Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Yemen: Release arbitrarily detained people
(Human Rights Watch)
Sexual and gender based violence against religious freedom protesters in Iran
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Iran protests: LGBTQ community rises up
(Khosro Kalbasi Isfahani, BBC News)
USCIRF condemns funeral attack, rising violence in northcentral Nigeria
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Murabitat: The Palestinian women defending Al-Aqsa
(Jaclynn Ashly, Al Jazeera)
For Palestinians, holiest Ramadan night starts at checkpoint
(Isabel Debre, Associated Press)
ADL and Tel Aviv University publish the Annual Report on Antisemitism Worldwide - 2022
(Anti-Defamation League)
India in pictures: How Ayodhya city reflects India’s widening religious divide
(Al Jazeera)
1 city, 2 people — and India’s widening religious divide
(Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press)
Somali women recall pain and punishment under Al-Shabaab
(Abjata Khalif, Religion Unplugged)
Events shed light on finance reform, prioritising vulnerable communities
(World Council of Churches)
A Catholic contribution in view of the EU-CELAC Summit. Mgr Crociata: “a unique opportunity to promote a more fraternal world”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest April 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
"Ukraine has the right to defend itself from Russian aggression in the spiritual domain just as it defends itself on the battlefield," - Metropolitan Epifaniy
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russia attacks church in Ukraine on Easter Sunday, 2 casualties: report
(Andrew Stanton, Newsweek)
Google Brazil must permanently monitor YouTube channels accused of propagating religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Jornal Local)
Monday, 17 April 2023
Hong Kong bishop visits Beijing on historic trip
(Kanis Leung, Associated Press)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest April 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Chinese national arrested on blasphemy charges in Pakistan
(Riaz Khan, Associated Press)
Regional actors seek to douse flames fueled by Jerusalem tensions
(Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen and Hesham Youssef, The United States Institute of Peace)
Holy Fire celebrated by Christians in Jerusalem amid Israeli police restrictions
(BBC News)
Jerusalem Christians say attacks on the rise
(Yolande Knell, BBC News)
At Christianity’s holiest site, rival monks struggle to turn other cheek
(Hiba Yazbek, The New York Times)
Reverend Samson’s prison sentence
(Vedant Patel, U.S. Department of State)
Conflict dynamics between Bangladeshi host communities and Rohingya refugees
(Geoffrey Macdonald, Isabella Mekker, and Lauren Mooney, The United States Institute of Peace)
Iraq: Flawed implementation of Yazidi compensation law
(Human Rights Watch)
Would the Pope fall foul of Uganda’s pending anti-LGBTQ+ law?
(Graeme Reid, Human Rights Watch)
After a brutal attack on one of their own, a religious minority community in Mexico is waiting for justice and religious freedom
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Defending the freedom to worship—Iranian Christian pastor released from prison
(ADF International)
Pascha in Ukraine, 2023: That's a subject journalists view through a totally Western lens
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)
Dozens of POWs freed as Ukraine marks Orthodox Easter
(Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press)
Muslims around the world consider climate during Ramadan
(Edna Tarigan and Mariam Fam, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 17 April 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Taking a terrible toll: The Taliban’s education ban
(Belquis Ahmadi and Hodei Sultan, The United States Institute of Peace)
Building an architecture of peace: faith leaders fostering resilience and unity in Nigeria
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Over 50,000 Christians killed in Nigeria by Islamist extremists
(Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News)
Canada: Culture war against Saskatchewan religious schools must cease
(David Hunt, Saskatoon Star Phoenix)
WCC appeals for immediate ceasefire in Sudan
(World Council of Churches)
Religion blocks freedom and democracy across the globe
(Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)
Bitter Winter goes to Taiwan: witnessing for freedom of religion or belief
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
India: A letter to Prime Minister Modi from senior advocate Dushyant Dave
(Dushyant Dave, The Hindu)
India: Religious leaders lay stress on oneness at C20 conference
(The Tribune)
Saturday, 15 April 2023
Iran vows crack down on people who promote removing the veil
(Reuters)
Friday, 14 April 2023
Israel: Christian faithful celebrate ‘Holy Fire’ under restrictions
(Isabel Debre, Associated Press)
Churches criticise Israeli curbs on Orthodox Easter event in Jerusalem
(Yolande Knell, BBC News)
UAE: detainees held beyond sentences
(Human Rights Watch)
Essay: Elder Hu Shigen’s release is welcome, but more importantly it reminds us that we must stand up to the CCP
(Ellis Heasley, Sight)
Myanmar: Reverend Dr Hkalam Samson sentenced to six years in prison
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
