Law and Religion Headlines

---

Wednesday, 24 December 2025

Lynching of a Hindu in Bangladesh fans fears of rising intolerance
(Saif Hasnat and Mujib Mashal, The New York Times)

Muslim American leaders join interfaith Hanukkah celebration in Tel Aviv
(The Jerusalem Post)

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 42
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Interreligious dialogue: An ethical tool or a complacent simulation? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen)

Monday, 22 December 2025

Press conference (Bondi Beach shooting)
(Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia)

A balm of heroism and truth for Australia
(Christian Science Monitor)

UN expert condemns Bondi Beach terrorist attack on Jewish Australians
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

WCC at Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025: “we reaffirm our shared commitment to be agents of hope”
(World Council of Churches)

Stop looking only for a religious motive
(Dennis P. Petri, Institute for Global Engagement)

Discovering God in Hamas tunnels, hostages led a national trend
(Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor)

Boucher v. The King—Canadian Supreme Court decision still significant after 75 years
(Jehovah's Witnesses)

Faith can’t be forced: The dangers of coerced Judaism
(Seth Farber, Times of Israel)

Sri Lankan monks, activists demand an end to human-elephant conflict
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

The cost of India’s anti-conversion laws
(Glenn Grothman, Vicky Hartzler and Asif Mahmood, The Hill)

A Chinese Christian’s testimony: Lifting the veil on China’s “Three-Self Church”
(Vivian Ren, Bitter Winter)

Philippine Church rejects $138-million budget for anti-communism task force
(Joseph San Mateo, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Friday, 19 December 2025

Pope Leo decries leaders who invoke religion for violence and nationalism
(Joshua McElwee, Reuters)

Religious prisoners and state repression in Tajikistan (podcast)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Criminalizing faith: The persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan (podcast)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Uzbekistan: Police conduct sexual harassment, threaten fines or jail for sharing faith
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest December 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung: Religious communities are key to national progress
(Vietnam Net Global)

Local government ministry engages faith leaders, chiefs to tackle gender-based violence
(Ghana Web)

Govt to get tough on those playing race, religion cards
(Free Malaysia Today)

Disappearance or reconfiguration? The future of Middle Eastern Christians
(Candace Lukasik, Brandeis University)

Fifty years of Islamic rule can’t erase 2,600 years of Jewish-Iranian friendship
(Alex Winston, The Jerusalem Post)

A parking ticket in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem sets off clashes with police
(Julia Frankel, Associated Press)

India’s bishops secure procedural win in early stage of constitutional challenge to anti-conversion law
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Citing Sydney attack, police in London say they will now arrest those who chant ‘globalize the intifada’
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Uproar in India over Bihar chief minister pulling down Muslim woman’s hijab
(Al Jazeera)

Forum for Peace, Reunification, and Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula convenes
(World Council of Churches)

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Australian police say Bondi Beach mass shooting was inspired by Islamic State group
(Charlotte Graham-McLay and Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

Recent attacks have been 'inspired' by Islamic State. What does that mean?
(Scott Neuman, NPR)

The Philippines’ long battle against Islamist extremism is back in the spotlight following Bondi attack
(Jessie Yeung, CNN)

Herzog and Pope Leo discuss Sydney attacks, Israel’s ties with Christian communities
(Lazar Berman, Times of Israel)

Incoming FM Macinka backs moving Czech embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
(Radio Prague International)

Philippine communist insurgents declare Christmas ceasefire
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Chile's bishops' congratulate new Catholic president, 'worry' over anti-migrant attitudes
(David Agren, National Catholic Reporter)

“Pray, speak against this evil”: Zimbabwe’s Catholic Bishops urge action against proposed abortion law
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)

Draft ethnic unity law intensifies language and cultural repression of Uyghurs and other ethnic groups
(Congressional-Executive Commission on China)

Gunmen kidnap 13 worshippers in central Nigeria church attack
(Camillus Eboh, Reuters)

How blasphemy laws are fueling persecution in Nigeria and across the globe
(Kelsey Zorzi, ADF International)

Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province: Beijing’s bonfire of Tibetan prayer flags
(Lopsang Gurang, Bitter Winter)

Religion on Egyptian citizens’ ID cards enables Christian persecution
(Jill Nelson, Christianity Today)

Monday, 15 December 2025

Mass shooting at Jewish event on Bondi Beach follows rising antisemitism in Australia
(Melanie Lidman, Associated Press)

Undeterred by Sydney attack, Chabad defiantly celebrates Hanukkah around the world
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

The Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting was an attack on Judaism
(Jeffrey Salkin, Religion News Service)

Bondi attack came after huge increase in online antisemitism: research
(Matteo Vergami, The Conversation)

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Condemns the terrorist attack in Sydney targeting a group of Jewish Civilians
(Al-Azhar Al-Sharif)

Australia to tighten gun laws after Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre
(Charlotte Graham-McLay, Rod McGuirk and Kristen Gelineau, Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 15 December 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Catholics denounces restrictions on spiritual assistance in Brazilian prisons
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

