Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 8 December 2023
Tory MP says Rishi Sunak has broken promise to tackle Islamophobia
(Adam Payne, Politics Home)
Bill to disestablish the Church of England introduced in parliament
(National Secular Society)
Rethinking Human Rights (symposium series)
(Jordan J. Ballor & Trey Dimsdale, Adam J. MacLeod, Daniel Philpott, Hans-Martien Ten Napel, Law & Liberty)
Churches reflect on the role of Christian values in the EU
(Conference of European Churches)
Confucianism and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)
Brazil: Amazonia: Church demands action from the Brazilian government
(Eduardo Campos Lima, La Croix International)
Challenges in executing judgments of the European Court of Human Rights: the case of the Roma
(James A. Goldston, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Russia bans Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Catholic ministries
(Gina Christian, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Crimea: "They conducted Friday prayers at gunpoint"
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Ecumenical Forum for Korea finds hope amidst challenges for peace
(World Council of Churches)
In Togo, church leaders are exploring approaches to peace and stability in West Africa
(World Council of Churches)
3 wins for houses of worship in Texas and California
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)
Macron denies disrespecting secularism after Hanukkah ritual at Élysée Palace
(France 24)
Young French want more but different secularism
(Christian Network Europe)
Wałęsa v Poland: a forceful culmination of the Court’s rule-of-law case law
(Mathieu Leloup, Strasbourg Observers)
Spirituality among Americans
(Becka A. Alper, Michael Rotolo, Patricia Tevington, Justin Nortey and Asta Kallo, Pew Research Center)
Lipan Apache ask Fifth Circuit for protection of sacred site
(Cameron Langford, Courthouse News Service)
Vietnam actively contributes to ensuring right to freedom of religion
(Vietnam Plus)
Kyiv lights Christmas tree according to new calendar
(Reuters)
Ismagilov: Russia uses the Muslim factor in ideological war against Ukraine
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
An international mobilization is needed against China's crackdown on mosques
(Ma Yingjie, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)
The landmark Genocide Convention has had mixed results since the UN approved it 75 years ago
(The Conversation)
Hate crimes are on the rise − but the narrow legal definition makes it hard to charge and convict
(Jeannine Bell, The Conversation)
Thursday, 7 December 2023
EVENT, 7 December 2023 (6PM CET): Conference on Laudate Deum and the EU’s Green Transition (Brussels, Belgium)
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
VIRTUAL EVENT, 7 December 2023 (10:30AM ET): USCIRF Hearing - Religious Minorities and Governance in Iraq
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Wednesday, 6 December 2023
No place for hate in Europe. Commission and High Representative launch call to action to unite against all forms of hatred
(European Commission)
Drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Underexplored figures and contexts
(Kristina Arriaga, Renae Barker, Paul Martens, Fearghas O’Beara, and Dmytro Vovk, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Dialogue from European church perspective at EPP event
(Conference of European Churches)
Physical security performance goals for faith-based communities
(Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
A new Homeland Security guide aims to help houses of worship protect themselves
(Rebecca Santana, Associated Press)
A new defense of the human right of religious freedom
(Daniel Philpott, Arc of the Universe)
Establishment as Tradition (Collection: The religion clauses post-Kennedy)
(Marc O. DeGirolami, The Yale Law Journal)
Freedom for Religion (Collection: The religion clauses post-Kennedy)
(Michael Stokes Paulsen, The Yale Law Journal)
Replacing Smith (Collection: The religion clauses post-Kennedy)
(Stephanie H. Barclay, The Yale Law Journal)
ONLINE COURSE: Exploring Religion
(The Association of Religion Data Archives)
December 2023 Newsletter
(The Association of Religion Data Archives)
USCIRF releases report on religious freedom in Azerbaijan
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Podcast: Legal Spirits 055: Speaker Mike Johnson on the separation of church and state
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
UK churches urged to speak up for religious freedom in Hong Kong
(Patrick Hudson, The Tablet)
Government responds to report, Building Freedom of Religion or Belief Through Faith-And-Belief Friendly Workplaces: A Call to Action, published on 20 November.
(Lord David Alton)
South Africa: Up to 5 years in prison for peaceful expression: South African parliament passes “hate speech” bill
(ADF International)
Hanukkah message of light in darkness feels uniquely relevant to US Jews amid war, antisemitism
(Giovanna Dell'Orto, Associated Press)
Lebanon’s Christians feel the heat of climate change in its sacred forest and valley
(Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press)
Indiana’s appeals court hears arguments challenging abortion ban under a state religious freedom law
(Isabella Volmert, Associated Press)
Sandra Day O’Connor’s religious freedom legacy
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
Geert Wilders, far-right victor in Dutch elections, elicits sympathy and fear in Jewish voters
(Shira Li Bartov, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A House resolution denounces antisemitism. Here’s why some Jewish members voted ‘present’
(Jacob Kornbluh, Forward)
China: The state of religion in China
(Jordan J. Ballor, World)
Americans who never attend worship services are a bit of a political puzzle these days
(Ryan Burge, GetReligion)
Is Islam a violent religion?
