Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 8 May 2015
The right to blaspheme: Dissenting from the tenets of a particular religion is very different than discriminating against a category of persons
(David Frum, The Atlantic)
In about-face, state okays private kosher certification
(Jessica Steinberg, Times of Israel)
In Israel, coalition agreements promise to roll back recent anti-haredi religious changes
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Freed Boko Haram hostages praise God for survival
(Czarina Ong, Christian Today)
Three religious organizations get warnings from Justice Ministry for breaches of legislation
(Interfax-Religion)
We are all Farkhunda: how one woman’s murder could change Afghanistan
(Christian Today)
Religious tensions in Nigeria
(Thomas Reese, National Catholic Reporter)
Central Asia: mismanaging religion
(Sebastien Peyrouse, Eurasianet)
Tajikistan debates ban on Arabic names as part of crackdown on Islam
(David Trilling, The Guardian)
Vietnam's Religion Law: The 'Great National Unity' requires a great big bureaucracy
(Reg Reimer, World Watch Monitor)
‘We are going through a terrible moment’: 242 Syrian Christans remain hostage after ransom offer rejected
(Barbara G. Baker, World Watch Monitor)
Pakistan one of worst religious freedom offenders, says USCIRF
(Shaheryar Gill, American Center for Law and Justice)
'It's about being respectful to my religion'
(Candace Sutton, Daily Mail)
Thursday, 7 May 2015
Classical singer claims performance ban in Iran
(Arash Karami, Al-Monitor: Iran Pulse)
Haifa's Arab theater shocked by uproar over play
(Shlomi Eldar, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Islamic loans give Gaza's women chance to survive poverty
(Hana Salah, Al-Monitor: Palestine Pulse)
Event: The Future of World Religions [event transcript and link to video]
(Jack A. Goldstone, David Voas, Conrad Hackett, Alan Cooperman, Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life)
Advocating the cause of Muslims everywhere
(Abdul Hannan Tago, Arab News)
Pentecostal event permit revoked in mainly Hindu Indian state
(Miko Morelos, Ecumenical News)
Religious Freedom Is Good for Business
(Brian Grim & Brian Walsh, Real Clear Religion)
4 Afghan men sentenced to death over horrifying mob killing
(Lynne O'Donnell and Amir Shah, Associated Press)
Afgahn court sentences men charged in mob killing of woman falsely accused of burning Quran
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Burundi police arrest opposition leader for insurrection after meeting with African ministers
(Bradley McAllister, Jurist)
Back in power, haredi parties aim to roll back religious reforms
(Ben Sales, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Catholics in Vietnam fear new laws on religion
(Gregory Tomlin, Christian Examiner)
Christian sect killings in Angola shrouded in fear and mystery
(The Jerusalem Post)
Russia's restrictive religion laws take their toll in Crimea
(Thomas J. Reese & Daniel I. Mark, Institute for Religious Freedom)
Scene of Iraqi massacre becomes Shiite pilgrimage site
(Tim Arango and Anne Barnard, The New York Times)
Taliban fears over young recruits attracted to Isis in Afghanistan
(Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian)
As Christianity flourishes, Chinese province to ban its most-recognized symbol — crosses
(Didi Tang, The Associated Press, The Salt Lake Tribune)
Chinese province to ban rooftop Christian crosses
(Didi Tang, The Associated Press, The Big Story)
Ten Commandments in rare Israel exhibit
(Hurriyet Daily News)
Israel's ultra-Orthodox poised for political comeback
(Aron Heller, The Associated Press, The Big Story)
Netanyahu forms an Israeli government, with minutes to spare
(Jodi Rudoren, The New York Times)
Government pressure intensifies in Eastern Cuba
(Christian Solidarity Worldwide - USA)
Bishop of Niigata: Population decline major challenge for Japanese Church and society
(Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, AsiaNews.it)
In good faith? Reconsidering the impact of religion on negotiated settlements?
(Jason Klocek, The International Relations and Security Network)
India won't discriminate on basis of religion, says emotional Nareda Modi
(The New Indian Express)
Another 19 Islamists convicted in Tajikistan
(Interfax-Religion)
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Morocco battles Islamic State cells
(Imad Stitou, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Restrictions on Iraq's displaced people worsen Shiite-Sunni divide
(Shelly Kittleson, Al-Monitor: Iraq Pulse)
Explainer: can religious schools discriminate in their enrolments?