'It has become a cycle': Muslim Canadians more vigilant during Ramadan
(Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press)
2 Muslim women report alleged hate crime involving gun threat in Canada's Ontario
(Firdevs Bulut Kartal, Anadolu Agency)
New book: Advanced Introduction to Law and Religion
(Frank S. Ravitch, Edward Elgar Publishing)
Kazkstan: Dozens convicted for posting religious messages online or offering literature
(Evangelical Focus)
RFI celebrates the freedom of 63 Chinese Christians
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Chart a better course? Guest post on an Australian Human Rights Charter- part 2
(Paul Taylor, Law and Religion Australia)
Iran cracks down on 'crime' of promoting hijab removal
(Deutsche Welle)
"No Ukrainian politician to ever control the Orthodox Church of Ukraine," - Metropolitan Epifaniy
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Uzbekistan: 15-day jail for haram yoghurt videos
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Constituting Religion: Islam, Liberal Rights, and the Malaysian State
(Tamir Moustafa, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Holy See: Development policies must put the human person at the centre
(Lisa Zengarini, Vatican News)
Hong Kong Bishop heads to mainland China amid Vatican strains
(Lok-kei Sum, Al Jazeera)
India: Quota withdrawal for Muslims: Karnataka BJP upbeat despite SC rap
(Siasat Daily)
Indian govt: Christians’ persecution claims false
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
African churches launch human rights award
(World Council of Churches)
WCC offers input to the UN New Agenda for Peace
(World Council of Churches)
US wants to help remove Vietnam from special watch list on religious freedom: Ambassador
(Vietnam Plus)
Indonesia: Celebrating interfaith tolerance in Papua
(Antara News)
Brazil's Lula should be clear-eyed about Beijing
(Maria Laura Canineu and Maya Wang, Human Rights Watch)
Brazil: Security system focuses on religious intolerance in operation to prevent attacks on São Luís schools (Portuguese)
(Daniel Matos, O Estado)
Colombia: Participate in the construction of the Public Policy of Religious Freedom and Cults (Colombia)
(Camila Camacho, Alcadía de Bacaramanga)
Nicaragua: Holy Week 2023: 20 kidnapped, besieged temples and imprisoned processions (Spanish)
(Confidential)
Nicaragua: Ortega dictatorship confiscates monastery of Trappist nuns (Spanish)
(Confidential)
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Canada: Banning student-initiated prayer in school spaces is unconstitutional, and unjust
(Derek Ross, The Globe and Mail)
Canada: Quebec premier accused of hypocrisy on secularism after tweet praising Catholicism
(CBC News)
Australia: Liability of a bishop for abuse by clergy- on appeal
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Vicarious liability for clergy abuse in Australia: Bird
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Fiona Bruce | An interview with David Trimble | IRF Summit RFI Profiles
(YouTube Video, Religious Freedom Institute)
Malaysian state bans Muslims from entering churches
(Christian Today)
Faith under fire (religious freedom restrictions around the world)
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
What does the ‘status quo’ mean at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque?
(Adam Sella, Al Jazeera)
In its quest for religious war, Israel is uniting Arabs and Muslims around Palestine
(Ramzy Baroud, Middle East Monitor)
Israel prohibits non-Muslim access to Al-Aqsa compound
(Daily Sabah)
How Jerusalem can remain a city of peace in times of strife - editorial
(The Jerusalem Post)
Church: Israel limiting rights of ‘Holy Fire’ worshippers
(Laurie Kellman and Audrey Horowitz, Associated Press)
WCC expresses serious concern about restrictions imposed on celebration of Holy Fire ceremony
(World Council of Churches)
Israeli government bans Jews from Temple Mount through end of Ramadan
(Ron Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Uzbekistan: Easter church raid, Baptists tortured, prison Ramadan fast ban
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Campaign for thorough reform of Muslim law deserves mainstream coverage – now
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)
Indian PM's cathedral visit evokes hope among Christians
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Appeal for peace after three Indian churches razed
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Bangladesh arrests four for caning, stoning woman over affair
(Al Jazeera)
The environmental education of children
(Victoria W. Thoresen, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Taiwan: Western human rights experts meet President of the Parliament
(Liu Tzu-hsuan, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Nigeria: “A religious war”
(Ebenezer Obadare, Council on Foreign Relations)
Nigeria: Bauchi warns clerics against inciting utterances
(Segun Awofadeji, This Day)
The Arab autocrat’s new religious playbook
(Jon Hoffman, Foreign Policy)
Journalist Victor Ticay arrested over coverage of Easter ceremony in Nicaragua
(Committe to Protect Journalists)
Tunisia: free arbitrarily detained Ex-Prime Minister
(Human Rights Watch)
Myanmar confirms deadly air strike that is feared to have killed 100
(TRT World)
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