Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 3 April 2026
Khmer people’s freedom of belief protected
(Ngoc Anh, Voice of Vietnam)
Nepal to apologise to ‘untouchable’ Dalits for first time
(South China Morning Post)
Herdsmen kill 13 Christians at wedding reception in Nigeria
(Christian Daily)
Bill would criminalize forced conversion in Punjab, Pakistan
(Christian Daily)
Zimbabwe churches ordered to halt worship and attend constitutional political rally
(Vincent Matinde, Christian Daily)
Beyond Common Ground: Embodying Covenantal Pluralism
(Boniuk Institute)
Egypt: We must protect Saint Catherine’s Monastery
(Giselle Soares, Orthodox Observer)
Turkish officials urge Muslims abroad to report Islamophobia to ECtHR
(Daily Sabah)
Revolution Leader: Yemeni people's mobilization across all activities & events embodies their faith-based identity
(Yemen News Agency)
Lebanon’s displaced Shiites face rising hostility as airstrikes fuel fear and evictions
(Bassem Mroue, Winnipeg Free Press)
CAIR says congress must act after reports of Israel’s ‘religious cleansing’ in Lebanon
(Council on American-Islam Relations)
Grand Ayatollah Sistani Affirms relief work in southern Lebanon as religious duty
(Shia Waves)
Christians in Lebanon southern villages brace for escalation amid Israeli-Hezbollah clashes
(Brussels Morning)
Israel’s message to a broad swath of Lebanon: Shiites must go
(Christina Golfbaum, New York Times)
The Libyan desert oasis that welcomes thousands of Sudanese: ‘The refugees are our guests. They are our brothers’
(Maryline Dumas, El País)
53 killed in Palm Sunday attacks In Nigeria’s Christian areas
(Diana Chandler, Religion Unplugged)
Christians in UAE pray for peace in churches and at home as Iran war upends Easter celebrations
(Vanessa Ghanem, Alexander Christou, Ramola Talwar Badam, The National)
Legal Spirits 076: A short take on Chiles v. Salazar
(Mark Movsesian, Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Prime Minister's Easter message 2026
(GOV.UK)
Presidential message on Easter
(The White House)
Good Friday across Latin America brings faith into the streets
(María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 8 as Kyiv holds door open for Easter truce
(Volodymyr Yurchuk, Associated Press)
An educator explores Hinduism and belonging in US public schools in new book
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)
U.S. military archbishop doubts Iran war meets just war standard, urges obedience
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Cuba releasing 2,010 prisoners in connection with Holy Week, as the US pressures the island’s government
(Andrea Rodríguez, Associated Press)
Germany: Easter peace marches planned in shadow of war
(Ben Knight, Deutsche Welle)
President Donald J. Trump wishes a Happy Passover
(The White House)
The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us
(Ryan P. Burge, Christian Audio)
Voicing sharp religious opposition to the war in Iran: A case study from the Roman Catholic Community
(Thomas Massaro, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
South African Council of Churches makes submission to African court on climate obligations and fossil fuel finance
(World Council of Churches)
Dialogue on faith and HIV in Nigeria yields strong commitment to reposition HIV in the public agenda
(World Council of Churches)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution – Bimonthly News Digest March 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
‘Cuba needs more than words’: Why neutrality is not an option for religious leaders on the island.
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
EEOC sues Blue Eagle Contracting for religious discrimination
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
When courts interpret doctrine: A Japanese scholar’s concerns about the Unification Church decision
(Masaki Nakamasa, Bitter Winter)
Nigeria: Governor Adeleke preaches unity, assures religious freedom as Christians celebrate Easter
(Osun State Government)
Bangladesh religious aid plan draws mixed reactions
(Herald Malaysia Online)
Hindu temples in Canada seek govt protection amid Khalistan rally calls
(Anirudh Bhattacharyya, Hindustan Times)
French court overrules police ban on annual Muslim event
(France 24)
Four more brothers imprisoned for conscientious objection in Ukraine
(Jehovah's Witnesses)
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Factum of the Intervenor, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Bill 21)
(Supreme Court of Canada)
In South Sudan, a prophet’s sacred stick helps fuel a violent struggle for political power
(Rodney Muhumuza, Associated Press)
Tennessee: Bill allowing religious charter schools clears House Education Committee
(Lillian Avedian, Nashville Banner)
Supreme Court sides with Colorado counselor over 'gay conversion' law
(Scott Barkley, Religion Unplugged)
Why Finland's conviction of Päivi Räsänen reverberates beyond europe
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)
Alabama House approves religious instruction release time bill
(Trisha Powell Crain, Alabama Daily News)
Jews paused Indiana’s abortion ban — by turning a religious freedom law against the evangelical right
(Hannah Feuer, Forward)
Johnson Amendment settlement tossed by federal judge
(Paul Clolery, The NonProfit Times)
Blake Moore leads effort to protect religious groups
(Cami Mondeaux, Deseret News)
Supreme Court says conversion therapy is protected free speech
(Mark Wingfield, Baptist News Global)
Azhar Grand Imam meets Saudi amb. in Cairo to discuss religious coop.
