Law and Religion Headlines
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Film explores Bahá’í contributions to Azerbaijani society
(Bahá’í World News Service)
The rise of populism: Implications and complications for international religious freedom
(Mae Elise Cannon, Institute for Global Engagement)
New Jersey churches reach settlement with county and New Jersey attorney general ending federal lawsuit
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)
Bangladesh’s Hindu minority in fear as attacks rise and a national election nears
(Julhas Alam, Al Emrum Garjon and Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press)
IRF Summit: The inspiring life-or-death work uniting Trump, Nicki Minaj, the Dalai Lama and the UN
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)
Open Panel #EuARe2026: Peace through Law or Peace through Strength? Religions, Politics, and Fundamental Human Rights in Contemporary Conflicts
(DiReSoM (Law and Religion in Multicultural Societies))
Legal Journal Number 4 (21): January (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)
RFRA defense to indictment of church leader for distributing ayahuasca fails
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
National Council Of Churches In India approaches Supreme Court to challenge anti-conversion laws
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Why faith leaders have shown little support for ICE in Minneapolis
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)
Why religious freedom matters: Human rights and human flourishing
(Allen D. Hertzke, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Pope Leo XIV echoes Cuban bishops’ warning that fuel blockade could cause “chaos and social violence”
(Xavier Burgos, Aid to the Church in Need)
Christian communities in Iraq fear resurgence of ISIS-linked violence
(Georgena Habbaba, EWTN News)
Global system of human rights in ‘peril’, warns HRW in its annual report
(Al Jazeera)
Sri Lanka’s Anglicans warn anti-terror bill will entrench repression
(George Conger, Anglican Ink)
Philippine churches stand with communities defending land and life in Nueva Vizcaya
(World Council of Churches)
COMECE Presidency expresses solidarity with the people of Greenland
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
US and African Catholic Bishops call for renewed solidarity as global aid shrinks, urge hope-filled partnership rooted in human dignity in joint statement
(Catholic Information Service for Africa)
RFI opens IRF Summit with University Partnership Program for fourth year in a row
(Religious Freedom Institute)
‘Conscience is not the business of the state’: India’s anti-conversion legislation has turned suspicion into the default posture of the law
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Florida House passes bill that challenges church vs. state debate
(Andy Paden, WTSP News)
Texas faith leaders divided over school prayer, Bible reading periods as deadline for SB 11 approaches
(Andrew Schneider, Houston Public Media)
Malaysia: Religious extremism threatening public harmony won't be tolerated, says minister
(Iylia Marsya Iskandar and Amalia Azmi, New Straits Times)
Guidance on collective worship to be reviewed, Government says
(National Secular Society)
Philippines: Traslacion 2026 leaves four dead
(EJ Macababbad, The Philippine Star)
Brazil: Religious intolerance follows a wave of violence in 2026 (Portuguese)
(Ministério dos Direitos Humanos e da Cidadania)
United States and Hungary partner on advancing religious freedom in the Middle East and Africa
(U.S. Department of State)
‘Conscience is not the business of the state’: India’s anti-conversion legislation has turned suspicion into the default posture of the law
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
EVENT, 2-3 February 2026: International Religious Freedom Summit 2026 (Washington, DC, USA)
(IRF Summit)
EVENT, 3 February 2026: Global Faith Forum: Building a culture of kindness for the common good (Washington, DC, USA)
(Multi-Faith Neighbors Network)
Monday, 2 February 2026
Reshaping religious education in the UK
(James Walters, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Rethinking laicite in France—A path toward covenantal pluralism
(Jocelyne Cesari, Institute for Global Engagement)
Comoros Islands: MWL provides aid during food shortage
(X, Muslim World League)
Iranian Jews caught between frustration and hope as US debates intervention
(Simone Saidmehr, Forward)
Don Lemon’s arrest balances freedom of religion vs. freedom of the press, Todd Blanche says
(Cheyanne M. Daniels, Politico)
Starmer’s new Islamophobia definition threatens free speech, say religious leaders
(Charles Hymas, The Telegraph)
Hundreds pack an Ohio church to back extending protected status for Haitians in the US
(Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)
China criticizes decision to award a Grammy to the Dalai Lama
(Associated Press)
Court refuses to enjoin coinage containing "In God We Trust" motto
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 2 February 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
In Italy, church and state investigate the appearance of a cherub seemingly modeled on Meloni
(Nicole Winfield and Trisha Thomas, Associated Press)
Iran’s brutal religious persecutions
(Doug Bandow, Acton Institute)
Russia: One church unsealed, others face banning suits
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
Fujian: Police mobilized to demolish village‑funded temple, several injured
(Zeng Liqin, Bitter Winter)
The future of development work: do core principles for development require a prophetic voice?
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Human flourishing in the Age of AI
(Marianna Richardson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Judge cites Gospel verses in releasing Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from immigrant detention
(Gina Christian, National Catholic Reporter)
Gregory Bovino's comments about U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen's Shabbat observance
(Josh Blackman, The Volokh Conspiracy)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest January 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution – Bimonthly News Digest January 16-31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
EU: Entering the 15th month without Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
U.S. Solicitor General backs Catholic parents & preschools at Supreme Court
(Becket)
New federal hate speech laws- impact on religious freedom?
