Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 29 December 2025
From Pope Leo to Charlie Kirk, a look back at this year's biggest religion stories (podcast)
(NPR)
Teenage Jehovah's Witness can receive blood transfusion, judge rules
(BBC)
Evolving legal threats to religious protections in East Africa
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Evangelical places of worship on rise in Spain: 4,763 evangelical churches in 2025
(Evangelical Focus)
Religious equality in Spain: Why cooperation still stalls
(The European Times)
KAICIID at the 11th UNAOC Global Forum: Reaffirming the power of interreligious dialogue through decades of practice
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
A new chapter in the Prophet cartoon controversy: A clear violation of freedom of speech in the making
(N. Betül Haliloğlu Pakdil, EJIL:Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
America's separation of church and state maintains its strong bond to Israel - opinion
(Aliza Pilichowski, The Jerusalem Post)
Bangladesh Hindus fear genocidal attacks ahead of February election
(Shikha Salaria, The Sunday Guardian)
Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not forced conversions: Dilip Saikia
(India Today NE)
Religion debates resurface in Arizona schools
(Stacy Mantle, Daily Independent)
Pakistan criminalises Qur’anic memorisation: Ahmadi Muslim sentenced to life imprisonment
(International Human Rights Committee)
Families of Bondi Beach victims demand more federal action on antisemitism and security failures
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)
RFRA challenge to Connecticut removal of religious exemption from school vaccines survives
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
US Jewish organizations call on Trump to rescind travel ban on Palestinians
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Speak up, pay the price: A Muslim woman’s experience in the British public eye
(5 Pillars UK)
Official says 6 Islamic State militants and 3 police officers killed in clash in northwest Turkey
(Associated Press)
Burundi churches appeal for aid as Congolese refugee influx tops 88,000
(Jim Olang, Christian Daily)
China threatens detention in Xinjiang over banned Uyghur songs
(Simina Mistreanu, Associated Press)
Top political advisor meets Chinese Buddhist delegates
(China Daily)
Ben Gvir’s party pushes Israeli bill targeting mosque calls to prayer
(Middle East Monitor)
No 10 defends campaign to release Abd el-Fattah despite his ‘abhorrent’ tweets
(Eleni Courea, The Guardian)
Religions, Beliefs Council condemns repression of protesters in Syrian coast, interior
(Hawar News Agency)
Gambia: Barrow hails religious harmony, urges national renewal
(Isatou Ceesay-Bah, The Point)
How partisanship differs for people who work in religious organizations
(Ryan Burge, Religion Unplugged)
Buddhist monks spread awareness as ‘Walk for Peace’ travels through Atlanta
(Maya T. Prabhu, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Gov. Hochul says she stepped in to block demolition of historic Brooklyn shul
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
How the far right stole Christmas
(Hannah Roberts, Politico)
Friday, 26 December 2025
Retribution fears as Australian Muslims see surge in Islamophobic hate since Bondi terror attack
(Luca Ittimani, The Guardian)
Just before Hanukkah attack, Jewish mayor of Bondi Beach region had been praised for fighting antisemitism
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
UK man charged over alleged Nazi symbols as Australian police launch nationwide crackdown
(Jewish News)
Top 10 religious liberty and church-state developments of 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Trump aides’ official religious messages for Christmas draw objections
(Azi Paybarah, The Washington Post)
Presidential message on Christmas
(The White House)
3 Palestinians arrested on suspicion of torching a Christmas tree at a Catholic church in West Bank
(Melanie Lidman, Associated Press)
Iran President hopes for realization of world peace, justice, freedom in Christmas message
(International Quran News Agency (IQNA))
‘Integral part of our nation’: Herzog visits Franciscan Sisters in Jerusalem ahead of Christmas
(The Jerusalem Post)
USCIRF welcomes SEAS envoy confirmation, urges further confirmations
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Mosque bombing in Syria leaves 8 dead and 18 wounded
(Ghaith Alsayed and Sally Abou Aljoud, Associated Press)
US launches strikes against Islamic State group in Nigeria after attacks target Christians
(Will Weissert, Associated Press)
Turkey detains dozens of IS suspects planning attacks on Christmas and New Year celebrations
(Associated Press)
King Charles III calls for kindness and unity in Christmas message amid global conflicts
(Danica Kirka, Associated Press)
New pope, religious violence and religious liberty wins: 2025 in faith and religion stories
(Mariya Manzhos, Deseret News)
Judge rules in favor of New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church and its new pastor
(Adelle M. Banks and Fiona André, Religion News Service)
‘Resist Herods,’ Manila archbishop tells Filipinos amid corruption scandal
(Paterno R. Esmaquel II, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Germany's empty churches repurposed as congregations shrink
(Axel Rowohlt and Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle)
Jewish groups defend European media monitors banned for what State Dept. calls ‘censorship’
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Russia hits Ukraine with 'massive' attack, says Zelensky, after he warned of Christmas strikes
(BBC)
The Supreme Court’s “reindeer rule”
(Kelsey Dallas, SCOTUSblog)
Manchester leaders warn antisemitism is getting worse, not better at Chanukah civic reception
(Annabel Sinclair, Jewish News)
Mar Leal and when faith meets law: A landmark study on patient autonomy and religious freedom in Spanish healthcare
(The European Times)
Sweden: Institutionalized discrimination of Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Massimo Introvigne, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Pashinian vs. the Catholicos: What's behind the Armenian Prime Minister's campaign against the church?
