Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 13 March 2026
Nicaragua and Mexico: Two vectors of erosion of religious freedom (Portuguese)
(Tercyo Dutra de Souza, Jose Antonio de Moura Filgueira, and Mikhaila Davis Campos Silva, Migalhas)
Nepal’s Christians eye new government with cautious hope and specific fears
(Surinder Kaur, Christian Daily)
Gujranwala Christian family faces blasphemy threats amid property dispute
(Aftab Alexander Mughal, The Friday Times)
Religious Freedom Violations ‘Particularly Severe’ in China, US Report Says
(Eva Fu & Frank Fang, New Tang Dynasty)
Hun Sen warns of social rifts over influencer’s claims
(Taing Rinith, Khmer Times)
Filipino bishop calls on Catholic universities to form leaders who challenge unjust systems
(Mark Saludes, Licas News)
Lebanese Foreign Minister requests Holy See’s help for Christians in South
(Vatican News)
Eight Arab, Islamic countries condemn Israeli closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque
(Edna Mohamed, Al Jazeera)
President El-Sisi performs Friday Prayers at Field Marshal Tantawi Mosque in commemoration of Martyrs' Day
(Egypt Today)
Turkish aid groups host iftar for 1,000 orphans in Ghana
(Daily Sabah)
Man who attacked Michigan synagogue lost relatives in Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, official says.
(Corey Williams, Alanna Durkin Richer, and Bassem Mroue, WRAL News)
Arab Baptist seminary near Beirut sheltering Christians, others fleeing war zone
(Diana Chandler, Baptist Press)
Christian Rights group welcomes U.S. terrorist designation of Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood
(Silas Isenjia, ACI Africa)
From Fort Worth to Damascus: HumanKind Global Faith Forum 2026 (Part 2)
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Cuba to release 51 prisoners in Vatican-brokered deal
(Daniel Trotta, Reuters)
Dialogue focuses on protecting human rights through combatting hate speech
(World Council of Churches)
Volker Türk on China's "Ethnic Unity Law"
(X, UN Human Rights)
Maharashtra govt. tables Bill to ban ‘unlawful conversions’
(Vinaya Deshpande Pandit, The Hindu)
Interreligious dialogue in a changing world: An interview with Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad
(Indian Catholic Matters)
The Salvation Army affirms commitment to religious freedom
(The Salvation Army)
Thousands protest against proposed regulation of SA churches
(The Witness)
Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Papua New Guinea prime minister visits YWAM medical ship ahead of 2026 outreach
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)
Pacific Conference of Churches voices support for legal measures protecting “sacred and eco-communal space”
(World Council of Churches)
Why is China set to approve a new law promoting 'ethnic unity'?
(Stephen McDonnell, BBC)
B.C. introduces bills to restrict protest rights near schools, religious institutions
(Mark Page, Coast Mountain News)
Judicialization of faith: religious freedom under siege by ideological policing (Portuguese)
(Rodrigo Rabello and Rafael Durand, Gazeta do Povo)
Healthcare on a lifeline: Egypt’s hospitals rely on Ramadan donations to survive
(France 24)
Al-Sisi says Egypt must serve believers and atheists alike
(Egyptian Streets)
IDF tank kills priest during offensive in south Lebanon
(Ellen Teague, Patrick Hudson, The Tablet)
Qatar has more than earned U.S. condemnation for persecuting religious minorities at home
(Natalie Ecanow, Miriam Wahba, Foundation for Defense of Democracies)
Six reported killed in ‘heavy weapons attack’ on monastery in South Wollo, Amhara region
(Addis Standard)
23 new textbooks launched to teach Arabic and Islamic studies in Ethiopian schools
(Shia Waves)
Orthodox Christians killed in spate of attacks in Ethiopia
(Open Doors)
In southeast Pakistan, Ramadan brings Hindus and Muslims closer
(Arab News)
Jihadis intensify attacks against Nigeria’s military, killing officers and carting away weapons
(Chinedu Asadu, Associated Press)
As pope seeks dialogue and diplomacy, 2 US cardinals reject US-Israeli war in Iran
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
How Iran is building a religious mythology around its new supreme leader
(Sune Engel Rasmussen, Wall Street Journal)
Vatican Secretary of State affirms he has taken "the necessary steps" for a dialogued solution in Cuba
(Ciber Cuba)
Women as Peacemakers: HumanKind Global Faith Forum 2026 (Part 1)
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Tribal people in Indian state demand separate religious identity
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
African faith coalition weighs COP30 - and what comes next
(World Council of Churches)
Webinar highlights “Rights! Dignity! Action! Faith in Focus for Women’s Matters”
(World Council of Churches)
Why is Buddhism shrinking worldwide?