‘No’ to church: What religious change looks like In Latin America
(Matthew Blanton, Religion Unplugged)

Punjab hosts Pakistan’s first govt-sponsored Christmas rally
(Kamran Chaudhry, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Thorold, Ont., city hall lobby filled as vigil mourns teen denied traditional Muslim burial
(Diona Macalinga, CBC News)

WCC delegation to attend Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025
(World Council of Churches)

Sri Lanka: Violations of religious freedom: the EU should question the GSP+ status
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

The inevitable result of Myanmar’s sham elections must not confer any legitimacy on its military regime
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Discriminatory taxation of religious movements as a form of persecution
(Willy Fautré, Bitter Winter)

Malaysia investigates South Korean religious sect
(Joseph Masilamany, Asia News)

Friday, 12 December 2025

Iraqis face ongoing sectarianism, genocide-related religious freedom challenges
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Cardinal Parolin tells “heroic” Christians of Mozambique: “You are not alone!”
(Aid to the Church in Need)

Syrian-American Jews register first Jewish NGO in Syria to restore heritage
(Ghaith Alsayed and Omar Sanadiki, Associated Press)

China commission urges action on transnational repression
(Susan Crabtree, Real Clear Politics)

KAICIID and United Religions Initiative sign MoU to advance global cooperation on interreligious dialogue
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

‘Holy herb’: Kenya’s Rastafarians fight to decriminalize cannabis
(Joseph Maina, Religion Unplugged)

Venezuelan cardinal denied permission to leave country
(David Agren, Union of Catholic Asian News)

At conference in Ghana, WCC advances equitable HIV response
(World Council of Churches)

Consultation between Judaism, Orthodox Christianity explores “Sanctity of Place, Sanctity of Space”
(World Council of Churches)

Myanmar: Military orders Christians to celebrate Christmas early, forcibly conscripts reverend in lead-up to sham elections
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Nicaragua: Authorities prohibit tourists from bringing Bibles into the country
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

The politics of apostasy: Defaming religious liberty
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

Quebec's new secularism bill worries public institutions that serve halal, kosher foods
(Isaac Olson and Steve Rukavina, CBC News)

Wednesday, 10 December 2025

High Commissioner Türk on Human Rights Day 2025
(United Nations)

Pope Leo XIV’s visits to Turkey and Lebanon were about religious diplomacy
(Ramazan Kılınç, The Conversation)

President Lee Jae-myung pushes to dissolve religious groups
(Joo Hee-yeon, The Chosun Daily)

A dangerous precedent: Japan’s assault on religious freedom and its global fallout
(Peter Zoehrer, Forum for Religious Freedom Europe)

Thailand: Montagnard activist extradited to Vietnam
(Human Rights Watch)

Christmas tree lights are up for first time in Bethlehem since Gaza war started
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

From rankings to realities: Measuring what really matters for religious freedom
(Dennis P. Petri, Institute for Global Engagement)

Vietnam represses independent religious communities
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Many religions are heavily concentrated in a few countries
(Conrad Hackett, Pew Research Center)

Liberals back Bloc's proposal to remove religious exemption from hate speech laws
(Darren Major, CBC News)

Orthodox Patriarchs to participate in security conference in Jordan
(The European Times)

Sri Lanka to help restore hundreds of cyclone-hit religious sites
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Bishop Kortu K. Brown shares how churches can help promote actions against statelessness
(World Council of Churches)

Legal Journal Number 2 (21): November (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)

Prayer niche of Ahmadiyya Mosque destroyed by Revenue Department in Punjab
(International Human Rights Committee)

Monday, 8 December 2025

Religious Freedom is not a reward for theologically 'correct'
(Thomas J. Ward, The Korea Times)

SC seeks response from Rajasthan on plea challenging validity of anti-conversion law
(Economic Times)

'Festivals harming environment not freedom of religion,’ says ex-SC judge:What does the law permit then? How is 'scientific temper' going to help?
(Kartikay Chaturvedi, Bhaskar English)

Even in death, Christians in India’s tribal communities are denied their rights and dignity
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Canadian bishops ask prime minister to keep religious-text protection in hate-speech law
(Quinton Amundson, Catholic News Agency)

Articles of interest - 8 December 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Kazakhstan: Fined, ordered deported, but torture unpunished
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Historic European Parliament resolution champions Bahá’í rights in Iran and condemns persecutions
(Bahá’í World News Service)

From Argentina to the world: One woman’s journey toward interreligious dialogue
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Sri Lankan Christians, Buddhists urged to avoid festivities after cyclone
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Arab, Muslim nations reject Israel exit-only plan for Gaza’s Rafah crossing
(Al Jazeera)

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

Search

Go!

