Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 28 April 2025
Kenya: Kindiki defends government’s partnership with churches
(Rosemary Onchari, Capital News)
Syria: UN Security Council debates precarious path forward for a new Syria
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Article of interest - 28 April 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Friday, 25 April 2025
Blog Series: Pope Francis and his legacy in theology, canon law, interreligious dialogue, and religious leadership
(various, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Ukraine: How should government deal with conscientious objectors in wartime?
(Dmytro Vovk, Forum 18 News Service)
A deleted condolence after pope’s death revealed tension between Israel and the Vatican
(Melanie Lidman, Associated Press)
Even in death, Pope Francis’s push for dialogue, multilateralism continue
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Vietnamese monk forced to cut short his walk through Sri Lanka, heads to India
(Radio Free Asia)
Syria in transition: What does the future look like for Christians in an Islamist Syria?
(Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)
Mexico: A year since over 170 Protestants were forced from their homes, authorities in Mexico’s Hidalgo State must take action to protect religious minorities
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
‘Few countries on Earth less free on FoRB than Iran’ – UK envoy
(Article 18)
South Africa: Regulating religion: A renewed debate
(Siphesihle Buthelezi, IOL)
South Africa: How religion shapes a free and democratic South Africa
(Nico Koopman, Weekend Argus)
USCIRF condemns attack in Kashmir
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Malaysia: Madani gov't ensures balance between development, religion - Ahmad Zahid
(BernamaBiz)
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
National Day of Prayer: Iraq’s Cardinal Sako urges modern laws
(Shafaq News)
Kurdistan Regional Government Religious Affairs Minister: Friday sermons promote tolerance and pluralism across the region
(Ahora Qadi, Kurdistan24)
In memory of Pope Francis: A legacy of dialogue, commitment and hope (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)
Politics aside for one day, world leaders to gather at Vatican and mourn Pope Francis
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
Jordan outlaws Muslim Brotherhood group, confiscates assets
(Al Jazeera)
‘Voice for the voiceless’: The Dalai Lama’s struggle for Tibet and religious survival
(Matthew Peterson, Religion Unplugged)
Internal unity and international advocacy for Ukraine: The President met with members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Uzbekistan: Further 10 years in prison for Muslim prisoner of conscience
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)
Indonesian Christians fret over religious worship restrictions
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
In China’s sprawling, complex legal system, it’s easy to trap the innocent
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
The meaning of “sex” – in the UK and Australia
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
India: Rage and despair after brazen attack kills 26 in Kashmir
(Cherylann Mollan, BBC)
Sovereignty and Religious Freedom: A Jewish History
(Simon Rabinovitch, Yale University Press)
Canada: A bishop of the Arctic says goodbye
(Julia Duin, Religion News Service)
Podcast: Legal Spirits 066: The International Moot Court Competition in Law & Religion
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Antisemitic incidents slow worldwide from post-Oct. 7 spike, but remain higher than before Gaza war
(Melanie Lidman, Associated Press)
Monday, 21 April 2025
Declaration of the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, 21.04.2025
(The Holy See)
Article of interest - 21 April 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religion Watch, ‘Volume 40 No. 5’
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Afghanistan must immediately stop public executions and corporal punishment: UN experts
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Zambia: Going beyond complacency required to uphold freedom of religion or belief in Zambia: UN expert
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Council of Christian Churches discussed and planned measures to support the institution of the family
(Institute for Religious Freedom, Ukraine)
Global Interfaith Monitor No. 34
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
CSW: Principle of equality a necessary condition for peace, says the BIC
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Thailand: Religions Volunteer Project
(World Fellowship of Buddhists)
Syria: Mar Moussa shines a light on faith and unity in war-torn Syria
(Noé Rousset-Rouard, La Croix International)
Pakistan: Former EU Special Envoy on FORB spoke on human dignity in Pakistan at the UN
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
UAE accused of expanding religious crackdown under pretext of countering extremism
(Watan)
Maldives backs UN resolution calling for freedom of religion
(Zunana Zalif, Raajje)
Australia: Labor urged to resist pressure on religious freedoms
(The Australian)
Brazil: National initiative harmonizes diverse perspectives on social justice
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Brazil: Judge prohibits Secon/RJ from preventing masses at Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese)
(Migalhas)
Friday, 18 April 2025
Nicaragua once again bans Holy Week processions
(Walter Sánchez Silva, Catholic News Agency)
Pakistan: Ahmadi community in Pakistan says one of their members is beaten to death by Islamists
(Associated Press)
Nigeria: Fearing more faith-based attacks, many Nigerian Christians are avoiding churches this Easter
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service)
Nigeria: Yobe Hisbah, World Bank hold interfaith dialogue for peaceful coexistence
(Ahmed Amshi, Punch)
Commonwealth of Nations seeks Vatican collaboration in peace, tolerance
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Russia: Criminal prosecution to follow fine for anti-war post?
