Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 31 January 2022

Canada: Charter challenge by 2 Ontario churches opposed to public health restrictions gets underway Monday
(Kate Dubinski, CBC News)

Canada: Rabbis decry Canadian church proposals on BDS, Israel 'apartheid'
(Michael Starr, The Jerusalem Post)

Lebanon: The toll of sectarian politics
(Zeead Yaghi, Commonweal)

Lebanon: Maronite patriarch reprimands Lebanese government for new taxes
(La Croix International)

Human rights concerns persist as Winter Olympics begin
(Ellen Teague, The Tablet)

China: Freedom of religion or belief: Special bimonthly FoRB newsletter
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Positive influence of faith for gender equality (podcast)
(Zia Khan, John McArthur, Jean Duff, and Blessing Omakwu, Brookings)

Pakistani police widen manhunt, day after killing of priest
(Riaz Khan, Associated Press)

Vietnam: Funeral held in Vietnam for influential monk Thich Nhat Hanh
(Hau Dinh, Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 31 January 2022
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Hong Kong: Religious groups call for amnesty for Hong Kongers charged under national security law
(James Pomfret, Reuters)

We cannot look away from the global refugee crisis
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Philippines: ‘Still a lot to do,’ rights groups say after Philippines bans child marriage
(Ellie Aben, Arab News)

Nigeria: Expert urges attention to persecuted Christians as bishops decry Islamist violence in Nigeria
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)

Pope on taxes: A sign of equality, justice and legality
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)

Pope Francis calls access to accurate information on coronavirus vaccines ‘a human right’
(Maria Luisa Paul and Adela Suliman, The Washington Post)

Peter’s Pence donations fell by around 15% in 2021, says Vatican
(Catholic News Agency)

Egypt's religious authorities weigh in on Nile dam crisis
(Abdulla Kadry, Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)

Israeli ultra-Orthodox learn about Holocaust over phone
(Israel Hershkovitz, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)

Israel: ‘Infuriating and upsetting’: Liberal Jewish movements condemn Israeli PM’s decision not to implement Western Wall agreement
(Shira Hanau, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

US Jewish movements ‘outraged’ by Israeli PM’s decision to quash Western Wall deal
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

What to do about young evangelicals’ waning support for Israel
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)

Turkey: Erdogan tightens grip on media with circular on family values
(Nazlan Ertan, Al-Monitor: Turkey Press)

Vatican projects budget deficit for 2022 as pandemic continues
(Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service)

Kenya: One of Kenya’s most wanted terrorists who killed Christians arrested in DRC
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

Brazil: Black Catholic leaders fear demise of quota law for Brazilian universities
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Four-in-ten countries and territories worldwide had blasphemy laws in 2019
(Virginia Villa, Pew Research Center)

Civilian-led peace-building: Both Catholic and Islamic communities through HWPL call for global peace law on annual peace day
(Religion News Service)

Somalia: Dialogue 360 Project is “triggering social transformation” in Somalia
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

India: Appropriating Subhas Chandra Bose: He was equally critical of both Muslim and Hindu communal streams
(Ram Puniyani, South Asia Monitor)

India: Hostility toward Christians keeps growing in Northern India
(Evangelical Focus)

India: ‘No moral policing’: HC upholds rights of MP inter-faith couple to marry, live-in
(Iram Siddique, The Indian Express)

Indian minorities laud court order on interfaith marriage
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: Karnataka: Student moves HC against ban on hijab in govt college
(Hindustan Times)

Indonesian clerics report army chief for insulting Islam
(Konradus Epa, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Philippine bishops vow to refuse mining firm donations
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)

President of Italian Episcopal Conference expressed support for Ukraine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Myanmar’s military turns to Buddhism in bid for legitimacy
(Allegra Mendelson, Al Jazeera)

Friday, 28 January 2022

World remembers Holocaust as antisemitism rises in pandemic
(Vanessa Gera and Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press)

Standing Together: Rabbi and imam attend International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Holocaust remembrance and anti-Semitism, silence is not an option
(Parliament of the World's Religions)

Russia: Holocaust Remembrance Day reinstated at Russian schools
(Interfax-Religion)

Holocaust Memorial Day message
(Twitter, Archbishop Angaelos)

Photos of the week: El Salvador beatifications, Holocaust Remembrance Day
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)

DRC: Superstructure of temple nears completion
(Bahá’í World News Service)

Malaysia: Spirit of service inspires immediate response to floods in Malaysia
(Bahá’í World News Service)

Costa Rica bishops weigh in on cannabis approval row
(La Croix International)

China: Beijing Olympics begin amid atrocity crimes
(Freedom House)

China: UN human rights chief allowed to visit Xinjiang after Olympics
(Al Jazeera)

India: Two arrested for vandalizing St. Sebastian statue in India
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: Love and faith in India (video)
(Al Jazeera)

