Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 5 April 2024
Abortion ban likely violates religious freedoms, Indiana appeals court says
(David Wells, Courthouse News Service)
Ahead of General Conference, queer United Methodist delegates organize a caucus
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Social cohesion and G20 agendas: Responding to the perils of “othering”
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
“There has never been a more critical time to protect religious freedom”: U.S. Senators urged to condemn religious freedom violations
(ADF International)
NYC to pay $17.5M to settle suit over forced removal of religious head coverings during mug shots
(Karen Mat, Associated Press)
Jewish group launches Holocaust survivor speakers bureau to fight increasing antisemitism worldwide
(Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press)
Man convicted of hate crimes for attacking Muslim man in New York City
(Minnah Arshad, USA Today)
Texas man sentenced for hate crimes following Mass shooting targeting Muslims at car repair shop
(U.S. Department of Justice)
The fight against Hindu nationalism in the United States is multifaith, says a newly formed coalition
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)
Brazil Bill that ends temporary release for non-violent criminals is criticized by Church
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Gabon Archbishop says National Dialogue to lay the groundwork for African country’s future
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Kazakhstan: list of 192 known 2023 administrative prosecutions
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
French court sentences Cardinal Ouellet, religious community to fines after expelling nun
(Alexander Folz and Zoe Romanowsky, Catholic News Agency)
Korean bishops release survey results before polls
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Nepali Christians face trial under stringent anti-conversion law
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
With the Lemon Test dead, can the Establishment Clause be unincorporated?
(Josh Blackman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
How common is religious fasting in the United States?
(Dalia Fahmy, Pew Research Center)
How soccer reveals different meanings of ‘secular’ in France and the US
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)
Does a requirement to undertake 1 day of reserve military service engender a right to conscientious objection? The recent judgment of the ECtHR in Kanatlı v. Turkey offers a new perspective.
(Işıl Kurnaz, Strasbourg Observers)
Malaysia: Interfaith council: It’s about the constitution, not religion
(Liew Yen Rou, Free Malaysia Today)
Louisiana lawmakers want Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms
(Word & Way)
A Navajo lawmaker said Arizona schools must treat eclipse like other religious holidays
(Wayne Schutsky, KJZZ)
5th Circuit split on whether fired minister can sue Baptist group
(Daniel Wiessner, Reuters)
Nicaragua jails, fines Protestant pastors over money laundering charge for which no evidence given
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
India: On the eve of national elections, India increases repression against Christian and Muslim schools (Portuguese)
(Fabio Galão, Gazeta do Povo)
Chile: Constitutional Court rules on gender inclusive education and does not create a space for the opinion of Chilean bishops (Spanish)
(Aníbal Pastor N., Religión Digital)
Russia arrests Korean missionary on espionage charges, Christian association says
(The Christian Post)
6 inmates who sued New York over its prison lockdown order will get to view solar eclipse after all
(Associated Press)
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Gov. Reynolds signs Religious Freedom Restoration Act into Law
(Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds)
Mother and daughter who sent money to Daesh member jailed after Met counter terrorism investigation
(Metropolitan Police)
Australia: Why are religious discrimination laws back in the news? And where did they come from in the first place?
(Luke Beck, The Conversation)
Sikhs in California vote on independence from India
(Sandhya Dirks, NPR)
On the commitments regarding tolerance and non-discrimination: Ensuring freedom of religion or belief
(U.S. Mission to the OSCE)
The gigantic copper mine that could test the limits of religious freedom
(Taylar Dawn Stagner, Canada's National Observer)
CEC contributes to discussion on freedom of religion or belief
(Conference of European Churches)
Results of the 2023 Strasbourg Observers best & worst poll
(Strasbourg Observers)
Muslim leaders reject chance to break bread with Biden as anger over Gaza festers
(Zeke Miller and Chris Megerian, Associated Press)
Suit for misappropriating church funds not precluded by church autonomy doctrine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Satanic Temple can move ahead with Establishment Clause challenge to its treatment by city council
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Oklahoma court considers whether to allow the US’ first publicly funded Catholic school
(Sean Murphy, Associated Press)
Rising numbers of Americans say Jews and Muslims face a lot of discrimination
(Becka A. Alper, Laura Silver and Besheer Mohamed, Pew Research Center)
Indian American lawmakers urge DOJ to address ‘alarming’ rise of Hindu temple vandalism
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)
Zelensky meets with representatives of Protestant and Roman Catholic churches
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
On religion: The role of faith and politics in the life of Sen. Joe Lieberman
(Terry Mattingly, Religion Unplugged)
Jewish leaders ask Congress to restore $30.5 million in security funds for nonprofit facilities
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Malaysian NGOs seek action against Islamic preachers
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
In the Strasbourg Club: Executief van de Moslims van België and others v Belgium
(Eva Brems, Strasbourg Observers)
Vietnam: Buddhist community hall destroyed and four Khmer Krom monks arrested in continued crackdown
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Kellyanne Conway: Democrats are losing minority voters over their ‘attack’ on religion
