Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 5 December 2025
Religious law and human rights
(various, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Religious freedom and indigenous rights: Global perspectives
(various, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Indian Catholic lawyer priests, nuns to combat Christian persecution
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Prefecture Party secretary intensifies ideological demands: Tibetan Buddhism must be ‘Sinicized’ and adapt to socialism
(Central Tibetan Administration)
The dual face of “freedom of belief” in China: Constitutional promises and real-world persecution
(Vivian Ren, Bitter Winter)
US reviews relationship with Tanzania over religious freedom, investment concerns
(Reuters)
The degrading freedom of religion or belief conditions in North Korea
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Religious prisoners suffer mistreatment and torture at the hands of foreign governments
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Lisbon to host global gathering on dialogue and peacebuilding as KAICIID Fellows Programme marks 10-year milestone
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Youth explore the role of Christianity in human rights
(World Council of Churches)
Bloc says Liberals 'fear backlash' from removing religious exemptions in hate speech law
(Catharine Tunney, CBC News)
RS MP questions govt after Pak denies entry to Hindu pilgrims
(The Times of India)
Only 37 of 1,800 Hindu, Sikh worship sites functional in Pakistan, minority caucus told
(Kalbe Ali, Dawn)
‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans
(Matthew Blanton, The Conversation)
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
By sufferance, not by right: Indigenous spirituality and religious freedom in Australia
(Jeremy Patrick, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Liberal minister backs Bloc call to eliminate religious exemption for hate speech
(The Canadian Press)
Quebec's Bill 9 would outlaw public prayer, expand restrictions on religious expression
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest November 15-30
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Zulum meets Muslim, Christian leaders, says Boko Haram crisis not religious
(Isah Ojo, Punch NG)
Blasphemy law remains an impediment to religious freedom in Pakistan
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Korean Buddhist group opposes legislation supporting World Youth Day
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
The Hindu caretakers of India's abandoned mosques
(Zain Salah Uddin, Deutsche Welle)
World Anglicanism nears a historic breaking point
(Richard Ostling, Religion Unplugged)
Dignity in Judgment: Constitutional Adjudication in Comparative Perspective
(Andrea Pin, Oxford University Press)
Pope inflight says fears over Islam often a political maneuver against migrants
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
How multifaith and interfaith efforts can foster ethical dialogue and collaboration in the age of AI
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Generous love: The Salvation Army
(Steve Beard, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)
Vietnam revises religious law to address digital realities
(Vietnam Net Global)
Crisis looms in Israel over ultra-Orthodox conscription bill
(Lucy Williamson, BBC)
River Plate Adventist University convenes major religious freedom conference
(Oscar Gonzalez, Adventist News Network)
Monday, 1 December 2025
Localizing justice: Law and legality on the state’s periphery in Kyrgyzstan
(Natalia Alenkina, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Al-Azhar observatory warns of Daesh’s use of AI for recruitment
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
Religious freedom in the digital age: Navigating AI, surveillance, and faith
(Antonio Quirós-Fons, Institute for Global Engagement)
‘The suffering in Sudan is almost unbearable’ – Bishop of Leeds tells Lords in his final speech
(The Church of England)
Vietnam seeks to amend Law on Belief and Religion
(Voice of Vietnam)
Opinion: Protecting religious freedom in our schools: A call for fairness and coexistence
(Tamim Mohammed Amin, Ghana Web)
Violation of religious freedom in Wesley Girls’ High School: A breach of the constitutional rights of Ghanaian students
(Christopher Kicheek, Modern Ghana)
Pope Leo tours Istanbul’s Blue Mosque in a quiet step toward dialogue with Muslims
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
Pope in Lebanon asks for ‘divine gift of peace’ alongside country’s Christian and Muslim leaders
(Nicole Winfield, Kareem Chehayeb, and Abby Sewell, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 1 December 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Thousands of demonstrators including Catholic clergy protest in the Philippines
(Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
Indian court orders state authority to protect multi-faith burial ground
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest November 15-30
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: New report details government's use of repressive legislation to violate freedom of religion or belief
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Aliyah Minister Sofer vows to vote against haredi draft bill, 'even if Netanyahu fires me'
(Keshet Neev, The Jerusalem Post)
Condominiums will not be allowed to maintain fixed religious symbols in common chapels, the Constitutional Court ruled (Spanish)
(Licsa Gomez, Infobae)
Friday, 28 November 2025
Religion for the common good: Canada and the United States in 2025
(Cardus)
Religion Watch Volume 40 No. 12
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
BIC delegation highlights humanity’s interdependence in addressing inequality
(Bahá’í World News Service)
UN experts alarmed by Indian counter-terrorism operations violating human rights in Jammu and Kashmir
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
The Victoria, Australia, anti-cult inquiry: Interview with Professor Keith Thompson
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter)
How migrant and overseas Christians are helping keep Australian churches alive
(Gillian Aeria and Lucy Cooper, ABC News Australia)
IGE convenes Vietnamese officials and global experts to advance religious governance reforms
(Institute for Global Engagement)
North Korea claims victory in 'war on religion'
(Julian Ryall, Deutsche Welle)
A message for peace: Is Bhutan leading the world spiritually?
