugged)

Iraq: Religious minorities in Kurdistan discussed at the European Parliament (Awring Shaways, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Israeli troops get prison for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon (Julia Frankel, Associated Press)

Africa

Land rights and mining: WCC, CWM demand reform in Africa (World Council of Churches)

Muslim solidarity is “sign of hope” in Mozambique, says bishop (Paulo Aido, Aid to the Church in Need)

EU urges protection of religious symbols after incident in S. Lebanon (MENA FN)

Turkey may reopen historic Greek Orthodox seminary closed for over 50 years (Stella Mazonakis, Greek City Times)

Bosnian Serb jailed for wartime killing of Muslims (TRT World)

Church leaders launch Mapping Migration report on Europe (Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)

Germany: UN called upon to investigate Germany’s “religious screening” in EU tenders (Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Europe Day: COMECE president urges EU to rediscover its founding spirit (The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Norway’s FoRB policy sets a global standard (Robert Johnson, The European Times)

Open call for evidence: Independent review into antisemitism (GOV.UK)

Labour politician is booed as thousands rally against antisemitism in London (Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

In unanimous Jewish American Heritage Month statement, Republican governors denounce rising antisemitism, reiterate solidarity with Israel (Combat Antisemitism Movement)

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz dedicates Sembach Chapel, strengthens spiritual readiness (Mary Del Rosario, U.S. Army)

Morrisey defends religious vaccine exemptions in W.Va. Supreme Court filing (Steven Allen Adams, WV News)

The US urgently needs a confirmed ambassador for religious freedom (Andrea Picciotti-Bayer, The Hill)

Black clergy strategize, preach and urge election turnout after Voting Rights Act gutting (Adelle M. Banks and Fiona André, Religion News Service)

Nebraska Supreme Court rules on non-custodial parent's right to influence children's religious upbringing (Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Rejecting church and state separation is on the wish list for Trump’s religious liberty commission (Peter Smith, Associated Press)

USCIRF urges President Trump to nominate an Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)