Law and Religion Headlines

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Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Colombia: Campaign calls for restoration of protections for religious leaders
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Iran: ‘Main elements’ of ‘Christian evangelistic network’ arrested, says prosecutor
(Article 18)

Geography of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in Iran
(Iran Human Rights Monitor)

International Religious Freedom Roundtable Pakistan consultation flags religious discrimination, misuse of blasphemy laws
(Akashvani)

South Korea’s robot monk Gabi joins Buddhist ceremony, takes vows at temple
(Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering)

Monday, 4 May 2026

Israel acknowledges shelling of Greek Catholic monastery in Lebanon
(Union of Orthodox Journalists)

Nigeria faces stricter US aid terms over ‘religious persecution’
(Gift Habib, Punch NG)

Qatar accused of ‘eradicating’ Bahá’í minority
(Akhtar Makoii, The Telegraph)

FoRB conditions in Uzbekistan continue to backslide
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Australia begins hearings into Bondi Beach attack and rising antisemitism
(Christine Chen, Reuters)

Articulating a Christian ethic of disability in the context of MAiD
(Heidi Janz, Cardus)

Combating religious hatred and violence against faith groups
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Democracy and Religion in What State? State Projects, Sanitizing Politics, and Fracturing the Demos
(Tobias Müller, Cambridge University Press)

Won-Buddhism vows to expand suicide prevention programs nationwide
(Lee Jae-yong, Seoul Economic Daily)

The talibé issue in Senegal: A call for urgent, collective action
(Katherine Marshall and Jean Marc Tiendrebeogo, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Humanity must end the arms race before the arms race ends humanity
(Religions for Peace)

Articles of interest - 4 May 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

In Philippines, popular piety meets global conflict in 15-mi Walk for Peace
(Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Jewish library and Chabad near Buenos Aires attacked, Argentine Jewish advocates say
(Jackie Hajdenberg, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Sri Lankan Tamils demand return of ancestral land from military custody
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Malaysian man arrested for attacking Singapore churchgoers
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Government must guarantee family rights following Cassation Court ruling against Baha’i marriage recognition
(Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights)

Tokyo cardinal calls faithful to defend human dignity, peace amid global tensions
(Herald Malaysia Online)

Friday, 1 May 2026

Church in Mexico campaigns against euthanasia bill
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Uganda demolishes ‘unapproved churches’ in effort to clean up cities
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)

Greek Orthodox Church sounds alarm over attacks on Christians in Jerusalem
(Al Jazeera)

Women and church governance: What Pope Francis’s reform changed—and what it left open
(Francisca Pérez-Madrid, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Abrahamic values as the bridge between religions
(Daffa Raynanda, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Sri Lankan court indicts extremist monk for insulting Islam
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Christchurch mass killer loses bid to overturn conviction
(BBC)

Iran: Türk deplores crackdown on dissent, says rights of all Iranians must be respected
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Punjab and Haryana High Court puts on hold plea against anti-sacrilege law, questions petitioner’s credentials
(Indian Express)

Nepal temple celebrates return of stolen Buddha statue
(France 24)

Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood wing opts for a cosmetic rebrand
(Ahmad Sharawi, Foundation for Defense of Democracies)

Tajik president denies religious freedom as he strives for total control
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

This Australian coastal town is home to a Punjabi Sikh community that’s a ‘success story’ for multiculturalism
(MSN)

Wednesday, 29 April 2026

Costa Rica president-elect reaffirms role of faith in meeting with Evangelical Alliance
(Javier Bolaños, Christian Daily)

Syria says Australia won’t repatriate families from camp for those with alleged ties to IS militants
(Abby Sewell, Associated Press)

Kashmir seminary declared unlawful under Indian law, sparks outcry
(Al Jazeera)

North Korea: New report finds evidence of escalation of executions, including for religious activities
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Catholic Church congratulates President El- Sisi on Labor Day
(Egypt State Information Service)

Germany raises concern over blasphemy laws, rights violations in Nigeria
(Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Leadership)

An interview with a powerful Hindu nationalist
(Rob Schmitz, Henry Larson, Adam Raney, Greg Dixon, NPR)

Monday, 27 April 2026

Christian YouTuber in Egypt faces five years’ Imprisonment and hard labor for teaching his faith online
(ADF International)

Egypt extends detention of Ahmadi followers, new defendant added to case
(Manassa News)

Jihadists, Tuareg rebels, claim attacks across Mali
(The Manila Times)

Algeria Sends Fifth Group of Imams to Al-Azhar Under Religious Training Cooperation Programme
(Hana Saada, Dzair Tube)

Nigeria-Turkey security pact not based on religious sentiments, says Chris Musa
(Promise Eze, The Cable)

How Lebanon’s Sunnis approach peace with Israel
(Mohamad Fawaz, Carnegie Middle East Center)

Axum at a Crossroads: Religious coexistence, quest for equal rights in Ethiopia’s ancient city
(Addis Standard)