(Renae Barker, The Conversation)
Pakistan includes religious minorities in new school textbooks
(Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D., Breitbart News Network)
The World’s Religions bring compassion to Nepal
(The Parliament Blog, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions)
The power of love and compassion to stop the violence and start the healing
(Jon Ramer, The Parliament Blog: Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions)
‘Olympics of religions’ receives a preview in Salt Lake City
(Benjamin Wood, The Salt Lake Tribune)
Advisory body addresses freedom of thought, conscience and religion in Kazakhstan, accepts recommendations from civil society
(Aiman Turebekova, The Astana Times)
Tunisia steps up security at Jewish pilgrimage to Ghriba, following deadly Bardo museum attack
(Ben Bouazza, US News and World Report)
It's official: Vatican to canonize missionary Junipero Serra, despite controversy
(Compiled by Mark A. Kellner, Deseret News National Edition | Faith)
Turkey is the bad actor on Cyprus
(Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Fla.), The Hill (blog))
Vatican blasts Muhammad cartoons as pouring ‘gasoline on the fire’
(Rosie Scammell, Religion News Service)
Islamophobia isn’t just a Muslim problem, it hurts all religions
(Al Bawaba News)
Discussing Islam: Western logic is flawed - OpEd
(Sufyan Bin Uzayr, Eurasia Review)
For social activist, the Indian government should open its eyes to the violence against religious minorities
(Nirmala Carvalho, AsiaNews.it)
Ethnicity or religion should not be a barrier to enter any school - President
(News.lk)
Aceh, new pro-sharia rules: males and females separated at school
(Mathias Hariyadi, AsiaNews.it)
Huge security measures as hundreds of Jews make Djerba pilgrimage
(AsiaNews.it)
Kabul: Four men sentenced to death for the murder of Farkhunda, a woman accused of blasphemy
(AsiaNews.it)
Canada: Education minister ducks motion on religion
(Nick Martin, Winnipeg Free Press)
Tajikistan: "My police shave me"
(Forum 18 News Service)
CAR warring factions devote a week to peace
(Illia Djadi, World Watch Monitor)
Muslim shopkeepers in China ‘forced’ to sell alcohol, cigarettes
(Al Arabiya)
China's Dalai Lama dilemma - pursuing the wrong path
(Bhaskar Roy, South Asia Analysis Group)
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
214 Nigerian girls rescued from Boko Haram pregnant: UN
(Press TV)
Nigeria’s military: We’ve rescued nearly 300 women and girls abducted by Boko Haram
(Diana Ozemebhoya Eromesele, The Root)
Boko Haram: 214 girls rescued from Sambisa forest pregnant – UNFPA
(Ameh Comrade Godwin, Daily Post Nigeria)
Boko Haram rescue: Pregnant women, girls, among those found in Sambisa Forest by Nigerian Army
(Morgan Winsor, International Business Times)
With rescue near, Boko Haram fighters stoned Nigerian girls to death
(Associated Press, Fox News)
Employment status of clergy
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Tibet wants China to return Panchen Lama 20 years after disappearance
(Alison Lesley, World Religion News)
China lodges protest with U.S. after religious freedom report
(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Ben Blanchard, Reuters)
Politicians who insult men of God cautioned
(Ghana Web)
Vietnam: bishops fear new legislation would heighten restrictions on religion
(Catholic Culture)
South Sudan: WCC calls for day of prayer for South Sudan
(AllAfrica News)
Nepal Christians return to worship after earthquake turns churches into tombs
(Anto Akkara and Morgan Lee, Christianity Today)
Tunisian Jews committed to success of El Ghriba pilgrimage
(Roger Bismuth, Tunis Africa Press (via AllAfrica News))
Vatican says Cuban president to visit Pope Francis this week
(The Associated Press)
U.S. voices concerns to Myanmar party head on race, religion bills
(David Brunnstrom, Reuters)
South African university ousts student gov’t president who praised Hitler
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
'No room' for gays in Kenya, says deputy president
(Agence France-Presse)
The Shroud of Turin: Both visible and hidden
(B.C., The Economist [Erasmus: Religion and public policy])
How Isis is recruiting migrant workers in Moscow to join the fighting in Syria
(Daniil Turovsky, The Guardian)
Jailed pastor Saeed Abedini faces even more pressure from Iran; extended prison time a possibility
(Angie Chui, Christian Today)
Likud-Shas deal to transfer rabbinical courts to Religious Services Ministry evokes criticism
(Jeremy Sharon, The Jerusalem Post)
Sudan: Clergymen brought before criminal court
(Christian Solidarity Worldwide - USA)
Authorities destroy Muslim cemetery with burials in Stary Krym
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine)
Tajikistan mulls ban on Muslim names
(David Trilling, Eurasianet)
China orders Muslim shopkeepers to sell alcohol, cigarettes, to ‘weaken’ Islam
(Simon Denyer, The Washington Post)
Somalia Islamists storm Puntland police station, kill three: police
(Abdiqani Hassan and Feisal Omar, Reuters)
India crticises role of religion-based organsations in security matters at UN
(Arul Louis, New Kerala)
India dismisses US report on its state of religious freedom
(Miko Morelos, Ecumenical News)
Sri Lanka: Sirisena says Buddhist teachings help strengthen moral values
(Eurasia Review)
Thailand, dozens of Rohingya buried in mass graves, four arrests
(Weena Kowitwanij, AsiaNews.it)
Pakistan’s religious minorities included in school textbooks
(Shafique Khokhar, AsiaNews.it)
Religion in (South African) schools: The finer details of the Constitution
(Pierre de Vos, Daily Maverick)
Iran, Rouhani reboots secular State: Police should not impose Islamic morality
(AsiaNews.it)
Monday, 4 May 2015
Tajikistan jails 10 as members of banned Islamic group
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Brazil celebrates first place, but not in soccer
(Claudia Augelli, Religion Press Release Services)
Russian Jewish leader: Increased authoritarianism a cause for aliya
(Sam Sokol, The Jerusalem Post)
Summit calls for a police force to defend the Middle East’s Christians
(Ines San Martin, Crux: Covering all things Catholic)
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