Filter by Category

Events

International

Europe

United States

Filter by Topic

Abuse Adoption Blasphemy / Offense to Religion Children and Youth Church-State Relations Citizenship Constitutional Space COVID-19 COVID-19 Resources Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (abortion case) Ecclesiastical Abstention Education Environment Espinoza v. Montana (SCOTUS school funding case) Eugenics Extremism Family Law Freedom of Expression Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Fulton v. Philadelphia (faith-based adoption agencies and same-sex couples) G20 Interfaith Forum Gender Genocide George Floyd Health and Wellbeing Human Dignity Human Fraternity ICLRS Symposium Identity Interfaith Dialogue Jewish Law June Medical Services (SCOTUS abortion case) Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania Our Lady of Guadalupe School (SCOTUS ministerial exception case) Politics Poverty Property Race Religious Food Practices Religious Freedom Religious Holidays Religious Literacy Rule of Law Russia's Extremism Laws Slavery Social Service Spirituality Technology, Innovation, Infrastructure The Economy Ukrainian Autocephaly Violence Women / Equality Abortion Accreditation Activism Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton Affordable Care Act/HHS Mandate Al-Qaeda Annual International Law and Religion Symposium Anti-Christian Sentiment Anti-Islam Film Anti-Muslim Sentiment Anti-Semitism Apartheid Apostasy Articles & Speeches Asylum Australia Same-Sex Marriage Vote Bakery cases Billy Graham Blaine Amendments Boko Haram Bostock v. Clayton County (LGBT employment rights case) Boy Scouts Braidwood v. Becerra (Affordable Care Act) Brexit Calls for Papers / Contests Canada's Office of Religious Freedom Censorship Charlie Gard Case Charlie Hebdo Circumcision Climate Change Conscientious Objection Copenhagen Declaration (2018) Counter-terrorism Death Penalty Defamation Definition of Religion or Belief Democracy Derogation Desecration Discrimination Dissent ECHR/ECtHR ENDA ERISA Ethics Ethnic Cleansing EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief European Court of Justice Euthanasia/Assisted Dying Events Eweida and Others Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Faith Based Law Schools Family FIDELA First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) Franciscan Alliance v. Burwell (Texas Transgender Mandate Case) Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Movement Globalism Gloucester County School Board ("Transgender Bathroom case") Government Funding of Religion Government Obligations Ground Zero Cross Hate Crimes Hate Speech Headscarf / Veil / Burqa HHS Transgender Mandate Hobby Lobby case Holt v. Hobbs Honor Killing Human Genomics Debate Human Rights Human Trafficking Humanitarian Aid Immigration Inequality Inhumane Treatment Interfaith International Law ISIS / ISIL / Daesh / "Islamic State" Jehovah's Witnesses v. Wall (Canada) Jerusalem passports case Jurisdiction Justice Scalia Kelley v. Becerra (Affordable Care Act) Kentucky Clerk Case Lee v. Tam (trademark case) Legislation & Religion LGBTQi+ issues Magna Carta Malaysia Allah Case Margin of Appreciation Marrakesh Declaration Marriage / Divorce / Civil Union Masterpiece Cakeshop Case Mexico Massacre Middle East Migration Military Ministerial Exception Minorities Missionary/Proselytism Mt. Soledad Cross Multiculturalism Narratives Neutrality New Religious Movements Newsletter NIFLA v. Becerra (compelled-speech case) Oaths of Allegiance Obergefell v. Hodges Orlando Massacre Pan-Orthodox Council Parental Rights Parliament of the World's Religions Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peacebuilding Pluralism Politics & Religion Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Pornography Prejudice Prisoner Free Exercise Prisoners Privacy Private and Family Life Proselytism / Evangelism Public Cross Cases Public Morals Public Prayer Publications Pussy Riot case Quebec Charter Plan Radicalization Refoulement Refugee/Migrant Crisis Registration Religion & Culture Religion & Government Religion in the Public Sphere Religious Accommodation Religious Autonomy Religious Clergy Religious Clothing Religious Conversion Religious Demographics Religious Demonstration Religious Diversity Religious Exemption Religious Free Exercise Religious Freedom & Business Religious Harmony Religious Hatred Religious Hostilities Religious Incitement Religious Intolerance Religious Oppression Religious Persecution Religious Registration Religious Symbols Religious Tolerance Reparations Restrictions on Religion RFAR RFRA Right to Effecitve Remedy Right to Fair Hearing Right to Life RLUIPA Roe v. Wade Romney Sacred Spaces Same-sex unions Secularism Security Social Justice Social Media Sovereignty Sterling v. United States (RFRA) Stormans v. Weisman (Pharmacists' Case) Surrogacy Sustainable Development Syria Tax / Finance and Religion Terrorism The Vatican Third-party intervention Title IX Torture or inhuman treatment Travel Ban Treaties Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer Trinity Western University Ukraine UN Human Rights Council UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief US Constitution US State Department Religious Freedom Reports USCIRF Utah Compromise Victims War Crimes Wedding vendor cases Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (Texas abortion case) Workplace / Employment Zubik v. Burwell ("Little Sisters of the Poor")

Filter by Country

Afghanistan African Union Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Council of Europe Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia European Union Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao PDR Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherland Antilles Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan (Republic of China) Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Tibet Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Türkiye Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Nations United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe