Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Organized exploitation and sacred responsibility: Africa’s challenge and IF20’s call to action
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Brazil withdraws from IHRA shortly after country joins South Africa's genocide case against Israel
(Mathilda Heller, The Jerusalem Post)
Tackling Africa’s wildlife crimes from the religious front
(Cyril Zenda, Religion Unplugged)
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Ghana: Catholic bishops call for rule of law over recent electoral violence and chief justice suspension
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Monday, 28 July 2025
A Blind Justice? Investigating Judicial Discourses on Legal Gender Recognition in the Middle East and North Africa
(Nora Noralla, Oxford Journal of Law and Religion)
Interfaith collaboration essential for Africa’s spiritual and material progress
(Bahá’í World News Service)
Liberia: Police accused of “ruthless” treatment of hijab-wearing woman Resisting arrest over power theft allegation—public divided as authorities flip-flop on response
(Selma Lomax, FrontPageAfrica)
Friday, 25 July 2025
Central African Republic: ICC convicts two Anti-Balaka leaders
(Human Rights Watch)
Pepperdine University leads global conversation on religious liberty at historic International Religious Freedom Summit in Africa
(Jessica Curtis-Castillo, Pepperdine University)
Monday, 21 July 2025
The battle for parental rights in education (video)
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa)
Friday, 18 July 2025
In African politics, the rampant belief in witchcraft fortifies some and vexes others
(Rodney Muhumuza, Associated Press)
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Africa’s next generation speaks: Insights from the 2025 Africa Week
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Friday, 11 July 2025
Religious diplomacy and the Golden Rule: Insights from the 2025 Africa Week
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Kenya: Religious leaders demand end to chaos, offer to mediate for national peace
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Monday, 7 July 2025
HRC59: Oral statement during oral update with the Independent Expert on the Central African Republic
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Church joins partners in Southern Africa to tackle human trafficking
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Kenya: Catholic Bishops decry ‘moral crisis’ in country, demand justice, dignity, and leadership rooted in integrity
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Monday, 30 June 2025
African Church leader backs new report urging reforms on debt relief
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Women’s empowerment, protection, & leadership in Africa: Insights from the 2025 Ethiopia Harmony Week celebration
(G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Human trafficking in Africa: Insights from the 2025 Ethiopia Harmony Week celebration
(G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Friday, 20 June 2025
Gender justice in Africa: Insights from the 2025 Ethiopia Harmony Week Celebration
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Ugandan Catholic Archbishop faults use of “tolerance” in fostering religious freedom, advocates for “respect”
(Nicholas Waigwa, ACI Africa)
Ghana: Religious leaders urge moral governance, stronger religious role in nation-building
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Kenya: Country on the boil again: Archbishop Anyolo decries police brutality as protests rekindle June 2024 anger
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Monday, 16 June 2025
Religious freedom will help an Africa becoming ‘increasingly fragmented’
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Africa Together: A Continental Call to Religious Freedom
(IRF Summit Africa)
Faith at the table: New publication charts path for food systems transformation in Africa
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Southern African church leaders unite in pilgrimage for justice
(World Council of Churches)
Cardinal Ambongo appeals to Trump: ‘Africa is important to the U.S.’
