Law and Religion Headlines

---

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

Jesus and Hamas in the Holy Land
(Robert Nicholson, Providence Mag)

German lawmakers decry antisemitism during Mideast debate
(Wesley Dockery, Deutsche Welle)

Mustafa Akyol argues for Islamic reform from within
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)

New book: Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance
(Mustafa Akyol, Macmillan Publishers)

Another Jehovah's Witness added to Rostov's total of convicts
(Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))

Russian customs seizes Jehovah's Witnesses literature
(Khibini.com Murmansk, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))

Russian Orthodox Church proposes setting up system to filter Russophobic content online
(Interfax-Religion)

Russia: Freedom of religion: Special bimonthly FORB (01-15.05.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Yes, there's a religion story behind those statistics about China's shrinking population
(Julia Duin, GetReligion)

China ‘in a category by itself’ of religious rights violators
(Bonnie Girard, The Diplomat)

Israel accuses Chinese state TV of ‘blatant antisemitism’
(Arab News)

Anti-Semitism on rise worldwide, in US, Europe; anti-Muslim hatred widespread: US report
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)

Malerkotla, Punjab’s newest district, has no room for religious bigotry
(Vivek Gupta, The Wire)

Bangladesh cracks down on hardline Islamist group
(Asif Muztaba Hassan, The Diplomat)

Legal Journal Number 7 (16): May 2021 (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)

Hong Kong’s new bishop wants differing views respected
(Associated Press)

Monday, 17 May 2021

Christian pastor in Laos will avoid jail if he promises not to preach for a year
(Premier Christian News)

4 out of 5 five people live in countries with high or severe restrictions on religious freedom
(ADF International)

Articles of interest - 17 May 2021
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

‘A war of religion’: Iran accused of trying to convert young members of Baha’i minority to Islam
(Borzou Daragahi, The Independent)

USCIRF concerned by Azerbaijan religion law amendments, condition of Ghazanchetsots Cathedral
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

What Christos Stylianides should know as he takes the post of the Special Envoy on Religion or Belief outside European Union?
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Around 3,000 Moroccan migrants cross into Spanish territory
(Aritz Parra and Mosa'Ab Elshamy, Associated Press)

Afghan cease-fire ends amid calls for fresh peace talks
(Kathy Gannon and Tameem Akhgar, Associated Press)

Nepal scales back Hindu chariot festival amid virus surge
(Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press)

Russia and China in the Middle East: The neglected religious dimension
(Jon Hoffman, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

China’s Arrest of 1,046 Imams Is a Misguided Assault on Religion
(Anders Corr, The Epoch Times)

Full-blown boycott pushed for Beijing Olympics
(Stephen Wade, Associated Press)

China: Freedom of religion: Special bimonthly newsletter (01-15.05.2021)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Pope urges peace, unity during special Mass for Myanmar
(Associated Press)

Pope taps fellow Jesuit to lead sensitive Hong Kong church
(Associated Press)

US climate envoy Kerry meets with pope on climate crisis
(Associated Press)

Pope speaks to Turkish President, Iranian FM about Gaza violence
(Associated Press)

Antisemitism is a social problem
(Sabine Oelze, Deutsche Welle)

Why the Al-Aqsa Mosque has often been a site of conflict
(Ken Chitwood, The Conversation)

Kazan school shooting caused by absence of religious education - Patriarch Kirill
(Interfax-Religion)

Russia: Widened ban on "extremists" exercising religious freedom
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

Muslims work to improve understanding of their religion in Zimbabwe
(Cyril Zenda, Religion Unplugged)

Trends that influence news: Where in the world is Christianity still growing?
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)

Sikhs in Sydney defend students’ right to carry ceremonial daggers at school
(Jordan Baker and Laura Chung, The Sydney Morning Herald)

Religious news from around the web May 17, 2021
(World Religion News)

Friday, 14 May 2021

On Eid, Xinjiang imams defend China against US criticism
(Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press)

China detaining and sentencing Uyghur imams en masse, UHRP reveals
(Uyghur Human Rights Project)

U.S. calls Xinjiang an 'open-air prison,' decries religious persecution by China
(Reuters)

China’s Xinjiang province an ‘open-air prison’, US official says
(Aljazeera)

Since 2014 Beijing has imprisoned at least 630 imams in Xinjiang
(a, Asia News)

Now is the time to stand in solidarity against antisemitism
(Katrina Lantos Swett, Deseret News)

Christians beheaded in Indonesia terror attack
(The Christian Post)

Vatican weighs in on US bishops’ debate over denying communion to pro-abortion politicians
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

International court urged to let churches, synagogues, and mosques choose religion teachers, not the state
(Becket: Press Release)

Court blocks 'blasphemous' Indian movie accused of defaming Catholics
(Saji Thomas, Union of Catholic Asian News)