(Law & Liberty)
Paraguay: Evangelicals praise Catholic role amid Paraguay’s deadly cycle of drought and floods
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Religious Md. parents appeal to court to skip books with LGBTQ+ characters
(Nicole Asbury and Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)
Religious parents ask federal appeals court to restore notice and opt-outs for Pride storybooks
(Becket)
Ikotity and others v. Hungary: Restricting the opposition’s freedom of expression through a wide margin of appreciation in the context of democratic backsliding
(Ignatius Yordan Nugraha, Strasbourg Observers)
Maryland attorney general reinstates CAIR-Maryland director to hate crimes panel
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)
Myanmar court rejects appeal by jailed Baptist pastor
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Russia seeking UN statement in condemnation of Quran desecration
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
Should universities ban "advocacy of genocide"?
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
Photo feature: European Prayer Breakfast in light of conflict in Israel
(Evert van Vlastuin, Christian Network Europe)
How religious schools disappear from Sweden
(Christian Network Europe)
Gender equity and religious rights collide in Seventh Circuit hearing
(Dave Byrnes, Courthouse News Service)
How Democrats of faith see devout Speaker Mike Johnson
(Jim Saksa, Roll Call)
Vietnam: Khmer Krom Buddhists say they face persecution at Vietnam pagoda
(Radio Free Asia)
Australia: Wieambilla shootings: US arrests man over Australian religious terror attack
(Hannah Ritchie, BBC News)
Haiti: Christmas in Haiti: bishops invite hope and fraternity (French)
(CathoBel)
Angola: Prayers and brotherhood attract Angolans to Islam even without official recognition (Portuguese)
(Agência Lusa, Observador)
Tuesday, 5 December 2023
VIRTUAL EVENT, 5 December 2023 (13:00 CET): Seeking and serving the truth? What role do Churches play in Misinformation & Disinformation?
(World Council of Churches)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 5 December 2023 (9AM EDT): Interfaith Responses to Gender-Based Violence: A Fireside Chat
(Religions for Peace)
Monday, 4 December 2023
Philippines: ISIL claims responsibility for bombing at Catholic mass in Philippines
(Al Jazeera)
Philippines identifies suspects after bombing at Sunday mass
(Voice of America)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 4 December 2023 (3:30 PM Brussels): The Future of Freedom of Religion or Belief and Human Rights
(Andrea Benzo, Nazila Ghanea, and Jack N. Gerard, European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Indonesia-Pakistan collaboration: Religious diversity, youth initiatives, and economic ties take center stage
(Associated Press of Pakistan)
India: NMC logo must be religion-neutral: doctors
(Bindu Shajan Perappadan, The Hindu)
Indian Medical Association objects to NMC logo depicting Hindu deity, demands religion-neutral emblem
(Deccan Herald)
India: Modi government attempting to thrust UCC that wipes out customers: DMK MP
(Shemin Joy, Deccan Herald)
Sikh festival of Bandi Chhor Divas celebrates religious freedom
(Church of Scientology)
Rights of religious minorities in Europe, a delicate balance says MEP Maxette Pirbakas
(Juan Sanchez Gil, The European Times)
Religious freedom under fire: media complicity int he persecution of minority faiths
(Juan Sanchez Gil, The European Times)
USCIRF releases report on religious freedom in Belarus
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Australia: Voluntary assisted dying laws partly invalid
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on Turkmenistan
(UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva), GOV.UK)
Church calls on Scottish Government to end child poverty
(The Church of Scotland)
Islamic ADR in Britain: Diversity, Hybridity, and Women’s Experiences of Community Justice
(Fouzia Azzouz, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
Law and religion roundup – 3rd December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Churches and partners unite against modern slavery through new global Lent resource
(World Council of Churches)
Nearly a quarter of young Brits open to banning the Bible if it includes 'hate speech'
(Premier Christian News)
Listening to Muslim Women’s Lived Expertise Concerning Surviving Family Violence and Seeking Islamic Community Divorce in the Australian Context
(Ghena Krayem and Leticia Funston, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
Cambodia: Integrating 'human dignity' in human rights education
(The University of Sydney Law School)
TPNRD holds conference in Sarajevo
(Religion & Diplomacy: A Resource of the Transatlantic Policy Network on Religion and Diplomacy)
Statement by Abid Raja, Chair of IPPFoRB, on the increasing hate speech, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia following the Israel-Hamas war
(International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB))
In US, some Muslim-Jewish interfaith initiatives are strained by Israel-Hamas war
(Luis Andres Henao and Mariam Fam, Associated Press)
Christian non-profit cannot rescind job offer because of same-sex marriage
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Nigeria: Amid killings of Christians, experts warn Nigeria may risk ‘religious war’
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
A Ukrainian priest and a chaplain prayed in the Senate for lawmakers to make decisions "corresponding to God's Will"
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Mozambique: Fostering peace through dialogue: KAICIID's initiative in Northern Mozambique
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Building cultures, fostering peace: KAICIID’s role in ASEAN’s interreligious dialogue initiative
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Life & death, an unstable scale: The European Court of Human Rights approach to euthanasia in Mortier v. Belgium
(Anna M. Puigderrajols Triadó, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
North Korea: Sisters separated for decades – the story of Kyu Li and Cheol-Ok
(Ellis Heasley, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Russia: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest Nov. 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest November 16-30
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Email Subscription
The International Center for Law and Religion Studies maintains a Law and Religion Headlines service covering news about freedom of religion or belief internationally. All interested may subscribe to this service, free of charge, using the link below.
Subscribe