Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 9 January 2026

Legal Journal Number 3 (21): December (Spanish)
(Observatorio de Libertad Religiosa de América Latina y El Caribe)

Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Sociology of religious freedom
(Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Three aims of sociology of religious freedom: Toward a new paradigm of religious change
(Giuseppe Giordan, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Religious freedom and the courts
(James T. Richardson, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Measuring religious freedom in perceptions
(Olga Breskaya, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

India: Civil rights groups flag rise in anti-Christian incidents during Christmas season
(Counterview)

India's top court denies bail to 2 Muslim activists after 5 years in jail without trial
(AP, NBC News)

Opinion: Union Gospel Mission of Yakima Washington v. Brown, et al.
(Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)

Court ruling backs faith-based hiring practices by the Yakima Union Gospel Mission
(Joel Donofrio, Yakima Herald-Republic)

Hindus warn Labour against ‘chilling’ Islamophobia definition
(Charles Hymas, The Telegraph)

Oregon youth ministry asks Supreme Court to hear religious freedom case
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

Antisemitism in China is not accidental, or marginal - opinion
(Shalom Salomón Wald, The Jerusalem Post)

China: New arrests at underground Protestant churches
(Human Rights Watch)

Curfew imposed in southern Nepal city after mosque vandalism sparks protests
(Associated Press)

'God is using Trump': Latino evangelicals celebrate Maduro’s capture as divine victory
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)

Cameroon Church defends its actions amid post-election criticism
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

British Jewish groups call for resignation of police chief who banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from soccer match
(Grace Gilson, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Scotland: consultation on proposed changes to family law
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Ultra-Orthodox fury over military enlistment turns deadly in Israel
(Simon Speakman Cordall, Al Jazeera)

Keller council scraps plan to denounce sharia law, reaffirms ‘constitutional governance’
(Cecilia Lenzen, Fort Worth Report)

India/France: Religion – From hostility of former disgruntled members to killings
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Colorado forced to pay $5.4M to cover attorneys’ fees and court costs for state’s unconstitutional attack on abortion pill reversal
(Becket)

Putin hails 'holy mission' of Russian troops at Orthodox Christmas service
(Reuters)

Western Apaches return to Ninth Circuit to defend holy land
(Joe Duhownik, Courthouse News Service)

How religion is being instrumentalized in Serbia’s claims against Kosovo
(Kadri Kryeziu, Türkiye Today)

Mapping New York City’s religious landscape after a historic mayoral race
(PRRI)

Azerbaijan provides financial assistance to religious institutions
(Caspian Post)

Iran on the edge: What the outside world misunderstands about a nation in revolt
(Mali Rezaei, ABC News Australia)

Perspective: What the data really says about religious revival and Gen Z
(Ryan Burge, Deseret News)

Monday, 5 January 2026

Pakistan: Memorizing the Quran is now a crime for Ahmadis
(A. Sahara Alexander, Bitter Winter)

Cardinal Dolan, interfaith coalition press Trump to add religion forum to 2026 G20
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Sight)

OU graduate assistant says she was target of political campaign
(Mark Wingfield, Baptist News Global)

Venezuela’s church leaders call for prayer following Maduro’s arrest
(Reynoldo Aragon, Religion Unplugged)

WCC condemns US Attacks in Venezuela, calls for respect for international law
(World Council of Churches)

Pope Leo XIV calls for 'rule of law' and respect for human rights after US captures Maduro
(Paul O'Donnell, Religion News Service)

Indonesia's new penal code takes effect, marking historic break with colonial law
(Niniek Karmini, Associated Press)

Banning public prayer in Quebec
(Rick Plasterer, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)

U.S. Congressional report maps a broadening repression in China
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

Pakistan: Mandatory halal certification raises new concerns about discrimination
(A. Sahara Alexander, Bitter Winter)

Mali’s church leaders blame “external perceptions” for Christian persecution reports, applaud interfaith dialogue
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)

Religious freedom in America remains strong, but important battles lie ahead
(Mark Rienzi, National Review)

Corporate governance in sharia compliant banking institutions explored
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Articles of interest - 5 January 2026
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

How big is the ‘God gap’ between Republicans and Democrats?
(Brigham Tomco, Deseret News)

Judge rules Americans United can’t intervene in Johnson Amendment case
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

Cardinal Dolan, interfaith coalition press Trump to add religion forum to 2026 G20
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)

Mamdani defends eliminating executive orders on antisemitism, boycotting Israel
(Joe Anuta, Politico)

Irish archbishop says political battles need to not use ‘language of faith’
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus remarks on Venezuela crisis both cautious and clear
(Christopher R. Altieri, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

German antisemitism czar targeted in arson attack: ‘I will not be intimidated by this’
(Grace Gilson, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood transfusion: Child A
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Conscientious objection and assisted dying in the Crown Dependencies
(Pete Edge, Law & Religion UK)

