Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 16 February 2024

Almost half of U.S. Jews have altered their habits to avoid antisemitism, survey says
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

India: Mehrauli: A mosque demolished, and orphans displaced in India
(Zoya Mateen, BBC News)

Utah’s version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act passes the Senate
(Hanna Seariac, Deseret News)

Somali families in St. Louis Park push to let children opt out of reading LGBTQ+ books
(Jason Rantala, CBS News)

Mexico: Catholic bishops in Mexico say they negotiated for possible peace accord with drug cartel leaders
(Fabiola Sánchez, Associated Press)

Nepal: ‘Our gods were locked in the basement.’ Now Nepal is pursuing sacred items once smuggled abroad
(Binaj Gurubacharya, Associated Press)

Israel complains after Vatican denounces ‘carnage’ and disproportionate response in Gaza
(Associated Press)

Here’s the latest on the investigation into the shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch
(Juan A. Lozano and Jim Vertuno, Associated Press)

Costa Rica, Supreme Court recognizes Hebrew Roots devotees’ right not to work on Saturday
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)

What it means for LGBTQ+ Americans to leave — or choose — Christianity
(Orion Rummler, The 19th)

Turkey will stop sending imams to German mosques - here’s why this matters
(Brian Van Wyck, The Conversation)

Germany plans to unveil censorship zones which violate freedom of speech and free assembly
(Paul Coleman, ADF International)

“The situation is no longer tolerable”: US Congress members continue to denounce Nigeria’s religious freedom violations at House hearing
(ADF International)

Indonesia: The world’s largest Muslim-majority country goes to the polls
(Paul Marshall, Providence)

Wisconsin legislature passes parental bill of rights; governor promises veto
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

House members protest invited guest chaplain
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Kenya: Church leaders in Kenya raise alarm about ongoing health crisis
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Congressional committee issues subpoenas to Harvard, stepping up investigation into campus antisemitism
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

In Melitopol, Russian occupiers cut down a cross for the tricolor at the Protestant church
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Russia: 42 on wanted list for exercising freedom of religion or belief
(Felix Corley and Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

BBC director general Tim Davie fires warning to all staff amid claims of anti-Semitism at corporation
(Paul Sims, The Sun)

The “devastating, outrageous” impending closure of the Inter Faith Network
(Ruth Peacock, Religion Media Centre)

Church in Wales: new guidance on waste law
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

An Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was registered in Lithuania
(The European Times)

Ukraine’s religious persecution
(Lawrence A. Uzzell, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Christian values to influence European elections
(Conference of European Churches)

The impact of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment in the US (video)
(Al Jazeera)

Soldiers with religious dietary needs paying twice for meals at Fort Cavazos, group says
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Japan: The right to legal entity status: Religious freedom challenges in Japan
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Korean Protestant Church unveils plan to boost fertility rate
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

WCC commends Church of Sweden’s engagement for peace and justice
(World Council of Churches)

Colombia: WCC at peace dialogue table with UN Security Council in Colombia
(World Council of Churches)

WCC general secretary visits Holy Land to strengthen call for just peace
(World Council of Churches)

EU is challenged to stand by those persecuted for changing their faith in MENA and beyond
(Open Doors, The European Times)

Nicaragua shuts down scouting association and several other social and religious groups
(Maryam Habib, Associated Press)

As birth rates plummet, Europe questions existing incentives
(Mark John, Anne Kauranen, and Gergely Szakacs, The Christian Science Monitor)

Religious extremism in Azerbaijan: Real threat or pretext for autocracy?
(Rovshan Mammadli, Eurasianet)

EU's top human rights court upholds Belgium's halal slaughter ban
(Daily Sabah)

Jews and Muslims fight for religious freedom together - editorial
(The Jerusalem Post)

Thursday, 15 February 2024

HIBRID EVENT, 15 February 2024: The Debate Over Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism: Understanding the Terms and the Stakes (Berkeley, CA, USA)
(Ethan Katz, Dov Waxman, Sarah Abrevaya Stein, Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion)

Wednesday, 14 February 2024

Opinion: Executief van de Moslims van België and Others v. Belgium (French)
(The European Court of Human Rights)

Judgment concerning Belgium
(The European Court of Human Rights)

Is religious freedom a forgotten freedom within the human security framework?
(Elena López Ruf, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

EVENT, 14 February 2024 (4:30PM ET): Film Screening and Discussion - "Free Exercise: America’s Story of Religious Liberty" (New Jersey, USA)
(Mark Movsesian, Richard Brookhiser, Robert P. George, James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University)

EVENT, 14 February 2024 (10AM CET): The role of Churches and faith-based organisations in fighting trafficking in Human Beings: Catholic initiatives (Brussels)
(William Kenney, Noël Treanor, Kevin Hyland, Ivonne van de Kar, Patrick Gillard, José Luis Bazán, COMECE and Santa Marta Group)

Greek lawmakers are debating a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Here’s what it means
(Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press)

Woke arrives in Orthodox Greece as Parliament considers same-sex marriage
(Thomas O'Reilly, The European Conservative)

Hong Kong activist: Proposed law could worsen religious liberty, persecute Catholics
(Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency)

European churches contribute to Article 17 Dialogue Seminar
(Conference of European Churches)

