Law and Religion Headlines

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Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Nicaragua: Ortega and the Church: A cautionary tale
(Brandon Van Dyck, Public Discourse: The Journal of the Witherspoon Institute)

Perspective: Young people rally for freedom of religion all around the world
(Jacob Hess, Deseret News)

Catholic Church must elevate role of women, deal with issues of gender: synod report
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Curating Buddhism, Fostering Diplomacy: The “Secrets of the Fallen Pagoda” Exhibition in Singapore
(Jack Meng-Tat Chia and Darryl Kangfu Lim, The Review of Faith & International Affairs)

In Search of a Welcoming Environment for Religions in the “New Kazakhstan”
(Wade Kusack, The Review of Faith & International Affairs)

The Silence of the Roman Catholic Church on the Ukraine War
(Katharina McLarren, The Review of Faith & International Affairs)

A Bridge Over Troubled Water: How Worldview Helps Overcome the Religious-Secular Divide in Development Cooperation and Beyond
(Yannicke Goris and Simon Polinder, The Review of Faith & International Affairs)

Christian Nationalism's Threat to Global Democracy
(Nilay Saiya, The Review of Faith & International Affairs)

Yes, anti-Zionism is antisemitism - editorial
(The Jerusalem Post)

Can we talk about anti-Semitism and Israel without "both-sidesism"?
(Josh Blackman, The Volokh Conspiracy)

Open hatred of Jews surges globally, inflamed by Gaza war
(Andrew Macaskill and Estelle Shirbon, Reuters)

India: The Hindu right and India's religious diplomacy
(Ian Hall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Competing understandings of Islamic codes pertaining to women in the Arab world
(YouTube Video, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Holy See decries racism against migrants and religious discrimination
(Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News)

Japan: The proposed freezing of assets of religious corporations the government seeks to dissolve: a danger for all faiths in Japan
(Bitter Winter)

Australia: Voluntary assisted dying is finally being considered in the ACT. How would it differ from state laws?
(Ben White and Lindy Willmott, The Conversation)

10 things to know about China’s policies on religion
(Pew Research Center)

Monday, 30 October 2023

Canada: Western University fires Muslim chaplain over 'divisive' social media post
(CBC News)

Religions for Peace and the International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID announce the reaffirmation of their commitment to strengthening inter-institutional dialogue, cooperation and understanding
(Religions for Peace)

Creating 21st century religious freedom advocacy
(Knox Thames, Real Clear Politics)

Theo-diplomacy: Peace and reconciliation in international and Islamic law
(Kaleem Hussain, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)

Can faith groups drive action on climate change?
(Hanane Benadi and James Walters, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)

States must address prejudice and discrimination based on religion or belief at all levels – UN expert
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Religious actors are key to achieving a sustainable future in a multipolar world
(International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development)

New book: Secularism and Islam in Bangladesh: 50 Years After Independence
(Abdul Wohab, Routledge)

Centering the Black Muslimah: Interrogating Gendered, Anti-Black Islamophobia
(Rabiat Akande, SSRN)

In Benin, Voodoo’s birthplace, believers bemoan steady shrinkage of forests they revere as sacred
(Sam Mednick, Associated Press)

India police detain man as suspect in explosion that killed 3 people at Jehovah’s Witness gathering
(Associated Press)

Afghanistan: Islamic State group claims responsibility for an explosion in Afghanistan, killing 4
(Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 30 October 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Palestinian Christians and Muslims have lived together for centuries—and several were recently killed in a historic church
(Christine Shepardson, Religion News Service)

ISW explains why Putin assembled Russia's Orthodox, Rabbis, and Muftis
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Sierra Leone: Caritas in Sierra Leone calls for national "health emergency" to combat synthetic marijuana abuse
(La Croix International)

Ukrainian religious leaders on navigating Russia-Ukraine war (video)
(C-SPAN)

Vietnam: Official calls for constructive dialogue on religious issues between Vietnam, US
(Vietnam Plus)

Guatemala commemorates International Religious Freedom Day
(GT News)

Saturday, 28 October 2023

Israel: Arab Israeli Christians share an ‘identity crisis’ and prayers for peace
(Erik Tryggestad, Religion Unplugged)

Canada: Statement regarding health Canada's fourth annual report on MAiD deaths
(Cardus)

Air Canada apologizes after British MP questioned 'because his name is Mohammad'
(Brishti Basu, CBC News)

China: IRFBA Chair’s statement on Uyghur religious prisoner of conscience, Dr. Gulshan Abbas
(U.S. Department of State)

China shows off a Tibetan boarding school that’s part of a system some see as forced assimilation
(Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press)

India: Church welcomes relaxation of hijab ban in Indian state
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: TPNRD Releases new report on Indian religious diplomacy
(Religion & Diplomacy: A Resource of the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy)

Iran: Twenty-six Baha’is in Iran sentenced to 126 years in prison as 10 Baha’i women arrested in Isfahan, and 3 Baha'is in Yazd
(Bahá’í International Community)

Kyrgyzstan: Six-month jail term for questioning official religious policy
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Indonesia: The dilemma of political involvement among Muslim theologians in Indonesia
(Norshahril Saat and Ahmad Muhajir, Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS))

WCC general secretary meets with new executive director of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
(World Council of Churches)

Japan, religion, and the dissolution of the Unification Church: A conversation
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

States must counter discrimination based on religion or belief at all levels: UN expert
(Devdiscourse)

