Law and Religion Headlines
Thursday, 20 July 2017
Facebook was where Pakistan could debate religion. Now it's a tool to punish 'blasphemers'
(Sune Engel Rasmussen and Julia Carrie Wong, The Guardian)
Demand for religion status for Lingayat gains momentum
(The Hindu)
Stripped of his title and illegally replaced, Eritrea’s spiritual leader languishes in detention
(Thomas J. Reese, Religion News Service)
Concerns for wellbeing of Patriarch Antonios
(Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
How a video of a woman in a skirt became a global headache for Saudi Arabia
(Adam Taylor, The Washington Post)
Saudi Arabia says woman arrested for wearing skirt in viral video has been released
(Adam Taylor, The Washington Post)
Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Canada: Ruling allows students to opt out of religious classes at Catholic school
(Michelle McQuigge, The Canadian Press, CTV News)
Indonesian young reformers use bicycles to inspire action on climate change
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
From Mecca to Rome, how do other countries protect their holy sites?
(Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post)
Kazakhstan not planning to ban Jehovah's Witnesses - minister
(Interfax-Religion)
Kazakhstan explains temporary suspension of Jehovah's Witnesses
(RIA Novosti, Russia Religion News)
Russia: Ministry of Justice bans Jewish novel for extremism
(Interfax-Religiia, Russia Religion News)
Anti-Semitism, Hungary and Netanyahu: What you need to know
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Dima Tahboub on conflict zone (Video)
(Deutsche Welle)
Pope Francis encourages fight against the mafia on anniversary of brutal murders
(Claire Giangravè, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Two priests kidnapped in Congo’s troubled North Kivu province
(Godfrey Olukya, Catholic News Service)
Border bishop denounces hateful words, militarization of border
(Rhina Guidos, Catholic News Service)
Leading Russian rabbi criticizes local court for blacklisting book by 19th-century rabbi
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Philippine leader to expedite bill for self-rule in Muslim region
(Martin Petty, Reuters)
Why Russia is afraid of Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Mathew Schmalz, The Conversation)
The politics of Islam in Mali: Separating myth from reality
(International Crisis Group)
As Rajya Sabha debates lynching, Azad says it’s not about religion
(The Indian Express)
Indonesia bans Hizbut group that seeks global caliphate
(Stephen Wright, Associated Press Religion)
Tuesday, 18 July 2017
Russia: Jehovah's Witnesses now banned
(Forum 18 News Service)
Russia Jehovah's Witnesses banned after they lose appeal
(BBC News)
Russian Supreme Court refuses to invalidate ban imposed on Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
(Interfax-Religion)
Russian Supreme Court appeals panel affirms ban on Jehovah's Witness activity
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Exclusive interview: Jehovah's witnesses banned in Russia; court ruling upheld today
(WRN Editorial Staff, World Religion News)
Supreme Court upholds decision liquidating Jehovah's Witnesses
(Portal-credo.ru, Russia Religion News)
Foreign reaction to Supreme Court ruling quick
(Interfax.ru, Russia Religion News)
Jehovah's Witnesses intent to appeal with ECHR against ruling to abolish organization – lawyer
(Interfax-Religion)
Jehovah's Witnesses vow to appeal Russia ban in European court
(Reuters)
Jehovah's Witnesses continued meeting despite court ban
(TLTgorod, Russia Religion News)
Rights advocate laments court ruling
(Anton Chivchalov, Portal-Credo.Ru)
New Hamas chief's first speech reflects strategic shift
(Adnan Abu Amer, translated by Sahar Ghoussoub, Al Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Syrian cease-fire a delicate balance of vastly different goals
(Hamidreza Azizi, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Activists push Rouhani to appoint women ministers
(Saeid Jafari, Al Monitor: Iran Pulse)
The good news from Israel
(Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Israel, play fair with LGBT families!