(Filip Timotija, The Hill)
Inaugural meeting focuses on strengthening academic freedom and democracy in higher education
(Council of Europe)
Philippine court orders arrest of religious leader with ties to Duterte
(Reuters)
Towards “net zero”: a cautionary tale
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Uganda: Türk dismayed at ruling upholding discriminatory anti-gay law
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
In global trouble spots, the force of faith
(Christian Science Monitor)
Monday, 1 April 2024
Vietnam: On the convictions of Vietnamese ethnic minority and religious freedom advocates
(U.S. Department of State)
India: The intersection of Benedict Anderson’s “Imagined Communities” and Hindu Nationalism in India
(Sahil, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
India’s Muslims: An increasingly marginalized population
(Lindsay Maizland, Council on Foreign Relations)
America can’t isolate the Taliban
(Asfandyar Mir and Andrew Watkins, Foreign Affairs)
Around the web - 1 April 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
The Russian Orthodox Church and inner-Orthodox relations
(Thomas Bremer, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
The Russian Orthodox Church and the Holy See: 70 years of political ecumenism
(Pavlo Smytsnyuk, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
How the Russian Orthodox Church preserves international sympathies for Russia’s war against Ukraine
(Regina Elsner, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
A moralist international under arms? Russia’s role in the global culture wars, prior to and during its war with Ukraine
(Kristina Stoeckl, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Religious conservatism in war-time “culture wars”: Does the same stance on values represent an elective affinity with the geopolitical agenda of the Russian federation?
(Alar Kilp, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Orthodox Churches in the Baltic States torn between Moscow and Constantinople
(Sebastian Rimestad, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
The Russian Orthodox Church as a tool for Kremlin influence in the Balkans
(Robert C. Blitt, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Calendars, prayerbooks, and chatgroups from the Russian-Ukrainian War
(Nadieszda Kizenko, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Statement of religious leaders regarding Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid
(Institute for Religious Freedom, Ukraine)
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly March 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
German military to get Islamic chaplaincy
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Cuba: 622 religious freedom violations recorded in 2023
(Evangelical Focus)
Cuba: LGBTQ-inclusive church in Cuba welcomes all in a country that once sent gay people to labor camps
(Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 1 April 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Statement from President Joe Biden on Easter
(The White House)
Haiti: In crime-stricken Haiti, Catholic priests and nuns are targeted as kidnap victims
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Religion News Service)
New York’s governor is hiring her first Muslim Affairs director
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)
Pope’s ‘white flag’ ironically sparks political civil war in Italy
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Peru bishops call for dialogue amid presidential scandal
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Officials condemn antisemitic and anti-Israel vandalism at 2 Philadelphia-area synagogues
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Islamophobia in France: Boar head found near mosque
(Jihane Rahhou, Morocco World News)
Boom in Muslim conversions to Christianity in France: How is the Church responding?
(Solène Tadié, National Catholic Register)
Law and religion roundup – 31st March
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
2024 Dialogue 360 Programme
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly Digest March
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Iran: “The boot on my neck”: Iranian authorities’ crime of persecution against Baha’is in Iran
(Human Rights Watch)
What is gender equality?
(G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Religious freedom, copyright royalties, and court review of agency determinations
(Thomas Berg, Mirror of Justice Blog)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest March 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
What role do Churches have in modern society?: 'there is a way out of the darkness'
(YouTube Video, GBNews)
Brazil: Congressman sues Public Ministry against MTST for religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Ana Carolina Curvello, Gazeta do Povo)
The politics of religion as Trump sells Bibles and Biden is criticized over Easter eggs
(Zachary B. Wolf, CNN)
JK Rowling in ‘arrest me’ challenge over hate crime law
(James Cook and Paul Hastie, BBC News)
Sunday, 31 March 2024
Navigating faith and duty during a wartime Easter
(Steve Moore, G20 Interfaith Forum)
Friday, 29 March 2024
Series: The Russian Orthodox Church beyond Russia: Global pretensions and security concerns
(Thomas Bremer, Pavlo Smytsnyuk, Regina Elsner, Kristina Stoeckl, Alar Kilp, Sebastian Rimestad, Robert C. Blitt, and Nadieszda Kizenko, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Russia imposes personal sanctions against bishops of the UGCC in Canada
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Pakistan: Any ban on enrolling non-Muslim, Ahmadi lawyers is unconstitutional: Pakistan Bar Council
(The Friday Times)
Israeli court halts subsidies for ultra-Orthodox, deepening turmoil over mandatory military service
(Associated Press)
The Making of the Modern Muslim State: Islam and Governance in the Middle East and North Africa
(Malika Zeghal, Princeton University Press)
French soccer federation limits support for players’ Ramadan observance. Critics see discrimination
(Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press)
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