Home Secretary bans extremist preacher from entering the UK
(Daniel Sugarman, Jewish News)

USAID cut their funding, so these faith groups got creative
(John Semakula, Religion Unplugged)

Governor Hochul directs state landmarks to be illuminated green in honor of Muslim American Heritage Month
(New York State)

Paris mosque rector calls 2025 one of France's most difficult for Muslims
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))

Illegal settlers storm Al-Aqsa, scores of Palestinians detained in West Bank
(The Palestine Chronicle)

Iran: Religious persecution and issues – Monthly digest December 2025
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest December 16 -31
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Religious policy in China in 2025
(Sergio Ticozzi, Asia News)

China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly digest December 16-30
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

How Hegseth can reinforce military chaplains
(Amy Vitale, Washington Examiner)

Senior Taliban official urges authorities to avoid alienating people from religion through misconduct
(Atlas Press)

'All faiths stand for human dignity': South Florida religious groups unite against immigration enforcement abuses
(Jimena Romero, WLRN Public Media)

Friday, 2 January 2026

Faith in focus: 5 religion trends to watch in 2026
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)

Egypt sets religious holidays for Christian employees
(Egyptian Streets)

Antisemitism on campus is a real problem − but headlines and government-proposed solutions don’t match the experience of most Jewish students
(Graham Wright, The Conversation)

Wednesday, 31 December 2025

CALL FOR PAPERS, abstracts due 31 December 2025: International Conference on Jewish Law
(PDF download, Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

‘From despair to serenity’: The Italian nun saving women from human trafficking
(Kate Quiñones, Catholic News Agency)

US faith leaders supporting targeted immigrants brace for a tough year ahead
(David Crary, Giovanna Dell'Orto, Luis Andres Henao and Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press)

Australian police find no evidence of ‘broader terrorist cell’ in Bondi Beach antisemitic shooting
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

Senate confirms Antisemitism Envoy; other religious freedom spots remain unfilled
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

DRC bishops’ president denounces ‘sell-off’ of country as government defends pact with US
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Rep. Randy Fine’s incendiary comments on Muslims alarm many Jews — without denting his standing on the pro-Israel right
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

From Nigeria to Belarus, 2025 marks a grim year for religious freedom
(Paulina Guzik, OSV News)

Zohran Mamdani chose a Quran full of symbolism for his mayoral oath
(Safiyah Riddle, Associated Press)

Lower court applies Supreme Court's classroom religious opt-out decision
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

As religion's political influence grows, these faith voices are likely to draw attention in 2026
(Jack Jenkins and Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

Estonian State Court to consider law restricting pro-Russian churches
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

CAIR-CT condemns vandalism of menorah at Bridgeport synagogue
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)

IF20 members launch Modern Slavery Prevention Index at G20 Social Summit
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum)

Catholic governor signs historic personhood law for the unborn in Puerto Rico
(Marietha Góngora V., Catholic Standard)

No Establishment Clause violation in display of Taoist "bagua mirror"
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)

Pakistan: The EU should suspend the GSP+ privileges. Why? No human rights progress
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Attempts to block anti-corruption probe in Jamaica undermines public trust, say church organizations
(Chris Eyte, Christian Daily)

Judge declines to block California antisemitism statute
(Margaret Attridge, Courthouse News Service)

Egypt sets religious holidays for Christian employees
(Egyptian Streets)

Christmas Eve church violence erupts in Egypt
(Raymond Ibrahim, Middle East Forum)

Church files federal lawsuit alleging Indy violated religious freedom in blocked Holy Cross demolition
(Taylor Wooten, The Indiana Lawyer)

South Africa: SACC approaches CRL Rights Commission's proposed regulations for religious centres with caution
(Gcwalisile Khanyile, IOL)

UK condemns killing of Hindus in Bangladesh as violence spikes after radical leader Hadi’s death
(India Blooms)

Minister of Cults and Religion issues guidelines on preventing roasting cows in public places
(Khmer Times)

Christians are persecuted in every Muslim-majority country
(Uzay Bulut, The European Conservative)

Tax increase in Iran to finance the IRGC and religious institutions
(Dalga Khatinoglu, Middle East Forum)

Pakistan government supports nationwide Christmas celebrations, in unprecedented move
(Milton Dunleavy, Premier Christian News)

N.J. religious group can no longer restrict access to private beach, DEP head rules
(Jeff Goldman, NJ.com)

The Muslim Brotherhood and the weakness of Western tolerance
(Gary Cartwright, EU Today)

Bishops call for the building of a new and better Cuba (Spanish)
(Martí Noticias)

Why is euthanasia unconstitutional in Argentina? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen)

Marseille Espérance, an interfaith body "in a state of dormancy" (French)
(La Croix International)

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