Religions for Peace and United Religions Initiative sign a memorandum of understanding
(Religions for Peace)

Philippine bishops' chief lashes out at fake election news
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)

South Korea: Repatriation fear grips Chinese Christian group in South Korea
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pakistan: Blasphemy case registered over church attack in Pakistan
(Kamran Chaudhry, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Honduran bishops urge dialogue during political crisis
(David Agren, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Ukraine: CEC offers prayers for peace in Ukraine
(Conference of European Churches)

Ukraine: "Truth is on our side. Where there is truth, there is God's assistance and victory," - the Primate of the OCU addresses the Ukrainians
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Ukraine: Religions for Peace statement on the Ukraine situation (PDF)
(Religions for Peace)

Russia: Judge applies Supreme Court ruling in Jehovah's Witnesses' favor
(SOVA Center for News and Analysis, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))

Kazakhstan: Supporters of caliphate are among those detained in Kazakhstan during the January riots
(Interfax-Religion)

Russia: Three acquitted on "extremism" charges but jailings continue
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

Russia: A Jehovah’s Witness fined as an objector to military service
(SOVA Center for News and Analysis, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Russia, Ukraine, and moral reckoning
(George Weigel, First Things)

RFI's Jeremy Barker joins Drew Mariani Show to discuss contemporary Christian persecution
(Religious Freedom Institute)

Sudan: Adultery prosecution causes religious freedom concerns in Sudan
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Egypt: Human Rights Watch submission to the UN Human Rights Committee in advance of its review of Egypt
(Human Rights Watch)

Canada: Ontario announces plan to combat antisemitism in schools
(Ontario Newsroom)

Canada’s public safety minister calls for removal of Hillier ‘hate’ tweet about Alghabra
(The Canadian Press)

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

For the Holocaust Remembrance Day we must seek memory, dignity and justice
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

On Holocaust Remembrance Day, UN rights chief says COVID-19 conspiracies blaming Jews abound
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Naomi Kikoler full interview
(YouTube Video, Tina Ramirez, Hardwired Global)

Israel prepares to receive Jews fleeing Ukraine
(Riina Bassist, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)

Israel: Vandalism at Holy Land abbey caused by minority, monk says
(Judith Sudilovsky, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pope Francis installs women in 2 ministries after formally expanding roles in Catholic Church
(Leah MarieAnn Klett, The Christian Post)

Indonesian terrorists 'infiltrating Islamic schools'
(Katharina R Lestari, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pakistan: The disappeared Shias of Dera Ismail Khan
(Shueyb Gandapur, Ravadar)

Pakistan: Islamic reforms in Pakistan schools worry education activists
(Kamran Chaudhry, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Weekly Highlight #190: COVID-19: Exploring faith dimensions: Restrictions on gatherings continue to pose challenges
(Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

China: Counter China’s devious human rights propaganda
(Aaron Rhodes, Providence Mag)

China’s Catholic institute marks 20 years of study of Christianity
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

The Netherlands: How a Kazakh critic of China became an asylum seeker in the Netherlands
(Laila Adilzhan, Bitter Winter)

Nigeria: Tackling historic violence through dialogue in Nigeria
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Nigeria jihadists kidnap 20 children in Borno State, residents say
(Voice of America)

Egypt: Citizens without valid identity papers, marriage certificates, or burial places
(Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights)

Egypt: Ramy Kamel released by Egyptian authorities
(21Wilberforce)

Understanding religious extremism in the Middle East and North Africa
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Cuba: ‘11J’: A turning point in the repression of evangelicals in Cuba (2)
(Evangelical Focus)

UN chief decries antisemitism, urges stand against hatred
(Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press)

Canada: A QS government would allow women to teach while wearing religious symbols
(Philip Authier, Montreal Gazette)

Canada: A ban on Biblical beliefs?
(Craig A. Carter, World News Group)

Canada: B.C. First Nation finds 93 possible burial sites at former school
(Vancouver Sun)

UAE sheikhdom to allow gaming as Wynn Resorts plans project
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)

Brazil’s bishops accuses president of ‘sabotaging’ child vaccination
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Mexican cardinals found guilty of trying to influence federal elections
(Inés San Martín, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Ukraine: Head of new Ukrainian church sounds anti-Russian alarm
(Religiina Pravda, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))

State Department sharply criticizes Russia over prison term for female Jehovah’s Witness
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Burkina Faso: Religious leaders in Burkina Faso say people just want peace
(Kamboissoa Samboé, La Croix International)

Tunisia: “This homeland shelters all”: Bahá’ís mark 100 year history in Tunisia
(Bahá’í World News Service)

Gambia: Church representatives attend presidential inauguration in West Africa, receive assurances of religious freedom
(Mary Richards, Church News)

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