Despite promoting religious tolerance, Egypt represses religious life for many
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Articles of interest - 27 April 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

As Quebec’s secularism laws threaten religious identities, Ontario schools embrace them
(Zehra Kamani, Religion News Service)

Assault outside synagogue and rock thrown through Judaica shop window ratchet up Toronto Jews’ concerns
(Joseph Strauss, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

United Nations Human Rights Committee issues favorable decision in support of Teymur Akhmedov
(Jehovah's Witnesses)

Indonesia’s religious freedom survey draws criticism
(Jacobus E. Lato, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pakistan churches reject proposed amendments to Christian marriage law
(Kamran Chaudhry, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Symposium will explore “Faith Meets Global Values - Crisis and Promise of Multilateralism”
(World Council of Churches)

State Security renews detention of 16 Ahmadis
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Friday, 24 April 2026

ISIS affiliate threatens religious freedom in Mozambique
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

UN experts concerned by forced conversion through marriage in Pakistan
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Integrity in Motion: Regrounding UDHR’s Article 18 through Malik’s ‘Freedom of Becoming’
(Pedro Pallares-Yabur, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)

Threatening email to UCalgary Muslim students sparks safety concerns
(Henna Saeed, CityNews)

The urgent imperative for peace in the Middle East and Iran: A multireligious statement
(Religions for Peace)

The OIC Participates in the Ninth Meeting of the International Coalition for a Two-State Solution in Brussels
(Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)

Claims of freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua are greatly exaggerated
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Calls mount for Laos to end Christian repression
(Terry Friel, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Hinglaj Mata Festival Draws 300,000 Pilgrims in Balochistan
(Mirwaise Khan, Balochistan Pulse)

Christians protest after Pakistani court says forced marriage of Christian girl, 13, is legal
(Aftab Alexander Mughal, OSV News)

Vietnam passes revised law on belief and religion
(Tran Thuong, Vietnam Net Global)

Cambodia protests Thai religious activities at Ta Krabey Temple
(Khmer Times)

Algeria’s ongoing barriers to religious freedom
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Education and freedom of religion or belief: An essential relationship
(James D. Holt, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Is Indonesia’s blasphemy law for religious protection or political purpose?
(South China Morning Post)

Religious council rejects sovereignty bill, warns of threats to rights and civic space
(Ramson Muhairwe, Nile Post)

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Psychology and religion: Identity does not hang on a coat rack (Portuguese)
(Thiago Rafael Vieira and Jean Marques Regina, Gazeta do Povo)

Legal Spirits 077: Dignity in Judgment (podcast)
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Japanese police arrest a South Korean for allegedly obstructing Yasukuni Shrine festival
(Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press)

Pope Leo’s delicate task in Equatorial Guinea: Bless the faithful, not the regime
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service)

KAICIID and African Union Commission sign new agreement, deepening a decade of partnership for peace in Africa
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Iran, Vatican envoys in Cairo condemn insults to divine religions
(Islamic Republic News Agency)

Nigeria convicts nearly 400 terrorists as Christian persecution continues
(Diana Chandler, Religion Unplugged)

Al-Azhar Grand Imam receives Finnish president
(Egypt Independent)

Egypt: Court refuses to recognise marriage of Baha'i couple together for almost 45 years
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

The Pope, ‘Chrislam,’ and the selective courage toward power
(Alberto Pizzoli, The European Conservative)

Unification Church: Japan’s dissolution order and international law. 1. Violating the believers’ rights
(Patricia Duval, Bitter Winter)

Human fraternity as an alternative to the instrumentalization of religion for geopolitical purposes
(Antonio Angelucci, TRENDS Research & Advisory)

'I prayed it was AI': Catholic Church condemns IDF soldier's destruction of Jesus statue in Lebanon
(Alexandra Lukash, Ynet News)

Freedom House experts on what Trump should discuss with Xi in Beijing
(Freedom House)

Trial opens in Egypt for Christian charged with ‘challenging Islam’
(Edward Ross, Christian Daily)

Senior CPC official stresses law-based governance of religious affairs
(Xinhua)

Monday, 20 April 2026

Government urges rapid data completion for ethnic, religious sectors
(Vietnam Net Global)

Articles of interest - 20 April 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Property dispossession and the exodus of Hindus in Bangladesh – OpEd
(Sangeeta Mohanty, Eurasia Review)

Outrage after photo shows Israeli soldier smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon
(Al Jazeera)

Strengthening the interpretation and implementation of UN Resolution 55/17, human rights and a culture of peace
(Brett G. Scharffs, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Quebec’s Bill 9: When secularism treats religion as a problem
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

While the Supreme Court deliberates on Quebec’s secularism law, Jewish schools and hospitals wait
(Joel Ceausu, Canadian Jewish News)

Christian satellite TV has broadcast evangelical faith – and end‑times prophecies – into Iran for decades
(Febe Armanios, Conversation)

Repression of Uyghurs persists as the world moves on
(Yalkun Uluyol, ABC News Australia)

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