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Australia: Concerns for Christian freedoms in New South Wales after introduction of conversion therapy ban
(Christian Today)
Indonesia: Uphill struggle for young advocates of religious and cultural diversity in East Kalimantan
(Nasrullah, Azhar Ibrahim and Awang Azman Awang Pawi, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute)
A Jubilee 2025?
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
South Africa: Church and govt must unite to fight social ills: Mashatile
(South African Broadcasting Corporation)
India: Fight will continue till amendments to Waqf Act are withdrawn, say Muslim religious leaders
(The Hindu)
Bangladesh: Contact govt thru Buddhist Welfare Trust to free occupied lands of religious establishments: Adviser Khalid
(The Business Standard)
Chinese families and the impact of religious persecution
(Jennifer Bauwens and Arielle Del Turco, Family Research Council)
Brazil: Adventist judoka has the right not to graduate from belt level on Saturday (Portuguese)
(Conjur)
Angola opens public consultation on religious freedom (Portuguese)
(Lusa, Deutsche Welle)
Angola: Secular state or regulator of faith? (Portuguese)
(Sandra Quiala, Deutsche Welle)
Puerto Rico: "You have nothing to fear": Religious groups debate the approval of a law for religious freedom (Spanish)
(Alexandra Acosta Vilanova, El Vocero del Puerto Rico)
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Oceanian perspectives on human dignity
(Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Justifiable limitations upon freedom of religion and belief in Australia’s draft human rights bill: Lessons from the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
(Paul Babie, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Australia: Muslim advocacy group to preference Greens above Labor in some seats despite disagreement on religious freedom
(Henry Belot, The Guardian)
Articles of interest - 15 April 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Cuban government blocks Palm Sunday procession in Havana for second year
(James Rodriguez, Cuba Headlines)
Hezbollah denounces desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque isanctity
(Mehr News Agency)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest April 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Leading by and with faith: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Kenya: Kindiki says church and state are partners in nation building, not competitors
(Maureen Kinyanjui, Eastleigh Voice)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest April 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russia: Criminal trial of anti-war believer begins, another continues, third awaited
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Repeated ill-treatment of Jehovah’s Witness Anna Safronova in a penal colony in Russia
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
Occupied Ukraine: Russian FSB raids, court cases, fines, deportation threats
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Monday, 14 April 2025
Egypt: Halt arbitrary arrest, disappearance and threatened deportation of Ahmadi minority members
(Amnesty International)
Prosecuting blasphemy in Russia
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Australia: The NSW Conversion Practices law, religious freedom and Government “guidance”
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Nigeria pledges to uphold religious freedom, but actions on the ground suggest otherwise
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Why Iranians are rejecting Islam and embracing Christianity
(John Mac Ghlionn, Religion Unplugged)
Khamenei: Iran's progress angers, confuses its enemies
(Middle East Monitor)
Canadian Conservative leader promises to deport people convicted of antisemitic crimes if elected
(The Jewish Chronicle)
Puerto Rico: Governor enacts public policy on protection of religious freedom
(The San Juan Daily Star)
Ecuador: Catholic bishops call on people to avoid polarization in Ecuador ahead of elections
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Senegal TV series spreads the gospel, promotes interfaith dialogue
(Charles Senghor, La Croix International)
Southeast Asia: Traffickers pose as Christian missionaries, pilgrims to exploit victims
(LiCAS News)
Bangladesh: WCC expresses solidarity with peace efforts
(World Council of Churches)
Malaysia: Mosques should be built on faith, not for show, says PM Anwar
(Opalyn Mok, Malay Mail)
Japan: In the shadow of a murder: Religious freedom versus the social good
(Roy Starrs, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs)
India: Controversy erupts over religious-based reservations in Karnataka
(Devdiscourse)
2025 IRF Summit profiles | interview series
(YouTube Video, Religious Freedom Institute)
Friday, 11 April 2025
Bahraini Ambassador meets UK Special Envoy to discuss religious freedom and coexistence
(Daily Tribune)
Afghanistan: Taliban morality enforcers arrest men for having the wrong hairstyle or skipping mosque, UN says
(Associated Press)
Israel: As war continues, Israelis express frustrations with Haredi exemption from military service
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
Burkina Faso: Catholic priest praises Burkina Faso leader over commitment to bridge religious gaps
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Iraq: What to do with Iraq's 'IS families' returning from Syria?
(Cathrin Schaer, Deutsche Welle)
Speaking truth to power in challenging times: Lessons from the Arab Spring politics of Muslim jurists
(Muhammad Amasha, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
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