(Madalaine Elhabbal, Catholic News Agency)
The Kremlin exports “Orthodox Christianity” to Africa as part of its hybrid influence strategy, - Main Intelligence Directorate
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Monday, 9 June 2025
African churches consult on decolonization, reparations
(World Council of Churches)
Monday, 2 June 2025
Women in G20 interfaith initiatives: Challenges for Africa
(Francisca Ngozi Uti and Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Mozambique’s Catholic Bishops call for national commitment to healing ahead of Golden Independence Jubilee
(João Vissesse, ACI Africa)
Welcoming the African Union as a G20 member: Opening plenary of the 2025 G20 Interfaith Forum Africa Conference
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Monday, 19 May 2025
UKZN’s compulsory gender module undermines academic and religious freedom (video)
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Africa’s faith communities: A driving force for sustainable development
(Religions for Peace)
Catholic bishops call for mutual respect, environmental justice in Africa-EU relations
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Sunday, 18 May 2025
EVENT, 18-21 May 2025: Morocco Conference
(The African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies)
Monday, 12 May 2025
South Africa: Why the hate speech law could silence your faith
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Kenya: United for change: Youths of Utawala embrace ecumenical dialogue on governance and human trafficking
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
South Africa: The CRL’s push to regulate religion in South Africa
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Friday, 25 April 2025
South Africa: Regulating religion: A renewed debate
(Siphesihle Buthelezi, IOL)
South Africa: How religion shapes a free and democratic South Africa
(Nico Koopman, Weekend Argus)
Friday, 18 April 2025
South Africa: Church and govt must unite to fight social ills: Mashatile
(South African Broadcasting Corporation)
Friday, 4 April 2025
South Africa: Timothy Omotoso verdict (video)
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Monday, 31 March 2025
Brazil: Eduardo Paes revokes recognition of practices of African origin in the SUS [health system] (Portuguese)
(Diana Rogers, CNN Brasil)
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Africa-Europe forum calls on churches to enhance protection of migrants
(World Council of Churches)
South Sudan: President Kiir in meeting with church leaders, vows unwavering commitment to peace, stability in country
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
EVENT, 26 March 2025: Renewing the Conversation - A one-day colloquium on Africa, Christianity and Human Rights (Twickenham, London, UK)
(University of Birmingham and Aid to the Church in Need (UK) with St Mary’s University)
Friday, 21 March 2025
Brazil: Influencer is convicted for linking floods in RS to African-based religions (Portuguese)
(Conjur)
Monday, 17 March 2025
IF20 FoRB meetings in South Africa
(G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Friday, 14 March 2025
Bishops in Africa object to ‘dirty money’ being given to churches
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Nigeria: Presidency rattled, rebukes Catholic bishops over criticism on economy and insecurity, insists country is on the right path
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
South Africa: Covenantal pluralism in South Africa: Resources for harmony amidst diversity
(Helena van Coller, Institute for Global Engagement)
Are ministers, pastors or priests in the Free State, South Africa, and Lesotho employees?: Melaletsa
(David Scrooby, Law & Religion UK)
G20 Interfaith Forum: Pre-Meetings in South Africa, February 2025
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Friday, 7 March 2025
Ethiopia: Faith and ethical communities unite in Addis Ababa to champion reparative justice for Africans and people of African descent
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Monday, 3 March 2025
Liberia: Supreme Court intervenes in United Methodist Church dispute, summons Judge Konto for conference
(Gerald C. Koinyeneh, Front Page Africa)
South Africa: State regulation of religion not the way to go: Freedom of Religion SA
(Ernest Mabuza, Times Live)
Friday, 28 February 2025
Tanzanian Vice President engages with central African Bishops to address eastern DRC conflict
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Kenya: Archbishop Muheria urges government to settle billions owed to faith-based hospitals under NHIF and SHA
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Friday, 21 February 2025
Sudan: Christian entity petitions African Commission on Human Rights over religious, gender-based violations in Sudan
(Silas Isenjia, ACI Africa)
Zimbabwe: Catholic bishops’ commission in Zimbabwe lauds President for abolishing death penalty
(ACI Africa)
Wednesday, 19 February 2025
In audience with Burkina Faso’s President, Vatican Secretary of State says Holy See supports peace efforts
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)
Monday, 17 February 2025
Deeply religious African countries (surprisingly) provide little state support to religion – unlike countries in Europe
(David Jeffery-Schwikkard, The Conversation)
The first openly gay Muslim imam is killed in South Africa, prompting claims of an assassination
(Gerald Imray, Associated Press)
Friday, 7 February 2025