When secularism in India is on a roller coaster
(Babu Joseph Karakombil, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Sri Lanka cancels major Buddhist, Muslim festivals
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Separated by diaspora, modern-day healers divine the wisdom of their ancestors
(Isaiah Murtaugh, Religion News Service)

‘We cannot wait!’ pleads Catholic missionary in Myanmar
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

Meet Kashmir’s ‘Midnight Drummers,’ keeping alive an age-old Ramadan tradition
(Majid Maqbool, Religion News Service)

Interview with the Somali-Norwegian model campaigning for Muslim women’s rights
(Peter Yeung, Aljazeera)

Spokeswoman: Vietnam always respects policy on freedom of religion and belief
(Nhan Dan)

Hate speech laws and blasphemy laws: Parallels show problems with the U.N. strategy and plan of action on hate speech
(ADF International)

Government report signals hope for Middle Eastern Christians
(Steven Howard, Providence Mag)

Podcast Ep. 62 | What USCIRF’s 2021 Report Got Right and Wrong
(Steven Howard & Mark Melton, Providence Mag)

Religious leader engagement in Kosovo: Restored trust leads to renewed relations—Chaplain Michel de Peyret, French Army (Part 1)
(S.K. Moore, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Photos of the week: Holy fire; Orthodox Easter
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)

Penpa Tsering elected president of Tibetan exile government
(Ashwini Bhatia, Associated Press)

Afghan police say Kabul mosque bombing kills 12 worshippers
(Tameem Akhgar, Associated Press)

Atrocities still occurring in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, says priest
(Fredrick Nzwili, Catholic News Service)

U.S. climate envoy speaks at Vatican conference, will meet pope
(Cindy Wooden, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Jehovah's Witness woman's legal appeal proves costly
(Credo.Press, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))

Uzbekistan: Parents told not to teach Islam to their children
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Why has Gaza frequently become a battlefield between Hamas and Israel?
(Dov Waxman, OUPblog)

Israel says troops attack Gaza, as strikes continue
(Virginia Pietromarchi and Arwa Ibrahim, Aljazeera)

Pakistani Christians warned against supporting Israel
(Kamran Chaudhry, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Interfaith efforts strained by Israeli-Palestinian violence
(David Crary and Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)

Thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims rally against Israel
(Julhas Alam, Associated Press)

Religious leaders respond to conflict between Israel and Palestine
(Aspen Pflughoeft, Deseret News Faith)

Dozens of US rabbinical students sign letter calling for American Jews to hold Israel accountable for its human rights abuses
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

‘Holy War’: A perspective of the Arab-Israeli conflict - opinion
(Moshe Dann, Jerusalem Post)

Press coverage of Mount Meron tragedy offers window into Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews
(Ira Rifkin, GetReligion)

The Canadian Supreme Court's concerning subordination of religious freedom
(Religious Freedom Institute)

Russian Health Ministry notes substantial decline in abortions
(Interfax-Religion)

Putin notes Muslim organizations' active role in Russia's life
(Interfax-Religion)

Russian Orthodox Church pleas reduction of abortions to fight demographic crisis
(Sofia News Agency)

Two Questions on Coups and Representation before International Courts
(Marko Milanovic, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

2020 Report on International Religious Freedom
(U.S. Department of State)

State Department releases its 2020 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom
(Jeremy Barker, Religious Freedom Institute)

USCIRF welcomes amnesty of Jehovah’s Witness prisoners in Turkmenistan
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

The collision of religion and the Vietnamese State
(Aerolyne Reed, The Vietnamese)

16 Jehovah’s Witnesses released from prison in Turkmenistan during Ramadan
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

New film explores life of key figure in Catholic-Jewish relations
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Church autonomy and parental rights challenged at top human rights court of the Americas
(ADF International)

French minister: Muslims are the main victims of radical Islam
(Lila Schoepf, Arab News)

In India, Hindus fast in Ramadan for growth and solidarity with Muslim friends
(Bhavya Dore, Religion News Service)

In India’s Gujarat state, new anti-conversion law threatens Christians, Muslims
(Jose Kavi and Saji Thomas, Aid to the Church in Need)

UN experts: Islamic State committed genocide against Yazidis
(Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press)

Catholic leaders condemn deadly raid in Rio de Janeiro
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Central African republic must capitalize on lull in violence, cardinal says
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Saudi Arabia still treats Shiites as second-class citizens
(Antonella Caruso, Foreign Policy)

Religion's role in climate conversations
(Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Newsweek)

Boko Haram: Religious based violence and portrayal of radical Islam
(Aiza Tanveer, Modern Diplomacy)

President Aliyev: Promotion of freedom of conscience and religion among Azerbaijan’s priorities
(AzerNews)

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