Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 14 February 2025
HRC58: Written submission on FoRB and religious leaders in Colombia
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Wednesday, 12 February 2025
Saudi Arabia: Personal Status Law and the end of secret divorce
(Beata Polok and Zubair Abbasi, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Saudi Arabia: Cultural and religious influences in Saudi Arabia’s state law: A case study on countering drug trafficking
(London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Iraq: The monastery healing religious divides
(Joseph Tulloch, Vatican News)
Iraq: When dignity, not labels, defines a people
(Christian Science Monitor)
The Head of the UGCC and Timothy Snyder to give a lecture on war, religion and ethics in Toronto
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Sri Lanka: Muslims fail to return to their homes in war-torn provinces
(Sonia Sarkar, Religion Unplugged)
Training empowers churches for legal action to accelerate climate solutions
(World Council of Churches)
India: Urdu-speaking Muslims and their linguistic marginality in Kolkata
(London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
India: Report 2024: Hate speech events
(India Hate Lab, Centre for the Study of Organized Hate)
India: The Anti-Conversion Law of Rajasthan: A threat to individual liberty and religious freedom
(Citizens for Justice and Peace)
Australia: The new laws designed to curb hate speech in NSW and why they have sparked criticism
(Alexander Lewis, ABC News Australia)
Japan should stop persecuting the Family Federation: Voices from the IRF Summit 2025
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter)
A call to action: upholding human dignity in a changing world
(El Hassan Bin Talal, Modern Diplomacy)
Venezuela: Evangelical Council of Venezuela reaffirms commitment to religious freedom, separation of Church and state
(Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily)
Uzbekistan advances draft law on religious policy
(Sadokat Jalolova, The Times of Central Asia)
The contradictions of religion and politics in Southeast Asia
(David Hutt, The Diplomat)
Monday, 10 February 2025
Nepalese oppose multi-million cable car project on sacred hill
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Nepalese government detains, questions 17 U.S citizens on proselytization charges
(International Christian Concern)
Never again, but not for the Uyghurs: a shameful omission
(Rahima Mahmut, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)
Antisemitism goes beyond overt acts of hate – subtle forms of bias take their toll, too
(Mareike Riedel, The Conversation)
Statement regarding the people of the Gaza Strip
(Muslim World League)
Ukraine sentences Vitalii Kryushenko to three years in prison for conscientious objection
(Jehovah's Witnesses)
Articles of interest - 10 February 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Pope Francis reminds armed forces only to act for defense and always respect international laws
(Associated Press)
China: Hui Christian pastor charged and tried for 'organising illegal gatherings'
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
China hopes Dalai Lama can 'return to right path', his team rejects preconditions
(Colleen Howe and Krishna N. Das, Reuters)
WCC welcomes decision by Israel’s Supreme Court as a sign of hope and that peace is Possible
(World Council of Churches)
Bangladesh: Islamic resurgence, shift in national identity and rising tensions with India – analysis
(Allen David Simon, Eurasia Review)
India: IAS officers’ religious role raises secular concerns
(Sabrang)
Argentina: Trials in absentia: why should the Jewish community support it? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)
Lusophone Alliance wants to fight for religious freedom where it still suffers limitations (Portuguese)
(António Marujo, 7 Margens)
Brazil: Entity wants inclusion of Yoruba symbol in the STF, after approval of crucifix in public buildings (Portuguese)
(Lauro Jardim, Bom Dia Advogado)
Friday, 7 February 2025
The Religious Freedom Institute, Pepperdine University, and the International Religious Freedom Summit announce ‘IRF Summit Africa’
(Religious Freedom Institute)
South Africa: FOR SA protected church access to school venues
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa)
Australia: How a wave of antisemitic attacks roiled Australia and provoked claims of foreign influence
(Charlotte Graham-McLay, Associated Press)
Australia: Querying “no religion”: State, society and spirituality in Australia
(Anna Halafoff, Andrew Singleton, & Elenie Poulos, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Religious freedom is routinely curbed in Central Asia – but you won’t often see it making international news
(Eric Freedman, The Conversation)
The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief presents key links between religious freedom and torture prevention
(Robert Johnson, The European Times)
Burkina Faso: Faith-based influencers in Burkina Faso combat human trafficking
(Davy Soma, La Croix International)
Singapore: Transforming lives through interreligious dialogue: The journey of Preet Kaur Veygal
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Malaysians decry rules for Muslims attending non-Islamic events
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Indonesia: Atheists say Indonesia denies right to live religion-free
(David Hutt, Deutsche Welle)
Brazil: Judge orders plan to provide alternative treatment for Jehovah's Witness (Portuguese)
(Mateus Mello, Conjur)
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
Nicaragua: More religious Orders forced to leave Nicaragua
(Daniel Esparza, Aleteia)
Ukrainian delegation to the U.S. speaks to world experts about Russian terror aimed at churches
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Crimea: Two more Jehovah's Witness prisoners of conscience jailed
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Iraq: Mosul's landmarks rise again after IS destruction
(Sebastian Usher, BBC)
Iraq’s top court suspends new legislation that activists say undermines women’s rights
(Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Associated Press)
DRC: WCC calls for dialogue for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
(World Council of Churches)
China: Catholic Church in China: The strange case of Bishop Ji Weizhong
(He Yuyan, Bitter Winter)
US freedom of religion conference held without delegates from Vietnam
(Radio Free Asia)
Talitha Kum: Fighting human trafficking through faith and action
(Stefano Leszczynski and Linda Bordoni, Vatican News)
UAE hosts Global Tolerance and Human Fraternity Conference in Abu Dhabi
(Emirates News Agency WAM)
Brazil: Former employee to be compensated for religious intolerance of superior (Portuguese)
(Migalhas)
Reverence for the sacred waters of the Ganga and belief in its power to wash away sins bring millions to India’s Maha Kumbh festival
(Sudipta Sen, The Conversation)
Monday, 3 February 2025
KRG Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs meets with Stefanus Alliance International
(Kurdistan Regional Government)
Bahrain: Foreign Minister emphasises Bahrain’s commitment to promoting respect for religious, cultural diversity
(Bahrain News Agency)
Faith-based cooperation is vital to uphold human rights for all
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Australia: Religious faith, medical procedures and minors- H v AC
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
The UN: reform or dissolve it? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)
Pakistan: Making sense of Imran Khan’s politics and the limits of secular liberalism
(Syed Hammaad Mehraj, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Notes on researching religious plural spaces
(Chris Chaplin, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Friendship and hope
(YouTube Video, Elijah Interfaith Institute)
BIC Geneva: UN Member States raise concern about Bahá’ís during Iran’s Universal Periodic Review
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Wanted: A Zimbabwe of grassroots covenantal pluralism
(David Maxwell, Institute for Global Engagement)
Syria: US-backed commander says his Kurdish-led group wants a secular and civil state in post-Assad Syria
(Bassem Mroue, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 3 February 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Nigeria: Anambra traditionalists reject homeland security law, accuse Soludo of religious bias
(Ikenna Obianeri, Punch)
Nigerian bishop call on Catholics to be more engaged in African politics
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest January 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: Religious issues and persecution – Bimonthly Digest January 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
South Sudan: How faith leaders help shift mindsets towards equality
(Episcopal Relief & Development)
Bangladesh: Ali Riaz on recommendations of Bangladesh’s Constitutional Reform Commission
(Sudha Ramachandran, The Diplomat)
Indonesia: Government unveils ‘biggest’ Hindu temple in Southeast Asia
(The Jakarta Post)
All Vietnamese invitees barred from travelling to the US for religious freedom summit
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Friday, 31 January 2025
Comparing levels of religious nationalism around the world
(Laura Silver, Jonathan Evans, Maria Smerkovich, Sneha Gubbala, Manolo Corichi and william Miner, Pew Research Center)
Religion and Law in China, Third Edition
(Zhao Jianmin, Wolters Kluwer)
Kyrgyzstan bans Islamic niqab as critics warn it could alienate some women
(Farangis Najibullah, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)
USCIRF alarmed by regressive amendments to Kyrgyz laws
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
USCIRF welcomes release of two religious prisoners of conscience imprisoned on blasphemy charges in Egypt
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Bangladesh minority rights group accuses interim government of failing to protect minorities
(Julhas Alam, Associated Press)
A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori
(Charlotte Graham-McLay, Associated Press)
Ivory Coast bishops urge transparent election ahead of October 25 presidential poll
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
A delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations met with British MPs
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
The 2021 Australian “Mark ‘No Religion’” campaign
(Rhys Gower and Adam Possamai, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
In South Korea, churches divided by political crisis
(Célio Fioretti, La Croix International)
Japan: Growing Muslim population in need of burial plots
(Ko Obinata, Kyodo News)
Consultation focuses on understanding Christian Zionism and its effects
(World Council of Churches)
Religious issues and persecutions – Monthly Digest January
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
India: Christian couple sentenced to five years in prison for 'attempting to convert'
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Pakistan: A home to interfaith harmony for different faiths
(Associated Press of Pakistan)
Jamaica: Government committed to upholding religious liberty, says Malahoo Forte
(Jamaica Observer)
Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation sparks heated debate over its flag
(Fatma El-Zahraa Badawy, Religion Unplugged)
The Islamic Moses: How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World
(Mustafa Akyol, Macmillan Publishers)
UN hears contrasting narratives of life for Christians in Iran
(Article 18)
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Muslim World League pledges to make ‘Islamabad Declaration’ constitutional document for girls’ education
(Saima Shabbir, Arab News)
Center for Women, Faith & Leadership welcomes new 2025 cohort to fellowship program
(Institute for Global Engagement)
Mali: Removal of subsidies to Catholic schools in Mali could harm inter-religious dialogue
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
CAR: International Education Day: Promoting interreligious dialogue for conflict management in the Central African Republic
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
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