Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 8 May 2026

CAIR releases analysis of anti-Muslim Oklahoma politics
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)

Church groups launch signature drive to ban Filipino political dynasties
(Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Union of Catholic Asian News)

COMECE Reflection Paper addresses mental health challenges in Europe
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

RFI discusses medical conscience rights with U.S. Health and Human Services officials
(Religious Freedom Institute)

How the EU can impact FoRB in Iran
(Fred Petrossian, Article 18)

Submission to the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)

Presidential Administration hosts conference on EU dialogue with churches and religious communities
(Basilica)

Norwegian Supreme Court issues significant ruling in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Jehovah's Witnesses)

Ivy League students are suffering from religious illiteracy - opinion
(Gregory Conti, The Washington Post)

Qatar’s pluralism at risk, warn UN experts
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Trump’s China trip offers a golden chance to inspire freedom
(Nina Shea, Hudson Institute)

Faith-based leaders call for dignity, protection at global migration forum
(Presbyterian News Service)

Rubio says US ties with Church can withstand Trump's criticism of Pope Leo
(Simon Lewis, Reuters)

Christians decry persecution in India's heartland
(N Hannan, Deutsche Welle)

Ninth person arrested over Jewish ambulance arson
(Kathryn Armstrong, BBC)

Grand Prairie cancels Eid event after Gov. Greg Abbott's office threatens to pull funding
(Doug Myers, Jack Fink, Tristan Calhoun, CBS News)

Thursday, 7 May 2026

VIRTUAL EVENT, 7 May 2026: Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in India
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Nicaragua continues its unrelenting campaign to eliminate religious freedom
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Historic Orthodox church becomes public library in Adana, Turkey
(Greek Reporter)

Targeted sanctions in response to violations of international religious freedom
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

What is the limit of judicial intervention in religious procedures (Portuguese)
(André Fagundes, Conjur)

TJ-DFT grants temporary teacher alternative work schedule based on religious observance of the sabbath (Portuguese)
(TJ-DFT, Bom Dia Advogado)

Church to refund R$ 33,000 to autistic parishioner who donated to "drive away a demon" (Portuguese)
(Redação, Migalhas)

Magistrates may hold positions in religious organizations, CNJ rules (Portuguese)
(Redação, Migalhas)

There is structural antisemitism in Portugal, which dates back a long time (Portuguese)
(Paulo Mendes Pinto, CNN Portugal)

ADL reports a sharp drop in US antisemitic incidents in 2025, driven by a steep fall on campuses
(David Crary, Associated Press)

Prosecution need not refer to defendant by his religious name during his criminal trial
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

France reckons with Nazi-looted art in a new Paris museum gallery
(Thomas Adamson, Associated Press)

Counterterror police probe arson attack at a former London synagogue amid antisemitic attacks
(Brian Melley, Associated Press)

Faith leaders go door to door in Congo preaching peace amid renewed war
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service)

Met announces new dedicated Community Protection Team as further antisemitic hate crime arrests made this weekend
(Metropolitan Police)

Ecumenical Patriarch calls for peace at Greek Parliament in historic session
(Orthodox Times)

Kazakhstan: Anti-war Orthodox priest "kept in forced, absolute isolation from the world"
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

State control and foreign influence: Securitization of foreign religious actors in Belarus – analysis
(Martina Uliarta Siringoringo, Eurasia Review)

Two words: Why Frank Ravitch no longer supports the overturning of Employment Division v. Smith
(Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Islamists reduce historic church to rubble in northern Mozambique
(Aid to the Church in Need)

Symposium delves into complex space where faith meets global values
(World Council of Churches)

Catholic bishops in Africa urge end to xenophobic attacks in South Africa
(Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News)

Shiite cleric killed in grenade attack near Syrian capital of Damascus
(Associated Press)

EU: Europe’s new “managerial secularism” is putting freedom of religion or belief at risk
(Hans Noot, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

A generation determined: How Cuba’s Christian influencers have caught the regime off-guard
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

City of Quincy, Massachusetts defends statues honoring first responders at state high court
(Becket)

Colombia: Campaign calls for restoration of protections for religious leaders
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Iran: ‘Main elements’ of ‘Christian evangelistic network’ arrested, says prosecutor
(Article 18)

Opinion: Williams, et al. v. Legacy Health, et al. (COVID-19 vaccination accomodation)
(Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)

Turkey seeks stewardship over the Muslim community in Greece
(Nicoletta Kouroushi, Middle East Forum)

Geography of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in Iran
(Iran Human Rights Monitor)

International Religious Freedom Roundtable Pakistan consultation flags religious discrimination, misuse of blasphemy laws
(Akashvani)

The Last Five Minutes: Joint religious support teams master 'care for the wounded' in intense Role 1 simulation
(U.S. Army)

South Korea’s robot monk Gabi joins Buddhist ceremony, takes vows at temple
(Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering)

Israel, US condemn Belgium over planned prosecutions tied to Jewish circumcisions
(Grace Gilson, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Abbott threatens to cut funding to Grand Prairie over Muslim water park event
(Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News)