(Egypt Independent)
Beirut International Conference on Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue for sustainability
(International Society for Human Rights)
Nigerian leaders allegedly ignore intelligence as Christians slaughtered during Holy Week
(Derek Vanbuskirk, AOL)
2026 Annual Report
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Joint statement regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque by 8 Foreign ministers
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates)
Freedom in the World 2026
(Freedom House)
Supreme Court protects compassionate counseling for kids struggling with their biological sex
(Becket)
Committee approves work schedule change for religious reasons (Portuguese)
(Poder 360)
STF [Supreme Court] reviews rule prohibiting the use of religion as a technique in psychology (Portuguese)
(Redação, Migalhas)
Chile’s new President José Antonio Kast brings openly religious views to a changing country
(María Teresa Hernández and Nayara Batschke, Associated Press)
Judge says Penn must turn over information about Jewish employees in US discrimination probe
(Mark Scolforo and Collin Binkley, Associated Press)
US Supreme Court condemns Colorado’s unconstitutional censorship
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Court orders removal of Arkansas 10 Commandments monument from state capitol grounds
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Shiite grief over attacks on Iran’s sacred cities has deep historical roots
(Mary Thurlkill, Conversation)
Judge rejects Johnson Amendment settlement, keeping ban on pastors endorsing candidates
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)
Fans warned about anti-Muslim chants during Spain-Egypt match
(Sam Marsden, ESPN)
Kremlin responds to Zelensky’s proposal for Easter truce
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
PM hears Jewish students’ fears over campus antisemitism at mock Seder
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)
Kyrgyzstan: Freed, fined, to be deported
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
KAICIID statement – Closure of access to religious sites in Jerusalem
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Summer School 2026: The European System of Human Rights Protection - Council of Europe, EU, OSCE
(Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder))
Ecumenical delegation meets Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez
(World Council of Churches)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest March 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Iraq Report
(All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB))
Small steps to justice: Why recent assessments of Sudan’s warring parties are significant, and how the international community must respond
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
LGBTQ faith leaders say Supreme Court's conversion therapy ruling will harm youth
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Muslims in Iraq celebrate Easter with Christians to promote solidarity
(Sonia Sarkar, Religion Unplugged)
South Asian Christians demand Easter holiday, Holy Week exemption
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Oklahoma families, teachers, and clergy seek to block unconstitutional religious public school
(ACLU)
The OIC welcomes the adoption by consensus of a UN Human Rights Council resolution on combating intolerance
(Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
Statement by Minister Miller on Sikh Heritage Month
(Government of Canada)
Monday, 30 March 2026
EVENT, 30 March 2026 (7PM CT): The Good City Speaker Series: Utah Governor Spencer Cox (University Park, Texas, USA)
(DFW Alliance for Religious Freedom)
From ‘The only Jew in the room’ to leading Europe’s Jewish students: Hanna Veiler on identity, antisemitism, and the fight for Jewish visibility
(Combat Antisemitism Movement)
Occupied Ukraine: Born in Krasnodon 66 years ago, now ordered expelled
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
European Parliament vote on return policies raises serious concerns about the EU’s commitment to its fundamental values
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Building on Strasbourg: The ECtHR’s gender identity case-law in the CJEU’s Shipova judgment
(Türkan Ertuna Lagrand, Strasbourg Observers)
Stop Weaponizing Muslim Women: Against War Waged In Their Names – OpEd
(Firdous Azmat Siddiqui, Eurasia Review)
Turkey arrests 17 in latest crackdown on alleged Gülen members
(Stockholm Center for Freedom)
The Houthis: Understanding Iran’s strategic partners in Yemen
(Modern Diplomacy)
Ethnic, religious differences should not divide Nigerians, Akiolu reiterates
(Gbenga Salau, The Guardian Nigeria)
Tragic University Attack in Plateau: A Context of Ethno-Religious Conflict
(Devdiscourse)
Deport then depend on them: Israel’s Ethiopian non-Jewish migrants contradiction
(Shmuel Legesse, Times of Israel)
Recurrent Attacks on Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Government Inaction
(Tekeleselassie W., Borkena)
U.S. leaders should take note: Miami pays the cost of Cuba’s religious repression
(Teo Babun, Miami Herald)
Nonstate violators of religious freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Entity of Particular Concern - report
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Geopolitics at Home: Conflict, Civic Trust, and the Dynamics of Minority Religious Expression in Europe
(Tahir Abbas, May Tamimova, Paul Wabnitz & Irene Trebeschi, The Review of Faith and International Affairs)
Prime Minister's comment on Holy Sites in Jerusalem
(X, Mark Carney)
Church leaders decry closing of Church of the Holy Sepulchre as “a grave precedent”
(World Council of Churches)
Spanish bishops and government sign deal for compensation of church sexual abuse victims
(Suman Naishadham, Associated Press)
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