Kenya: Faith leaders unite for peace
(Twitter, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI))

Uzbekistan: Report: Beard-wearers singled out for harassment in Uzbekistan
(Eurasianet)

Canada: Police investigating hate-motivated graffiti at Islamic Centre of Cambridge
(CambridgeToday)

Antisemitism and safety fears surge among US Jews, survey finds
(Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press)

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Director proposes exchanging Stolypin's remains for Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russian forces
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

One of the nation’s largest university systems will give time off for Eid, Diwali and Lunar New Year
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)

Video | Article 17 TFEU: Churches and EU address disinformation ahead of 2024 EU elections
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Statement | COMECE and CIDSE urge Council to adopt Due Diligence Directive
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Russia: A new wave of searches of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ homes
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Statement from the House of Bishops on the war in Gaza
(The Church of England)

Quakers urge government to continue funding Inter Faith Network
(Quakers in Britain)

Clergy Conduct Measure: update February 2024
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

600 Leeds University alumni call for decisive action to combat campus antisemitism
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)

Minnesota school district allows Muslim families to opt-out of “gender identity” and sexuality curriculum
(Religious Freedom Institute)

Mexico: From faith to exile in Guerrero, Mexico
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Nicaragua: New report finds worsening violations of freedom of religion or belief
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

India: Authorities raid premises of prominent social activist
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Catholic church in Poland opposes reducing number of religion classes in schools
(Notes from Poland)

Libya: Internal Security Agency must end abuses in name of ‘guarding virtue’
(Amnesty International)

Soria bill would exempt religious group from motorcycle helmets
(Ben Hensley, Business Journal)

Amsterdam embraces religious freedom: BOAs allowed to wear headscarves
(Justice Nwafor, BNN)

Should a Clearwater man’s church confession be evidence in a criminal case?
(Dan Sullivan, Tampa Bay Times)

US Virgin Islands pushes forward on stalled law allowing recreational marijuana use
(Dánica Coto, Associated Press)

Monday, 12 February 2024

Australian Jews on high alert after public list of ‘Zionists’ fuels harassment
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Friends of different faiths showcase our nation’s commitment to pluralism
(Chris Walsh, George W. Bush Presidential Center)

From church to the mosque, faith and friends help Iowa’s African immigrants and refugees build a sense of home
(Osamamen Oba Eduviere and Brady G'Sell, The Conversation)

India: Mosque demolition sparks deadly protests in India (video)
(Al Jazeera)

Indian town sets a curfew and orders police to shoot violators after deadly clashes over a mosque
(Biswajeet Banerjee, Associated Press)

India: Muslim organization challenges mandatory Surya Namaskar in Rajasthan schools
(Dil Bar Irshad, BNN)

India: Balancing Faith and Equality: Examining the Adequacy of the Doctrine of Essential Religious Practices from Gender Perspectives in India
(Sumit Sonkar, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)

Canada: Quebec wants Criminal Code exemption so people can request MAID in advance
(The Globe and Mail)

Leaders warned of varied threats to religious freedom
(Ellen Teague and Patrick Hudson, The Tablet)

Once marginalized, New York’s Muslims celebrate growing political influence on Muslim Day
(Fiona André, Religion News Service)

Every week is World Interfaith Harmony Week for devotees of Swami Vivekananda
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

Jesuits in US bolster outreach initiative aimed at encouraging LGBTQ+ Catholics
(David Crary, Religion News Service)

WEBINAR, 12 February 2024 (4:30PM GMT): Reclaiming Justice in Humanity
(Jerry White and Karen Tse, United Religions Initiative)

The rise of African prophets: the unchecked power of the leaders of Pentecostal churches
(Josiah Taru, The Conversation)

Ohio city drops criminal charges against church that opened 24/7 for homeless
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Webinar review: Ubuntu: traditional southern African philosophy
(JoAnne Wadsworth, Viewpoints, a blog of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association)

Pakistan: A good Supreme Court decision for the Ahmadis--but what's next? The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ordered the release of a man who had distributed an Ahmadi commentary to the Holy Quran.
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)

Around the web - 12 February 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Anticipated challenges to online free expression and international religious freedom in 2024
(YouTube Video, Pepperdine School of Public Policy)

Iran: Religious freedom no where to be found after 45 years of 'revolution' in Iran
(Katie O'Malley, Mission Network News)

Indonesia: Tale of two cities: Religious tolerance in Bekasi & Depok
(Nur Janti, The Jakarta Post)

Indonesia: Faith, democracy, and politics in Indonesia: Explaining the lack of Islamic mobilisation in 2024
(Chris Chaplin and Syarifuddin Jurdi, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)

United Nations’ experts call for immediate release of Jimmy Lai
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Recognizing the extraordinary courage of victims/survivors of the holocaust and others
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Kazakhstan: Spiritual principles basis for strengthening the family
(Bahá’í World News Service)

UAE: First stone-built Hindu temple in the Middle East rises in the UAE ahead of Modi’s latest visit
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)

Nicaragua’s crackdown on Catholic Church spreads fear among the faithful, there and in exile
(Giovanna Dell'Orto, Associated Press)

Nicaragua: Exile and resistance: An interview with Félix Maradiaga
(Freedom House)

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