Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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)
How school choice drives America’s people of faith apart
(Amy Laura Hall, Religion News Service)
Why the Biden administration should spare Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers’ life
(David Saperstein, Religion News Service)
Welcoming refugees and migrants: U.S. Catholic issues
(David Hollenbach, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Dachau: 90 years on, the warning remains
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Money is not everything: the immunity of a minister and the deprivation of a specific remedy to protect the civil right to a good reputation in Bakoyanni v. Greece
(Andy Jousten, Strasbourg Observers)
FBI war on 'rad trad' Catholics: Where's the outrage (or even fairness) in press coverage?
(Clemente Lisi, GetReligion)
Somali women recall pain and punishment under Al-Shabaab
(Abjata Khalif, Religion Unplugged)
Jihadism re-emerges in Europe
(Itxu Díaz, First Things)
The objective friends of the Court – New insights into the role of third parties before the European Court of Human Rights
(Justine Batura, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
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))
Court refuses to enforce United Arab Emirates child custody decree that disfavored Christian parent
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
MLK not CRT: A Christian Case for Reparations for Racism in the United States
(Daniel Philpott, Arc of the Universe)
France: protesters set on fire a historical convent—only three lines in the media
(Willy Fautré, Bitter Winter)
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)
Angelic statue is not appropriate, says French court
(Christian Network Europe)
Norwegian authorities will recognise same-sex marriage in Methodist Church
(Christian Network Europe)
Swedish Christian Democrats propose measures to protect persecuted Christians
(Christian Network Europe)
Civil rights leaders reintroduce bill to strengthen protections, restore intent of federal religious freedom law
(Bobby Scott, Member of Congress)
Rescind religiously slanted noise ordinance, FFRF insists to Minneapolis
(Freedom From Religion Foundation)
Islam’s Paradox: An Interview with Rémi Brague
(The European Conservative)
New guide to religion in schools in response to tumbling parent religion figures
(Humanists UK, Politics)
Safeguarding: statement by the independent reviewer in the Smyth case
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Chief Rabbi: Celebrate the King’s coronation by volunteering
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)
Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig lead call for recognition of humanist marriages
(Robert Booth, The Guardian)
International Association recognizes Portugal as a country "respectful" of religious freedom (Portuguese)
(MadreMedia / Lusa, SAPO)
Google Brazil must permanently monitor YouTube channels accused of propagating religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Jornal Local)
Monday, 17 April 2023
Commemorating the Days of Holocaust Remembrance
(Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Department of State)
Holocaust education: We must show people the evils of antisemitism - opinion
(Sara J. Bloomfield, The Jerusalem Post)
Statement from President Joe Biden on Orthodox Easter
(The White House)
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)
Discrimination against Muslims in France stems from colonialism, expert says
(Gulcin Kazan Doger, Anadolu Agency)
France’s Macron ignores violations during China visit
(Bénédicte Jeannerod, Human Rights Watch)
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)
Around the web - 17 April 2023
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Defending the freedom to worship—Iranian Christian pastor released from prison
(ADF International)
Law and religion round-up – 16th April
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
“Excessive” bail conditions dropped for charity volunteer arrested for silent prayer
(ADF UK)
Minneapolis City Council OKs expansion of hours Muslim calls to prayer can be amplified
(CBS News)
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)
Washington family counselor challenges state’s ban on conversion therapy
(Kalvis Golde, SCOTUSblog)
Articles of interest - 17 April 2023
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
A major military hospital’s conflict with Catholic priests, explained
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
For embattled TN lawmakers, liberal faith movements were a training ground
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
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)
Dutch prosecutors investigate activist who desecrated Quran
(Associated Press)
Supreme Court to hear arguments on workplace religious protections
(Michael Macagnone, Roll Call)
Supreme Court to deliver answer in religious mailman’s case
(Jessica Gresko, Associated Press)
Justices to hear evangelical Christian postal worker’s religious accommodation case
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)
Biden boils the religious-liberty frog
(Nicole Stelle Garnett and Meredith Holland Kessler, The Wall Street Journal)
How to teach young people about antisemitism
(Ruben Brosbe, U.S. News & World Report)
Plug-In: Losing their religion – shape of Latino Catholic population keeps changing in America
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)
CAIR-NJ welcomes NJ Dept. of Corrections’ policy allowing religious head coverings for publicly posted photographs
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)
44% say America would be ‘worse off’ without the Bible, but usage has fallen: Survey
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
WCC appeals for immediate ceasefire in Sudan
(World Council of Churches)
Plans for religious charter school, though rejected for now, are already pushing church-state debates into new territory
(Charles J. Russo, The Conversation)
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)
New USD theology professor navigates tension around religion and border justice
(University of San Diego)
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)
15 detained in anti-radical terror op in Istanbul
(Hurriyet Daily News)
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)
Two Justices say Iowa should adopt ministerial exception doctrine
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Supreme Court argument in faithful carrier case coming up on April 18
(First Liberty)
Against a broad reading of Title VII's religious accommodation provision
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
The Supreme Court, the Sabbath and a much-debated piece of civil rights law
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
US Secretary of State should press Vietnam on rights during visit
(Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch)
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