Tuesday, 5 May 2026

VIRTUAL EVENT, 5 May 2026: Rising Anti-Muslim Hatred: FoRB Violations Against Muslims Abroad
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

VIRTUAL EVENT, 5 May 2026 (9AM EDT): 12th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Bassed Organizations in International Affairs (New York, NY, USA)
(International Academy for Multicultural Cooperation)

Monday, 4 May 2026

Israel acknowledges shelling of Greek Catholic monastery in Lebanon
(Union of Orthodox Journalists)

Nigeria faces stricter US aid terms over ‘religious persecution’
(Gift Habib, Punch NG)

Qatar accused of ‘eradicating’ Bahá’í minority
(Akhtar Makoii, The Telegraph)

FoRB conditions in Uzbekistan continue to backslide
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Australia begins hearings into Bondi Beach attack and rising antisemitism
(Christine Chen, Reuters)

Articulating a Christian ethic of disability in the context of MAiD
(Heidi Janz, Cardus)

Combating religious hatred and violence against faith groups
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

‘Like Race’? Is Religious Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage Analogous to Racism?
(Peter Cumper and Tom Lewis, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)

Democracy and Religion in What State? State Projects, Sanitizing Politics, and Fracturing the Demos
(Tobias Müller, Cambridge University Press)

Won-Buddhism vows to expand suicide prevention programs nationwide
(Lee Jae-yong, Seoul Economic Daily)

The talibé issue in Senegal: A call for urgent, collective action
(Katherine Marshall and Jean Marc Tiendrebeogo, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

‘No future for Jews of France:’ Scores of French Jewish doctors prepare to immigrate to Israel
(Etgar Lefkovits, Jewish News Syndicate)

Ukraine imprisons five more brothers for their Christian neutrality
(Jehovah's Witnesses)

Humanity must end the arms race before the arms race ends humanity
(Religions for Peace)

Police raid on AROPL in Crewe raises concerns over proportionality
(Alessandro Amicarelli, Bitter Winter)

Tribes sue to halt exploratory drilling in Black Hills near sacred ceremonial site
(Sarah Raza, Associated Press)

Starmer urges tougher action against Gaza protests in UK following antisemitic attacks
(Sylvia, Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 4 May 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

In Philippines, popular piety meets global conflict in 15-mi Walk for Peace
(Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Jewish library and Chabad near Buenos Aires attacked, Argentine Jewish advocates say
(Jackie Hajdenberg, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

London antisemitic attack alarms European intelligence services
(Jacques Follorou, Le Monde)

‘We can’t live behind walls’: Muslim-Jewish networks will not give up after Golders Green attack
(Patrick Butler, Guardian)

Belarus: Regime official denies permission for 3 more Catholic priests to remain
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Not a godless region: Writing about faith in the Pacific Northwest
(Tracy Simmons, Religion Unplugged)

Sri Lankan Tamils demand return of ancestral land from military custody
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Malaysian man arrested for attacking Singapore churchgoers
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

UK Muslim groups slam government for ‘scapegoating’ Gaza anti-genocide protests as antisemitism
(Middle East Eye)

No religious discrimination in firing employee because of controversy caused by employee's removing Israeli hostage posters
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)

Will Massachusetts sour on religious freedom?
(Michael McConnell and John Witte Jr., Wall Street Journal)

Government must guarantee family rights following Cassation Court ruling against Baha’i marriage recognition
(Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights)

Seventh Day Adventist clinic receives $134,000 FEMA hazard mitigation grant
(Pacific Daily News)

TN school board clears way for nation’s first religious charter school
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

'For decades, there has been a negative selection process among the clergy in Russia': Metropolitan Evstratiy
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Tokyo cardinal calls faithful to defend human dignity, peace amid global tensions
(Herald Malaysia Online)

Friday, 1 May 2026

Call for papers: Religious freedom?—The 2026 Student Symposium
(University of Cambridge)

CALL FOR INPUTS, deadline 1 May 2026: Country Visit to Nigeria
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Task Force publishes report on eradicating anti-Christian bias and restoring religious liberty
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Inside ‘Scientology speedruns,’ the viral trend prompting the church to bolster security
(Krysta Fauria and Kaitlyn Huamani, Associated Press)

UK raises national terror threat level after the stabbing of 2 Jewish men
(Jill Lawless, Associated Press)

America 250: Presidential message on the anniversary of the first landing and the raising of the Cape Henry cross
(The White House)

Muslim women are suing jails and police over hijab removal at booking. And winning.
(Ulaa Kuziez, Religion News Service)

Church in Mexico campaigns against euthanasia bill
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Faith in Housing bill crosses finish line, clears path for church-based affordable housing
(Emily Leayman, Associated Press)

PM vows to act against people ‘venerating the murder of Jews’ as terror threat level rises
(Rowena Mason, Vikram Dodd and Helena Horton, The Guardian)

Patriarch Kirill has managed, with Viktor Orbán’s help, to avoid EU sanctions – but now may not be able to for much longer
(Joe Barnes and Antonia Langford, The Telegraph)

Uganda demolishes ‘unapproved churches’ in effort to clean up cities
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)

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