Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
The West must call out attacks on religious freedom in Ukraine
(Robert Amsterdam, Comment Central)
8 in 10 Americans say religion is losing influence in public life
(Michael Rotolo, Gregory A. Smith, and Johnathan Evans, Pew Research Center)
Supreme Court rejects appeal from parents who lost custody of trans teen
(Maureen Groppe and Kristine Phillips, USA Today)
Challenging Nigeria university bans against Christian fellowship on campus
(ADF International)
Religious charities, schools in Virginia can require employees to align with their beliefs: ADF
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Belgium: Does religious freedom trump animal welfare?
(Peter Singer, Bangkok Post)
The court in Chuvashia announced the verdict for faith to one of the oldest prisoners of conscience. Yuriy Yuskov was sentenced to 5 years suspended.
(Jehovah's Witnesses - Russia)
Russia/Ukraine: A decade of suppressing non-Russian identities in occupied Crimea
(Amnesty International)
The massive copper mine that could test the limits of religious freedom
(Taylar Dawn Stegner, Grist)
Women’s rights activists and right-wing groups face off at CSW
(Stephanie Fillion, Devex)
Sierra Leone's first lady gets personal about child marriage
(Anna Gawel, Devex)
Beyond God and atheism
(Philip Goff, OUPblog: Religion)
Church Reporter, Vol. 9, 15 March 2024 - Newsletter for the English speaking members and friends of the Church Law Society (PDF)
(Jiří Rajmund Tretera, Záboj Horák, et al., eds., Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro – České Budějovice)
(New Book) Religion and Contract Law in Islam: From Medieval Trade to Global Finance
(Valentino Cattelan, Routledge (ICLARS Series on Law and Religion))
What are we teaching our students?
(Daniel Philpott, The Irish Rover)
France becomes first country to enshrine abortion in constitution: 'Guaranteed freedom'
(Jon Brown, The Christian Post)
Churches affirm their role in shaping Europe’s future ahead of EU elections
(Conference of European Churches)
Buddhists use karmic healing against one US city’s anti-Asian legacy and nationwide prejudice today
(Deepa Bharath and Terry Tang, Associated Press)
Algeria scolds television stations for Ramadan advertising blitz and immoral programming
(Associated Press)
Conference in Paris reflects on cooperation between churches and political actors
(Conference of European Churches)
Colombia: District Religious Liberty Committee elected its new board of directors (Spanish)
(Secretaria del Gobierno)
Monday, 18 March 2024
Poland to audit state funding for religious groups – “in particular Catholic church” – under former government
(Notes from Poland)
UN experts warn Islamophobia rising to “alarming levels”
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
USCIRF calls attention to prevalence of anti-Muslim hate around the world
(United States Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Somalia's Syl hotel attacked by al-Shabab fighters in Mogadishu
(George Wright and Ian Wafula, BBC News)
Chora Church, a famed Christian icon, to be reopened as a Mosque
(Engy Magdy, The Tablet)
Sweden won't help citizens held in Daesh camps return: FM
(Middle East Monitor)
8 in 10 Americans say religion is losing influence in public life
(Michael Rotolo, Gregory A. Smith, and Johnathan Evans, Pew Research Center)
Joint statement on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Syrian uprising
(U.S. Department of State)
5 facts about religion and Americans’ views of Donald Trump
(Gregory A. Smith, Pew Research Center)
Fasting at school? More Muslim students in the US are getting support during Ramadan
(Corey Williams, Giovanna Dell’Orto, Mariam Fam and Darren Sands, Associated Press)
Custody order barring father from taking child to his church upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Justice Department secures agreement with Connecticut Department of Correction to protect religious rights in prison
(U.S. Department of Justice)
Multi-country statement on the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
(U.S. Department of State)
Around the web - 18 March 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Australia: NSW Conversion Practices Bill- risks to religious freedom
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Australia: Religious schools can be sued for acting in good faith, in Albo Government’s proposed reforms
(Michaelia Cash, The West Australian)
UK Parliament APPG FoRB Readout
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)
NSS slams government for backtracking on non-stun slaughter labels
(National Secular Society)
Law and religion roundup – 17th March
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Photos of the week: Ramadan begins; Bulgarian patriarch dies
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)
Religion Watch, Volume 39 No. 4
(Religion Watch, Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Air pollution did not violate city residents' free exercise rights
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
7th Circuit: Zoning denial for Catholic school athletic field lights did not violate RLUIPA
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 18 March 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Denial of temporary religious worker visa upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Thousands of churches will likely close down. What happens to all that real estate?