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Around the web - 2 February 2026
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Vol. 18 No. 2 (2025): Religious freedom and measures of tolerance
(International Journal for Religious Freedom)
Why faith and traditional leaders are essential to ending gender-based violence
(Izeduwa Derex-Briggs, Modern Ghana)
India: Supreme Court issues notices to 12 States on plea over anti-conversion laws
(Krishnadas Rajagopal, The Hindu)
Armenian government accused of violating freedom of religion and speech after clergy arrests
(Christian Today)
The NSW inquiry showed us how to protect children from the harms of pornography — will we rise to the challenge?
(Matt Tyler and Maree Crabbe, ABC News Australia)
“Let it begin with me”: Faith, freedom, and the power of conscience at the NAD’s 2026 Religious Freedom Prayer Breakfast
(Ronnie Mills, North American Division Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists)
Burma Research Institute releases new report documenting severe violations of religious freedom against Christians in Burma
(Burma Research Institute)
Hungary and Hungary Helps Program honored at International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington
(About Hungary)
Cracks in India’s ‘Hindu unity’
(Asif Ullah Khan, The Diplomat)
Attorney general calls for cops ahead of Muslim Capitol visit
(Stephany Matat, Tallahassee Democrat)
Texas governor, lieutenant governor ramp up attacks on state’s Muslim community
(Michael Karlis, San Antonio Current)
Saturday, 31 January 2026
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS, deadline 31 January 2026: Young Scholars Fellowship on Religion and the Rule of Law (Oxford, UK)
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Religious Liberty Fellowship and Writing Competition
(J. Reuben Clark Law Society)
Friday, 30 January 2026
Armenia’s state-church relations: Not much room for optimism
(Isabella Sargsyan, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
Occupied Ukraine: "If we don't register, they'll come to every service and stop it"
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Addressing antisemitism through education: a survey of teachers’ knowledge and understanding
(UNESCO)
The Egyptian government’s escalation against religious minorities reinforces USCIRF’s recommendation for placement on the Special Watch List
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Anwar pledges stronger support for ‘pondok’ schools, urges balance of faith and AI-era skills
(Malay Mail)
Archbishop Hérouard represents COMECE at the 25th Holy Land Coordination
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Russia: Orthodox cross on the State emblem: God is with Russia!
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Vietnam: Religion accompanies the nation
(Nhân Dân)
Why Hinduism rose and fell in Southeast Asia
(Akhilesh Pillalamarri, The Diplomat)
Religion and foreign policy webinar: Religion, identity, and duty in the U.S. military
(Council on Foreign Relations)
Woman denies abortion clinic 'buffer zone' offence
(Tom Edwards, BBC)
Sikh and Hindu crematorium refusal overturned
(Dan Martin, BBC)
Council of Europe pushes conversion therapy ban
(Michael Curzon, The European Conservative)
Cuba: State Security summons priests Alberto Reyes and Castor Álvarez in Camagüey (Spanish)
(Ciber Cuba)
What to know about the federal charges in the protest at a Minnesota church service
(Josh Funk and Peter Smith, Associated Press)
Trump’s framing of Nigeria insurgency as a war on Christians risks undermining interfaith peacebuilding
(Aili Mari Tripp, The Conversation)
Evangelicals divided over what faith demands as immigration tensions deepen
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)
Maine clergy form spiritual 'shield' outside workplaces to protect immigrants from ICE
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Can you protest inside or near a church? First Amendment analysis
(Scott A. Leadingham, Freedom Forum)
‘Christophobia’ bills seek to bar religious costumes in Brazil’s Carnival
(Eduardo Campos Lima, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pakistan's Shiite community anxious about Iran crisis
(Shamil Shams and Manaf Siddique, Deutsche Welle)
KAICIID and UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG) renew cooperation to strengthen conflict prevention through dialogue
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
Colombian bishops demand respect for Christ after President Petro’s ‘blasphemous’ comments
(Eduardo Berdejo, EWTN News)
Celebrating 2025: A year of global impact and interfaith collaboration
(G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
Korean activists, religious groups oppose nuclear power plants
(Herald Malaysia Online)
South Sudan bishops warn of genocide, plead for peace
(Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News)
The OIC participates in the Eighth Meeting of the International Coalition for the Two-State Solution in Ireland
(Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)
California high court urged to protect Zen Buddhist monastery
(Becket)
EU lists IRGC as ‘terrorist organisation’
(Article 18)
Woman faints after being caned 140 times under Indonesian province’s sharia law
(AFP, The Guardian)
Proposed reading list for Texas students draws concern over religious themes, lack of diversity
(Jaden Edison, Texas Public Radio)
Man charged with hate crimes after he rams car into Chabad headquarters
(Sarah Maslin NirMark BonamoMaria Cramer and Maia Coleman, The New York Times)
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