The Religious Freedom Institute, Pepperdine University, and the International Religious Freedom Summit announce ‘IRF Summit Africa’
(Religious Freedom Institute)
South Africa: FOR SA protected church access to school venues
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa)
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
CALL FOR PROPOSALS, deadline 5 February 2025: Renewing the Conversation - A one-day colloquium on Africa, Article 18, Christianity and Human Rights
(University of Birmingham and Aid to the Church in Need (UK))
Monday, 3 February 2025
Nigerian bishop call on Catholics to be more engaged in African politics
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Friday, 31 January 2025
CALL FOR PAPERS, deadline 31 January 2025: Religious Freedom in Africa
(International Journal for Religious Freedom)
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
CAR: International Education Day: Promoting interreligious dialogue for conflict management in the Central African Republic
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Friday, 24 January 2025
Nigeria: Empowerment over palliatives, Archbishop Martins urges government to rethink poverty alleviation strategies
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Why African governments are seeking to repeal tax exemptions for churches
(Cyril Zenda, Religion Unplugged)
Monday, 6 January 2025
Christians face continued persecution as Africa remains jihadi hotbed
(Diana Chandler, Religion Unplugged)
Sudan: General Al-Burhan joins Catholic community in Sudan for Christmas celebration
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Monday, 23 December 2024
Masked discrimination against Vodou and other African diaspora religions
(Danielle Boaz, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Wednesday, 11 December 2024
African Parliamentarians for change: IPPFoRB UPR workshop in Accra
(International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief)
Monday, 9 December 2024
Brazil: Public Defender's Office sends recommendation for the State to guarantee freedom of worship to inmates who follow religions of African origin (Portuguese)
(Amanda Sobreira, Defensoria Publica do Estado do Ceara)
Friday, 6 December 2024
The Role of Religious Actors in Population Dynamics: Insights from the African Dialogues on Faith and Demography
(Berlin Institute for Population and Development)
Saturday, 30 November 2024
Northern African Bishops warn against using the Bible to legitimize violence
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
South Africa: The battle in South Africa over religion and animal sacrifice
(Vicky Abraham, Religion Unplugged)
Friday, 22 November 2024
South Africa: FOR SA defended an evangelist’s free speech rights
(YouTube Video, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Thursday, 21 November 2024
WEBINAR, 21 November 2024 (4PM GMT +3): Complexities in State Regulation of Religious Organisations in Kenya: Lessons from Rwanda and Uganda
(The African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies)
Monday, 18 November 2024
South Africa: Catalyzing impactful collaboration between government and faith communities
(Institute for Global Engagement)
Friday, 8 November 2024
Mozambique: Country rocked by post-election protests as Catholic bishops denounce violence
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
EVENT, 5-6 November 2024: Reimagining the Role of Religion in Building Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies: East Africa and Beyond (Nairobi, Kenya)
(University of Groningen)
DRC: Bishops oppose constitutional amendment proposal, sparking wide debate over democracy, national unity, and socio-economic priorities
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
South Africa: Minister of Home Affairs celebrates first formally-recognised Muslim marriages in South African history
(Minister of Home Affairs)
Monday, 28 October 2024
Mauritius: Religious leaders emphasize peace and accountability ahead of elections
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Friday, 18 October 2024
Liberia: Former LCC president calls on regional Christian community to combat unwholesome activities
(Willie N. Tokpah, Front Page Africa)
Monday, 14 October 2024
From Japan to Africa: Women leading the struggle for religious freedom
(Forum for Religious Freedom Europe)
Holy See and Burkina Faso sign Second Additional Protocol strengthening legal status of the Catholic Church
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Friday, 11 October 2024
South Africa: Coalition of religious leaders hold key meeting with minister of basic education
(Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))
Wednesday, 9 October 2024
Mozambique: Catholic bishops call for transparency and fairness ahead October 9 elections
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Monday, 7 October 2024
Kenya: Religious leaders urge unity and dialogue as deputy president’s impeachment reaches public participation stage amid presidential feud
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Friday, 4 October 2024
Routledge Handbook of Islam in Africa
(Edited By Terje Østebø, Routledge)
Wednesday, 2 October 2024
Ghana: Faith and politics: Ghana’s election hinges on religious battle lines
(Kent Mensah, The Africa Report)
Monday, 30 September 2024
CALL FOR PAPERS, abstracts due 30 September 2024: 12th Annual Conference: Law, Religion and Work in Africa (Rabat, Morocco)
(The African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies)
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