Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 12 January 2026

The distorted secular state: Yet another anti-religious crusade by the federal public prosecutor's office (Portuguese)
(William Douglas, Migalhas)

B.C. court to hear Charter challenge over religious exemptions to assisted dying law
(Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press)

Articles of interest - 12 January 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Friday, 9 January 2026

Australia’s leader announces a royal commission into antisemitism after Bondi mass shooting
(Charlotte Graham-McLay, Associated Press)

Beyond indifference and denialism: Brazilian Pentecostals and the climate question
(Priscilla Cagnoni Garcia, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)

Research on religious freedom and security: What we know—and don’t know
(Scott Gustafson, Institute for Global Engagement)

India: Amid a violent fight for statehood, one community finds interfaith solidarity
(Rishabh Jain, Religion Unplugged)

From the pulpit to prison: The fight for religious freedom in South Korea
(Ryan Helfenbein, Standing for Freedom)

Korean religious groups vow to promote unity, harmony
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Colombia: Protestant pastor assassinated during New Year's Eve celebrations
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

World Iranian Christian Alliance ‘deeply concerned’ by suppression of protests
(Article 18)

Faith as statecraft: How Morocco turned religion into strategic power
(Adil Faouzi, Morocco World News)

Hindu American Foundation raises alarm over rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh ahead of elections
(South Asian Herald)

UAE limiting students coming to UK over Muslim Brotherhood concerns
(Charlie Parker and Nicola Woolcock, The Times)

Surrey temple joins protest of B.C. premier’s India visit
(Alex Browne, Cloverdale Reporter)

Legal Journal Number 3 (21): December (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)

Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Sociology of religious freedom
(Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Three aims of sociology of religious freedom: Toward a new paradigm of religious change
(Giuseppe Giordan, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Religious freedom and the courts
(James T. Richardson, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Measuring religious freedom in perceptions
(Olga Breskaya, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

India: Civil rights groups flag rise in anti-Christian incidents during Christmas season
(Counterview)

India's top court denies bail to 2 Muslim activists after 5 years in jail without trial
(AP, NBC News)

Antisemitism in China is not accidental, or marginal - opinion
(Shalom Salomón Wald, The Jerusalem Post)

China: New arrests at underground Protestant churches
(Human Rights Watch)

Curfew imposed in southern Nepal city after mosque vandalism sparks protests
(Associated Press)

'God is using Trump': Latino evangelicals celebrate Maduro’s capture as divine victory
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)

Cameroon Church defends its actions amid post-election criticism
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Ultra-Orthodox fury over military enlistment turns deadly in Israel
(Simon Speakman Cordall, Al Jazeera)

India/France: Religion – From hostility of former disgruntled members to killings
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Iran on the edge: What the outside world misunderstands about a nation in revolt
(Mali Rezaei, ABC News Australia)

Monday, 5 January 2026

Pakistan: Memorizing the Quran is now a crime for Ahmadis
(A. Sahara Alexander, Bitter Winter)

Venezuela’s church leaders call for prayer following Maduro’s arrest
(Reynoldo Aragon, Religion Unplugged)

WCC condemns US Attacks in Venezuela, calls for respect for international law
(World Council of Churches)

Pope Leo XIV calls for 'rule of law' and respect for human rights after US captures Maduro
(Paul O'Donnell, Religion News Service)

Indonesia's new penal code takes effect, marking historic break with colonial law
(Niniek Karmini, Associated Press)

Banning public prayer in Quebec
(Rick Plasterer, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)

U.S. Congressional report maps a broadening repression in China
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

Pakistan: Mandatory halal certification raises new concerns about discrimination
(A. Sahara Alexander, Bitter Winter)

Mali’s church leaders blame “external perceptions” for Christian persecution reports, applaud interfaith dialogue
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)

Corporate governance in sharia compliant banking institutions explored
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Articles of interest - 5 January 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus remarks on Venezuela crisis both cautious and clear
(Christopher R. Altieri, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

USAID cut their funding, so these faith groups got creative
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)

Illegal settlers storm Al-Aqsa, scores of Palestinians detained in West Bank
(The Palestine Chronicle)

Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly digest December 2025
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest December 16 -31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Religious policy in China in 2025
(Sergio Ticozzi, Asia News)

China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest December 16-30
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Senior Taliban official urges authorities to avoid alienating people from religion through misconduct
(Atlas Press)

Friday, 2 January 2026

Faith in focus: 5 religion trends to watch in 2026
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)

Egypt sets religious holidays for Christian employees
(Egyptian Streets)

Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Australian police find no evidence of ‘broader terrorist cell’ in Bondi Beach antisemitic shooting
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

DRC bishops’ president denounces ‘sell-off’ of country as government defends pact with US
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

From Nigeria to Belarus, 2025 marks a grim year for religious freedom
(Paulina Guzik, OSV News)