Argentina takes next step in officially honoring evangelicals. They want more.
(Morgan Lee, Christianity Today)

Brazil: Bill that guarantees the right to belief and religious freedom is approved in the Aracaju Chamber (Portuguese)
(G1 SE, G1)

Brazil: Why is the Brazilian State secular? (Portuguese)
(Coordenação, Estratégia Concursos)

Brazil: District Day to Combat Religious Intolerance: event reflects on the right to freedom of belief (Portuguese)
(Ana Beatriz Cabral Cavalcante, Agência de Notícias UniCEUB)

Friday, 27 October 2023

Countries should back ICC investigation on Israel-Palestine
(Balkees Jarrah)

Christians in Pakistan are struggling to survive barbaric persecution
(David Curry, Religion News Service)

Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Israel: Ultra-Orthodox Jews are supporting Israel’s war efforts - here's how
(MAARIV, The Jerusalem Post)

As Pope Francis calls for another day of fasting and prayer for peace in Middle East, faith leaders respond
(Christine Rousselle, Fox News)

Leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah holds talks with senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad figures
(Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press)

Archbishop Welby, patriarchs of Jerusalem urge ceasefire, condemn church bombing
(Catherine Pepinster, Religion News Service)

How the Israel-Hamas War impacts regional relations
(Hesham Youssef, The United States Institute of Peace)

Israel still blocking aid to civilians in Gaza
(Sari Bashi, Human Rights Watch)

Kenyan Catholic priest marries after joining splinter group

Myanmar: UN expert reports on Myanmar’s ‘raging fire of brutality’
(John Sifton, Human Rights Watch)

New Zealand opens inquest into Christchurch mosque attacks that killed 51
(Al Jazeera)

Canada: Obligatory oaths of allegiance and freedom of religion: Wirring
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

In South Africa, prosecutions intensify as bogus faith groups raid bird species for rituals
(Audrey Simango, Baptist news Global)

Kazakhstan: The 21st secretariat of the Congress of leaders of world and traditional religions
(The World Fellowship of Buddhists)

APPG attends forum on Korean unification
(Twitter, Lord David Alton)

Kenya: Religious leaders open Peacebuilding Architecture Review
(Twitter, Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK))

India: Lessons on why we humans must unite
(A. K. Merchant, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

India: Animal sacrifice in Assam's Kamakhya Temple: A clash between tradition and animal rights
(Bikash Chetry, India Today)

India: In Hinduism’s celebration of Durga, lessons for how to navigate global conflicts
(Murali Balaji, Religion News Service)

Ethiopia: Bishops in Ethiopia warn the country may be on brink of return to war
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

China: The Christian exodus from China
(William Huang, MercatorNet)

China: UN member countries condemn China’s crimes against humanity
(Louis Charbonneau, Human Rights Watch)

Ghana: Christian leaders in Ghana are trying to reshape government – it may not end well
(The Conversation)

Religion, geopolitics, and the current conflicts (Spanish podcast)
(Duna Radio)

Image privacy in religious worship Brazil: (Portuguese)
(Carolina de Castro Wanderley, Conjur)

Monday, 23 October 2023

Sweden must strengthen dialogue with faith communities to combat religious or belief intolerance: UN expert
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Nazila Ghanea, upholding religious freedom must be a key priority in Sweden
(The European Times)

WCC stands in solidarity with Jerusalem heads of churches in urgent call to protect places of refuge
(World Council of Churches)

Plug-In: The crucial role of religion in the dangerous Israel-Hamas war
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)

Spain-Israel tensions flare and multiple Spanish synagogues are hit with anti-Israel graffiti
(Orge Castellano, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Israel: The war has forced Israel’s Arab citizens to explain that no, they are not Hamas
(Ivana Kottasová and Adi Kopelwitz, CNN)

Pope Francis calls US President Joe Biden to discuss peace
(Devin Watkins, Vatican News)

Vegetarian or vegan? What about lab-grown beef? Hindus follow scriptures for diet advice
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

Canada: More than 2 dozen faith leaders in Ottawa sign joint statement condemning hate
(Ted Raymond, CTV News)

Canada: Statement regarding Bill C-314 and the expansion of euthanasia to Canadians with mental illness
(Cardus)

We are seeing urgent signs of more mutual mass atrocities to come in Israel and Gaza
(Omar Shakir, Yasmine Ahmed, Akshaya Kumar, Human Rights Watch)

International humanitarian law applies to all states
(Tom Porteous, Human Rights Watch)

Israel: Unlawful Gaza blockade deadly for children
(Human Rights Watch)

What Israel can learn from America’s counterterrorism missteps
(Sarah Yager, Human Rights Watch)

Pro-Palestine demonstrations rock Muslim world after Friday prayers
(TRT World)

Childlessness as a pro-environmental behaviour: A challenge to the Abrahamic procreative teachings
(Sandra Maurice, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)

Argentina: Center for Women, Faith & Leadership holds workshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina
(Institute for Global Engagement)

Nigeria: Plateau crisis: OPSH commander cautions religious leaders on inciting statements
(The Sun)

Pakistani senate body seeks end of 'unjust' blasphemy cases
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Pakistan’s Supreme Court Chief Justice addresses religious persecution
(Charles Ramsey, Real Clear Politics)

Guatemala: Adventist women in Guatemala commit to making a difference in their communities
(Libna Stevens, Seventh-day Adventist Church)

Uganda: Decision to block Ugandan lawmakers from prayer gathering sparks freedom of worship concerns
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)

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