(Jeffrey Salkin, RNS Column: Martini Judaism (for those who want to be shaken and stirred))
Israel’s rigid Chief Rabbinate challenges the identity of Diaspora Jews
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
Israeli government has two months to rethink gay adoption policy, Supreme Court says
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
An Israeli Christian killed his daughter because of her love for a Muslim, police say
(Samantha Schmidt, The Washington Post)
Israeli judiciary’s double standard on Jewish, Arab terrorists
(Akiva Eldar, translated by Ruti Sinai, Al Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Fighting revives refugees' hopes of returning to Aleppo
(Khaled al Khateb, translated by Joelle El-Khoury, Al Monitor: Syria Pulse)
Pence roots administration’s support for Israel in faith
(Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service)
Filipino church feeds expansion by buying ghost town in US
(Michael Melia, AP News)
Tanzania worshippers swept away in river baptism
(BBC News)
One congregation. Two countries
(Erica Berenstein and Fernanda Santos, The New York Times)
A year on, families of 'martyrs' who resisted Turkey coup count cost
(Kareem Shaheen, The Guardian)
Bus crash in northern India kills at least 16 Hindu pilgrims
(The Guardian)
NSW Labor left faction agitates to remove scripture classes from public schools
(Naaman Zhou, The Guardian)
Saudi police question woman accused of wearing 'indecent' clothing
(Matthew Weaver and Mona Mahmood, The Guardian)
Rohingya Muslims tell of abuses during army crackdown
(Simon Lewis, Religion News Service)
Vatican trial dawns for alleged misuse of hospital donations
(Nicole Winfield, Religion News Service)
Hinduism and its complicated history with cows
(Wendy Doniger, Religion News Service)
Catholicism’s two-party system
(Mark Silk, RNS: Spiritual Politics)
Voice and authority of religion is key in fight against extremism, says UN chief
(Peter Kenny, Ecumenical News)
Metropolitan Hilarion is sure that Putin's meeting with Trump will help save lives in the Middle East
(Interfax-Religion)
Imams to combat TB in Kyrgyzstan
(Interfax-Religion)
Ukrainian parliament tries new approach to Russian church
(RISU, Russia Religion News)
Russia: Jehovah’s Witnesses banned after Supreme Court rejects appeals
(Press Release, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Ukrainian Orthodox alarmed by law proposed in Kiev
(RIA Novosti, Russia Religion News)
Abbas’ Fatah party calls for ‘day of rage’ following Temple Mount clashes
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Vatican nominee tells Senate panel Trump wants to be ‘environmental leader’
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Rohingya villagers tell media of abuses during army crackdown
(Simon Lewis, Reuters)
Philippine rebels: Peace pact ‘best antidote’ for extremism
(Jim Gomez, Associated Press)
Bishops of India host meeting to combat threats to secularism
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Religious freedom research project Summer 2017 fellowship reports
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The moderates’ dilemma: Obstacles to countering violent extremism (Religious freedom research project Summer 2017 fellowship reports)
(Kerry Persen, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Prophetic models, Islamic jurisprudence, and the question of blasphemy (Religious freedom research project Summer 2017 fellowship reports)
(Matthew Anderson, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Son of 'Da Vinci Code'? 'Symbols' in Vatican-linked political blast cry out for translation
(Mark Kellner, GetReligion)
Party members told to give up religion for Party unity or face punishment
(Liu Caiyu, Global Times)
Mayawati accuses BJP of caste, religion-based politics
(Business Standard)
Militancy rising due to poverty, misinterpretation of religion
(Ashraful Islam, Prothom Alo)
Church opposes new plans to regulate religious practice in South Africa
(Russell Pollitt, S.J., America, the Jesuit Review)
Interfaith forgiveness conference meets in Jerusalem
(Abigail Klein Leichman, Israel 21C)
What is common for churches, BJP, a former top cop and High Court in Kerala?
(Anusha Ravi, One India)
Global religious harassment increases
(Eleanor Cain, The Daily Universe)
Saudi woman who wore skirt in viral video has been arrested, state television reports
(Adam Taylor, The Washington Post)
Monday, 17 July 2017
The will to fight: Two documentaries probe Myanmar’s religious strife
(M.C., The Economist)
Hinduism and its complicated history with cows (and people who eat them)
(Wendy Doniger, The Conversation)
Vatican UN envoy: recognizing religion’s public dimension can combat extremism
(Catholic Culture)
IDs for Muslims? a Philippine town's response to terror says a lot about interfaith relations
(Amir Mawallil, South China Morning Post)
CAN calls for more religious dialogue to curb conflicts
(PM News)
DICID to work with Liberia Embassy
(The Peninsula)
In Argentina’s religious freedom row, politics makes strange bedfellows
(Ines San Martin, Crux)
India’s religious, spiritual leaders urge rule of law to restore peace and communal harmony
(Vatican Radio)
Québec: may a Jew be compelled not to work on Saturdays?
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Jewish hairdresser who was fired over Sabbath spat wins legal case
(Vicky Fragasso-Marquis, The Canadian Press)
Quebec tribunal finds discrimination when Jewish owner enforces Jewish practice on Jewish employees
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Sunday, 16 July 2017
The Sufis: Islam’s anti-terrorists
(Robert Carle, The Witherspoon Institute: Public Discourse)
Saturday, 15 July 2017
Chilean victims of ex-Nazi’s cult of horrors may finally get some answers
(Kyle Swenson, The Washington Post)
Cuban pastor punished with 1-year heavy labor for homeschooling his children in evangelical faith
(Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post)
Guam's Catholic church could sell 41 properties to settle clergy abuse cases
(Haidee V Eugenio, Pacific Daily News)
Sudan church council leader summoned before Criminal Court
(World Watch Monitor)
Download Free! The Collective Dimension of Freedom of Religion: A Case Study on Turkey
(Mine Yıldırım, Routledge)
One year after coup attempt, Turkey is still battling terrorism
(Ömür Budak, The Boston Globe [paywall])
The Post-Secular City and Varieties of Religious Musicality: Two Lectures by Paolo Costa at the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Vienna
(Center for Religious Studies of Foundation Bruno Kessler)
The passing of Liu Xiaobo
(Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice)
Obituary: Liu Xiaobo, China’s leading human-rights campaigner
(The Economist)
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