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)
Gambia moves toward overturning landmark ban on female genital cutting
(Ruth Maclean, The New York Times)
Iraq: Abbas Raad — Photographing moments of religious worship in Iraq
(Dalia Al-Dujaili, We Present)
Iraq: Report reveals ‘deep animosity’ towards Jews and Judaism in Iraqi curriculum
(Jewish News)
Iraq: USCIRF calls for U.S. government to support Iraq’s religious communities on anniversary of genocide determination
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Ireland tries and fails to erase mothers
(John Duggan, First Things)
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest March 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Brazil: Father baptizes son without mother's knowledge and is convicted of moral damage (Portuguese)
(Eduardo Velozo Fuccia, Conjur)
Religious freedom and animal well-being (Spanish)
(Pedro Moreno Brenes, Diario Sur)
Friday, 15 March 2024
New definition of extremism (2024)
(GOV.UK)
The British government wants to define extremism. Critics say it risks creating more division
(Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui, Associated Press)
The UK Government’s new definition of “extremism”
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
No apology for spreading the gospel around the world
(The Church of England)
The Legal History of the Church of England: From the Reformation to the Present
(Edited by Norman Doe and Stephen Coleman, Bloomsbury Publishing)
Canadian bill would not criminalize all religious expression
(Gwen Roley, AFP Fact Check)
Canada: Father asks court to stop 27-year-old daughter's MAID death, review doctors' sign-off
(Meghan Grant, CBC News)
A Wisconsin ruling on Catholic Charities raises the bar for religious tax exemptions
(Todd Richmond, Associated Press)
Afghan refugee stands trial in first of 3 killings that shocked Albuquerque’s Muslim community
(Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press)
India's Citizenship Amendment Act: Why is it controversial?
(Murali Krishnan, Deutsche Welle)
India's new citizenship law for religious minorities leaves Muslims out
(Sheena Goodyear, CBC Radio)
Nicaragua: “The Ortega regime has 100 evangelical pastors in prison”
(Pedro Tarquis, Evangelical Focus)
As threats to Black cemeteries persist, a movement to preserve their sacred heritage gains strength
(Giovanna Dell'Orto and Darren Sands, Associated Press)
Zimbabwe police rescue 251 children used as labor and find graves in religious sect compound raid
(Farai Mutsaka, Associated Press)
50 experts on religious minorities explore in Navarra the significant legislative discrimination in Spain
(The European Times)
Australian efforts on Islamophobia flag despite Christchurch wake-up call
(Lyndal Rowlands, Al Jazeera)
New report details what evangelicals think about social and political issues
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)
5th Circuit: Texas statute giving parents right to consent to teens' contraceptives is consistent with Title X
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
South Africa threatens to arrest dual nationals fighting in Israeli army
(Middle East Monitor)
Ramadan will be difficult for those in Gaza or other war zones – what does fasting mean for those who might be already starving?
(Mahan Mirza, The Conversation)
Philippines: WCC calls on UN to ensure counter-terrorism laws in Philippines don’t infringe on human rights
(World Council of Churches)
China: The world must honour the memory of Cao Shunli by standing up for human rights defenders in China
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Hong Kong: Sixteen international experts express “profound and grave concerns” about looming threat to religious freedom and Sacrament of Penance in Hong Kong
(Hong Kong Watch)
Cuba: Report finds return to hardline tactics
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Brazil: Industry must compensate mechanic who was pressured to change religion (Portuguese)
(Bom Dia Advogado)
3 Egyptian Coptic church monks are killed in an attack at a monastery in South Africa
(Gerald Imray, Associated Press)
Yeezy shoe sales lead Adidas to plan to donate $150 million to anti-hate groups
(Associated Press)
Wednesday, 13 March 2024
India: 'CAA is not anti-Muslim': Govt calls Al Jazeera's report as 'misleading'
(The Economic Times)
Russia: Religious freedom survey, March 2024
(Victoria Arnold and John Kinahan, Forum 18 News Service)
Imminent risk of irreparable harm: why failure to protect Russians fleeing the Putin regime would be a serious blow to the Court’s reputation
(Eszter Benkő, Tamás Fazekas And Zsolt Szekeres, Strasbourg Observers)
Why we must ban Russian Orthodox Church’s activities in Ukraine
(Mykyta Poturaiev, Kyiv Post)
India announces steps to implement a citizenship law that excludes Muslims
(Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press)
India: US, UN express concern about India's religion-based citizenship law
(Reuters)
India: How urbanisation – and Hinduisation – is stripping India’s indigenous communities of their cultural heritage
(Smytta Yadav, The Conversation)
Animal chaplains offer spiritual care for every species
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Australia: Queensland – new proposed discrimination law
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Australia: NSW gay conversion therapy bill offers exemptions for religion, parents
(CathNews)
Mexico’s presidential candidates sign commitment for peace with church leaders concerned by violence
(María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
Alarming religious freedom trends in democracies demand attention
(Johnnie Moore, Real Clear Politics)
Religion and diplomacy in the Middle East – student event blogger report
(Alison Carter, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Public bodies slandering religious minorities: A wrong decision by the Osaka district court
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Sierra Leone: Africa's high tolerance for other faiths
(Kate Hairsine, Deutsche Welle)
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