IF20 members launch Modern Slavery Prevention Index at G20 Social Summit
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum)

Attempts to block anti-corruption probe in Jamaica undermines public trust, say church organizations
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)

Egypt sets religious holidays for Christian employees
(Egyptian Streets)

Christmas Eve church violence erupts in Egypt
(Raymond Ibrahim, Middle East Forum)

South Africa: SACC approaches CRL Rights Commission's proposed regulations for religious centres with caution
(Gcwalisile Khanyile, IOL)

Minister of Cults and Religion issues guidelines on preventing roasting cows in public places
(Khmer Times)

Christians are persecuted in every Muslim-majority country
(Uzay Bulut, The European Conservative)

Tax increase in Iran to finance the IRGC and religious institutions
(Dalga Khatinoglu, Middle East Forum)

Pakistan government supports nationwide Christmas celebrations, in unprecedented move
(Milton Dunleavy, Premier Christian News)

Bishops call for the building of a new and better Cuba (Spanish)
(Martí Noticias)

Why is euthanasia unconstitutional in Argentina? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen)

Monday, 29 December 2025

Evolving legal threats to religious protections in East Africa
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

KAICIID at the 11th UNAOC Global Forum: Reaffirming the power of interreligious dialogue through decades of practice
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

America's separation of church and state maintains its strong bond to Israel - opinion
(Aliza Pilichowski, The Jerusalem Post)

Bangladesh Hindus fear genocidal attacks ahead of February election
(Shikha Salaria, The Sunday Guardian)

Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not forced conversions: Dilip Saikia
(India Today NE)

Pakistan criminalises Qur’anic memorisation: Ahmadi Muslim sentenced to life imprisonment
(International Human Rights Committee)

Families of Bondi Beach victims demand more federal action on antisemitism and security failures
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

Burundi churches appeal for aid as Congolese refugee influx tops 88,000
(Jim Olang, Christian Daily)

China threatens detention in Xinjiang over banned Uyghur songs
(Simina Mistreanu, Associated Press)

Top political advisor meets Chinese Buddhist delegates
(China Daily)

Ben Gvir’s party pushes Israeli bill targeting mosque calls to prayer
(Middle East Monitor)

Religions, Beliefs Council condemns repression of protesters in Syrian coast, interior
(Hawar News Agency)

Gambia: Barrow hails religious harmony, urges national renewal
(Isatou Ceesay-Bah, The Point)

Friday, 26 December 2025

Retribution fears as Australian Muslims see surge in Islamophobic hate since Bondi terror attack
(Luca Ittimani, The Guardian)

Just before Hanukkah attack, Jewish mayor of Bondi Beach region had been praised for fighting antisemitism
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

UK man charged over alleged Nazi symbols as Australian police launch nationwide crackdown
(Jewish News)

In a landmark ruling, High Court of Tanzania strikes down state-imposed religious authority: A Tanzanian High Court ruled that forcing Muslim groups to get BAKWATA's approval for registration was unconstitutional.
(The Chanzo)

3 Palestinians arrested on suspicion of torching a Christmas tree at a Catholic church in West Bank
(Melanie Lidman, Associated Press)

Iran President hopes for realization of world peace, justice, freedom in Christmas message
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))

‘Integral part of our nation’: Herzog visits Franciscan Sisters in Jerusalem ahead of Christmas
(The Jerusalem Post)

Mosque bombing in Syria leaves 8 dead and 18 wounded
(Ghaith Alsayed and Sally Abou Aljoud, Associated Press)

US launches strikes against Islamic State group in Nigeria after attacks target Christians
(Will Weissert, Associated Press)

New pope, religious violence and religious liberty wins: 2025 in faith and religion stories
(Mariya Manzhos, Deseret News)

‘Resist Herods,’ Manila archbishop tells Filipinos amid corruption scandal
(Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Canada’s Bill C-9 And the growing threat to religious freedom
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)

Wednesday, 24 December 2025

Dialogue on coexistence explores turning hope into shared public good
(World Council of Churches)

Report describes issues facing Christians in the Holy Land
(World Council of Churches)

IGE convenes faith and government leaders in South Africa to advance ethical leadership and societal transformation
(Institute for Global Engagement)

Religion Watch Volume 41 No. 1
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)

Zhejiang: Five-day police operation in Wenzhou targets Christians
(He Yuyan, Bitter Winter)

Articles of interest - 22 December 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

While Zimbabwe’s healthcare system collapses, a hospital serves as a beacon
(Calvin Manika, Religion Unplugged)

Israeli FM urges Jews in western countries to move to Israel
(Middle East Monitor)

'A den of bandits': Rwanda closes thousands of evangelical churches
(Moses Gahigi, AFP)

Canada: Pearl Eliadis on state neutrality and religious freedom
(Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University)

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