(Pew Research Center)
Evangelical body pledges to help eliminate drugs in St. Kitts and Nevis
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)
Religion in the war on Iran
(NPR)
Investigators again raid Shincheonji sect over alleged collusion with politics
(Yonhap, Korea Times)
Faith, family, freedom — and independence? Religion enters Alberta’s secession push
(John Longhurst, Canadian Affairs)
Kathmandu: after the elections, the Church calls for reforms and good governance
(Santosh Digal, Asia News)
‘Forcible imposition’ of India’s national song triggers resistance in the country’s northeast
(Rajeev Bhattacharyya, The Diplomat)
China-appointed Panchen vows proactive move to Sinicize Tibetan Buddhism at annual two-sessions meet in Beijing
(Tibetan Review)
Monday, 9 March 2026
Lessons on courage, conscience and restoration: Day 2 of IRF Summit 2026 (Part 3)
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
The continued killing of Alawites and Druze highlights persistent obstacles to an inclusive Syria
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
A church provides what the state cannot: free medical care for hundreds of Havana residents (Spanish)
(Iliana Hernández, Click Cuba)
Egyptian Navy holds seminar to raise religious awareness
(Egypt State Information Service)
Egypt’s Grand Mufti highlights fruitful coordination with Jordan to counter extremism
(Egypt State Information Service)
Nigeria: “terrifying crisis of religious violence,” independent report says
(Omnes)
U.S. religious freedom watchdog urges Trump to highlight Sudanese suffering
(Anna Rees Green, Premier Christian News)
King of Bahrain delivers royal address on final 10 days of Ramadan
(Sharjah 24)
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa urges "to leave churches open for the spiritual support of the faithful"
(Agenzia Fides)
Liberals move to end Conservative filibuster over religious exemption to hate speech laws
(Marie Woolf, Globe and Mail)
Articles of interest - 9 March 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Muslim leaders call closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan politically motivated
(Michele Chabin, Religion News Service)
2 more Toronto-area synagogues hit with gunfire on Shabbat, raising alarm among local Jews
(Jackie Hajdenberg, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Democratic commitments to religious freedom: Reflections from the IRF Summit
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly digest February 2026
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Cuba: Authorities deny pastor's son conscientious objection to military service
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Self-censorship and social control: The situation of freedom of religion or belief in Venezuela
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
The Iranian revolution transformed global extremism, replacing left‑wing radicalism with religion
(Alexander Howard, Conversation)
Friday, 6 March 2026
Who is behind the alleged genocide against Christian (Amhara) communities in East Arsi, Ethiopia? – and when will this stop?
(Habte H., Borkena)
Historic level MENA religious conversion: Implications for religious freedom
(Institute for Global Engagement)
Diverse initiatives are leveraging the influence and reach of religious leaders in addressing the global crisis of violence against women and girls
(Religions for Peace)
Nigeria: HRC61: Oral Statement during Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on FoRB
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Vietnam and Mexico hold potential for expanded cooperation, minister says
(Vietnam Net Global)
Talantbek Tashibekov on the religious sphere, secularism, and the fight against radicalism
(News of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek and Osh)
Is there religious freedom in Nigeria?
(Segun Dukeh, The Guardian)
A Pakistani martyr for religious freedom
(Knox Thames, The Dispatch)
Al-Azhar Al-Sharif calls for return to talks, immediate end to war
(Bernama)
Church marks 10th anniversary of Missionaries of Charity sisters killed in Yemen, renews call for peace amid regional conflict
(Herald Malaysia Online)
Angola’s president signs repressive civil society law
(Sheila Nhancale, Human Rights Watch)
Lebanese Christian parties condemn Hezbollah over war escalation and threat to sovereignty
(SyriacPress)
Sudan’s displaced find new ways to observe Ramadan as war reshapes cities
(Sudan Tribune)
Meeting at Grand Mosque in Sana'a affirms obligation to support muslims in Iran, Lebanon, & Palestine against enemies of nation
(Yemen News Agency)
Morocco's model of religious coexistence, interfaith dialogue highlighted in Geneva
(Hespress)
War in Iran: The double standards of Moroccan religious leaders
(Mohammed Jaabouk, Yabiladi)
Thousands attend Friday prayers across UAE despite security alerts
(Ali Al Shouk, The National)
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon hit during Israeli strikes, Beirut calls for intervention
(Türkiye Today)
Holy See: Christians are most persecuted religious community in world
(Isabella H. de Carvalho, Vatican News)
Pakistani Shiites rally to denounce US-Israeli strikes on Iran as US Embassy issues a security alert
(Associated Press)
In Nigeria’s protracted violence, debate over whether religion is the cause, or the casualty
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service)
Israel closes Al Aqsa mosque at Ramadan, citing wartime safety concerns
(Isabel Kershner, The New York Times)
Khartoum’s silent war: The reimposition of religious strictures on women amidst civil conflict
(Robert Johnson, The European Times)
Indian Catholics oppose ‘imposition’ of national song recitation
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Book launch: Burmese language edition of “Buddhism and International Humanitarian Law”
(International Committee of the Red Cross)
The continued killing of Alawites and Druze highlights persistent obstacles to an inclusive Syria
(Ellis Heasley, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Wednesday, 4 March 2026
Hezbollah vows to defend Iran following Khamenei’s death
(Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt Independent)
Christians and Muslims join in Pakistan to pray for peace
(Kielce Gussie, Vatican News)
China's exportation of Sinicized Christianity and the United States Military Chaplain response
(Zachary Zumwalt, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
The Sunni-Shi’a Muslim divide: Why it matters in the war against Iran
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)
China’s silence deepens fears over disappeared Uyghur returnees a year on, warn UN experts
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
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