(Ulviyya Asadzade and Suren Musayelyan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Canada’s Bill C-9 And the growing threat to religious freedom
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unplugged)
22 states, numerous organizations and faith groups urge SCOTUS to protect Colorado Catholic preschools from discrimination
(Hannah Hester, Catholic Vote)
Wednesday, 24 December 2025
Grassley sets the record straight on Russia’s persecution of Christians in Occupied Ukraine
(Chuck Grassley, U.S. Senate)
DNI Gabbard remarks at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest (regarding Islam)
(Tulsi Gabbard, Office of the Director of National Intelligence)
Gottheimer unveils bipartisan bill aimed at combating anti-Sikh discrimination
(Jay Edwards, WRNJ Radio)
Dialogue on coexistence explores turning hope into shared public good
(World Council of Churches)
Report describes issues facing Christians in the Holy Land
(World Council of Churches)
IGE convenes faith and government leaders in South Africa to advance ethical leadership and societal transformation
(Institute for Global Engagement)
Religion Watch Volume 41 No. 1
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)
Zhejiang: Five-day police operation in Wenzhou targets Christians
(He Yuyan, Bitter Winter)
ABA accredits Catholic law school after pushback for alleged religious discrimination
(Sam Korkus, The College Fix)
White House rebuffs Catholic bishops’ appeal for a Christmas pause in immigration enforcement
(David Crary, Associated Press)
5th Circuit 10-7 denies en banc review in case of leafleting by Christian vegetarian advocate
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Articles of interest - 22 December 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Man admits leaving animal carcasses outside churches in English forest
(Steven Morris, The Guardian)
New polling: Majority of British Jews see no future in UK
(Campaign Against Antisemitism)
UK rights chief warns against demonizing migrants as hate crimes spike
(James Francis Whitehead, Courthouse News Service)
Church of England launches holiday ad to counter far-right Christian nationalism
(Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR)
Freedom of conscience and national security: Conflict or cooperation. Notes from an expert discussion
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
While Zimbabwe’s healthcare system collapses, a hospital serves as a beacon
(Calvin Manika, Religion Unplugged)
How Prague’s Süleymaniye mosque became a respite for Turkish immigrants
(Toprak Sezgin, Religion Unplugged)
Israeli FM urges Jews in western countries to move to Israel
(Middle East Monitor)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest December 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Is the Spanish youth returning to religion?
(Jorge Ruiz Ortiz, Christian Network Europe)
When nuns fight back
(William McGurn, Wall Street Journal)
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders responds to Freedom From Religion Foundation over Christmas proclamation
(Arkansas Radio)
Texas mayor is first to issue proclamation banning Sharia law
(Bethany Blankley, Center Square)
Can the government have religious displays? Why it's complicated.
(BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today)
'A den of bandits': Rwanda closes thousands of evangelical churches
(Moses Gahigi, AFP)
Donald Trump’s religious base: The role of Evangelicals in U.S. politics
(Austrian Academy of Sciences)
ADF urges USDA to protect churches, religious orgs in rural development programs
(Alliance Defending Freedom)
Canada: Pearl Eliadis on state neutrality and religious freedom
(Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University)
Lynching of a Hindu in Bangladesh fans fears of rising intolerance
(Saif Hasnat and Mujib Mashal, The New York Times)
Muslim American leaders join interfaith Hanukkah celebration in Tel Aviv
(The Jerusalem Post)
Austrian coalition party’s anti-Muslim post sparks backlash
(Salih Okuroglu, Anadolu Ajansı)
Global Interfaith Monitor No. 42
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Interreligious dialogue: An ethical tool or a complacent simulation? (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen)
Monday, 22 December 2025
State Department set to roll out religious worker visa plan next month
(Tessa Gervasini, Catholic News Agency)
Smith commends Senate confirmation of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun as U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism
(Chris Smith, U.S. House of Representatives)
Some Republican lawmakers call for mass expulsion of American Muslims
(Matthew Choi, The Washington Post)
Freedom and faithfulness: A Catholic guide to religious liberty
(Nathan Berkeley and Jim Bennett, Religious Freedom Institute)
UK: Christian woman criminally charged for standing, silently praying
(ADF International)
Press conference (Bondi Beach shooting)
(Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia)
A balm of heroism and truth for Australia
(Christian Science Monitor)
UN expert condemns Bondi Beach terrorist attack on Jewish Australians
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Ghent Mosques Association appeals to Council of State regarding headscarf ban
(Belga News Agency)
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