(Harshita Rathore and Surabhi Singh, Religion Unplugged)
Pope, Orthodox leader mark Christian milestone in historic Turkiye meeting
(Al Jazeera)
CHR raises alarm over reported targeting of LGBTQIA in Maguindanao's "Operation Supak"
(Facebook, Philippine Commission on Human Rights)
Wesley Girls brouhaha: National Muslim Conference responds to Christian Council on religious freedom in schools
(Modern Ghana)
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Measuring religious freedom globally: Interview with Jonathan Fox
(Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Protecting freedom of thought, conscience, and religion: Ensuring a future peace and share, sacred flourishing for all
(Francis Kuria, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Nigerian Bishops release powerful statement on ‘moving from fragility to stability’ in their afflicted country
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Quebec: New secularism bill to ban prayer in schools, restrict offering of religion-based meals
(CBC News)
Rice against riot shields: Places of worship bulldozed in southern China
(Chen Wei, Bitter Winter)
Laos: Inside the small communist nation that increasingly oppresses Christians
(Sonia Sarkar, Religion Unplugged)
Election-related violence in Tanzania concerns WCC governing body
(World Council of Churches)
Christian leaders in Ghana clarify government’s support for mission schools partnership, not “state takeover”
(Silas Isenjia, ACI Africa)
With new bill coming, a brief history of secularism under Legault's government
(Benjamin Shingler, CBC News)
Monday, 24 November 2025
Religion and the Nigerian crisis
(Ebenezer Obadare, Council on Foreign Relations)
Fifty children escape after mass school abduction in Nigeria - reports
(Wedaeli Chibelushi, Richard Kagoe and Madina Maishanu, BBC)
Not a genocide, but religious freedoms are at risk in Nigeria
(Nengak Daniel Gondyi, Premium Times Nigeria)
A joyful noise: African churches reclaim traditional musical instruments
(Cyril Zenda, Religion Unplugged)
As violence rages on, Nigeria's Christians and Muslims find unity through soccer
(Nathaniel Bivan, Religion Unplugged)
Iraq: Parliamentary elections: the vote system for Christian candidates questioned again
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
From declaration to transformation: the Marrakesh Framework and the path to religious freedom in MENA
(Salah Saeed Ali, Religious Freedom Institute)
United Nations resolution condemns Iran’s human rights record
(Bahá’í World News Service)
New secularism bill to ban prayer in schools, restrict offering of religion-based meals
(CBC News)
WCC leaders meet with Chinese religious affairs minister, focusing on peace and unity
(World Council of Churches)
Australia senator condemned for burka stunt in parliament
(Ruth Comerford, BBC)
Australian judge rules synagogue arsonist was motivated by mental illness, not antisemitism
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)
Building social capital through multi-faith engagement: Indonesia’s cross-cultural religious literacy initiative
(Matius Ho, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Displaced Afghan Sikhs search for security before returning home
(Zaffar Iqbal, Religion Unplugged)
The priest blessing Venezuela’s strongman, dividing the church
(Anatoly Kurmanaev, The New York Times)
Articles of interest - 24 November 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Malaysia country update
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
In Tunisia, a church procession blends faith, nostalgia and migration
(Joseph Tulloch, Al Jazeera)
Friday, 21 November 2025
Supreme Court of Canada to look at request for religious records through B.C. law
(Jim Bronskill, CBC News)
Blaming ‘love jihad,’ Muslim shopkeepers are ousted from Indian market
(Zaffar Iqbal, Religion Unplugged)
Uzbekistan: Jailed, fined for uncensored religious materials
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
Malawi: Religious leaders condemn high court abortion ruling, warn of “moral and spiritual battle”
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Ghana: Catholic bishops sound alarm on national peace, justice and Galamsey crisis in Damongo communiqué
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
UN resolution highlights persecution of Christian converts in Iran
(Article 18)
From Mount Zion to Tai Ji Men: Freedom of religion or belief issues in Taiwan
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
The distorted secular state: Yet another anti-religious crusade by the federal public prosecutor's office (Portuguese)
(William Douglas, Migalhas)
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Zambian interfaith dialogue explores religion’s role in building peace
(Winston Mwale, Africa Brief)
Systematic religious persecution in India
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
A triad repressing religious freedom is led by three Latin American authoritarian governments
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Manila archbishop asks military to ‘stay faithful to oath’ amid coup rumors
(Joseph San Mateo, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
South Africa creates religious oversight committee — and some Christians aren’t happy
(Cyril Zenda, Religion Unplugged)
Fordham's Pope Francis Global Poverty Report
(Fordham University)
Sixty faith institutions announce fossil fuel divestment commitments
(World Council of Churches)
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