Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 22 December 2025

Denmark wants to extend 'burqa ban' to schools and universities
(The Local/AFP)

Antisemitism as a national security threat
(Hudson Institute)

WCC urges US, EU Commission to engage in safeguarding Palestinians
(World Council of Churches)

WCC at Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025: “we reaffirm our shared commitment to be agents of hope”
(World Council of Churches)

Humanists denounce Pete Hegseth’s attacks on religious pluralism in the military
(American Humanist Association)

Stop looking only for a religious motive
(Dennis P. Petri, Institute for Global Engagement)

Discovering God in Hamas tunnels, hostages led a national trend
(Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor)

Ten Commandments monument returns to Kentucky Capitol grounds after decades in storage
(WKYT News)

Boucher v. The King—Canadian Supreme Court decision still significant after 75 years
(Jehovah's Witnesses)

New Jersey religious activists call for investigation after ICE detainee’s death
(Fiona Murphy, Religion News Service)

NFL players urge Trump, Congress to address religious persecution in Nigeria
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

Faith can’t be forced: The dangers of coerced Judaism
(Seth Farber, Times of Israel)

Olena Kovalska: Ukraine is not banning churches; the issue lies in UOC-MP's refusal to sever ties with Russian Federation
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Russia: Peaceful clergy statements "can become the target of prosecution"
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

Sri Lankan monks, activists demand an end to human-elephant conflict
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

How ‘relevant’ are UN treaty body views for the European Court of Human Rights’ progress?
(Betül Durmuş, Strasbourg Observers)

The cost of India’s anti-conversion laws
(Glenn Grothman, Vicky Hartzler and Asif Mahmood, The Hill)

Anti-Christian hatred in Europe: Report warns of growing phenomenon
(Hélène de Lauzun, The European Conservative)

A Chinese Christian’s testimony: Lifting the veil on China’s “Three-Self Church”
(Vivian Ren, Bitter Winter)

Philippine Church rejects $138-million budget for anti-communism task force
(Joseph San Mateo, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Friday, 19 December 2025

Pope Leo decries leaders who invoke religion for violence and nationalism
(Joshua McElwee, Reuters)

Religious prisoners and state repression in Tajikistan (podcast)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Playing with fire: Religious freedom, civil society, and state neutrality in the EU Court of Justice
(Andrea Pin, Verfassungsblog)

Justifiable Caution: The Approach of the Court of Justice to Religion in the Context of Rapid Change
(Ronan McCrea, Verfassungsblog)

In Good Faith: Freedom of Religion under Article 10 of the EU Charter
(Jakob Gašperin Wischhoff and Till Stadtbäumer, Verfassungsblog)

Criminalizing faith: The persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan (podcast)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Attorney General McCuskey leads coalition defending children and religious freedom
(WV News)

JD Vance: Stopping immigration is the best way to curb antisemitism in the US
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Uzbekistan: Police conduct sexual harassment, threaten fines or jail for sharing faith
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Defending the Johnson Amendment as a critical tool to preserve democracy and religious freedom
(Rebecca S. Markert, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Federal court protects compassionate counseling for kids struggling with their biological sex
(Becket)

When the media and the entertainment industry slander religion
(Marco Respinti, Bitter Winter)

China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest December 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

After Grand Blanc church attack, Michigan State Police train faith leaders how to respond
(Max Bryan, The Detroit News)

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung: Religious communities are key to national progress
(Vietnam Net Global)

Church attendance in Poland stable at 30% but school religion participation continues decline
(Notes from Poland)

Local government ministry engages faith leaders, chiefs to tackle gender-based violence
(Ghana Web)

Govt to get tough on those playing race, religion cards
(Free Malaysia Today)

The dignity of migrants must be respected
(Archdiocese of Miami)

Russians protest new church site to honor war veterans, dead
(Elizabeth Russell, World)

Disappearance or reconfiguration? The future of Middle Eastern Christians
(Candace Lukasik, Brandeis University)

Fifty years of Islamic rule can’t erase 2,600 years of Jewish-Iranian friendship
(Alex Winston, The Jerusalem Post)

A parking ticket in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem sets off clashes with police
(Julia Frankel, Associated Press)

Oklahoma Supreme Court invalidates religion-based social study standards
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

How an LA interfaith coalition is using ‘freedom schools’ to defend against ICE
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)

New York's religious hate crimes can be prevented through building bridges, city official says
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

India’s bishops secure procedural win in early stage of constitutional challenge to anti-conversion law
(Nirmala Carvalho, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Nadler, DeLauro, Balint, Frost introduce Antisemitism Response and Prevention Act
(Jerrold Nadler, U.S. House of Representatives)

Citing Sydney attack, police in London say they will now arrest those who chant ‘globalize the intifada’
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Uproar in India over Bihar chief minister pulling down Muslim woman’s hijab
(Al Jazeera)

Christmas markets under attack
(Sabine Beppler-Spahl, The European Conservative)

National Religious Broadcasters v. Werfel: The court should uphold the Johnson Amendment to protect voters’ right to know who is spending to influence them
(Kevin Hancock, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

A Chinese company aims to destroy sacred land in Arizona
(Chelsea Langston Bombino, Religion Unplugged)

Forum for Peace, Reunification, and Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula convenes
(World Council of Churches)

University of Arkansas Ten Commandments posters spark campus backlash
(KUAF)

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

United Airlines settles suit over flight attendant’s expression of Catholic beliefs
(Tyler Arnold, Catholic News Agency)

Australian police say Bondi Beach mass shooting was inspired by Islamic State group
(Charlotte Graham-McLay and Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

Muslim rights group sues Florida Gov. DeSantis over ‘foreign terrorist’ label
(Mike Schneider, Associated Press)

2nd Circuit upholds prison's restriction of inmate's access to smudging ritual
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

From church to crystals: One study shows interest in magic as religion declines
(Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

Spanish government clashes publicly with Church hierarchy
(Fionn Shiner, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Denmark’s investigation ends, tabloid is criticized, but campaign against Jehovah’s Witnesses persists
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

Why do some Americans leave their religion while others stay?
(Becka A. Alper , Patricia Tevington , Asta Kallo, and Jeff Diamant, Pew Research Center)

How parents are raising their children, religiously
(Becka A. Alper , Patricia Tevington , Asta Kallo and Jeff Diamant, Pew Research Center)

Tire Dealer to Pay $300,000 Over Religious Discrimination Charge
(Bloomberg Law)

Tire Dealer to Pay $300,000 Over Religious Discrimination Charge
(Bloomberg Law)

Tire Dealer to Pay $300,000 Over Religious Discrimination Charge
(Bloomberg Law)

Statement on Department of War’s strengthening of the Chaplain Corps
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Recent attacks have been 'inspired' by Islamic State. What does that mean?
(Scott Neuman, NPR)

The Philippines’ long battle against Islamist extremism is back in the spotlight following Bondi attack
(Jessie Yeung, CNN)

Firing of synagogue religious teacher for anti-Israel blog post is upheld by NY's top court
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Herzog and Pope Leo discuss Sydney attacks, Israel’s ties with Christian communities
(Lazar Berman, Times of Israel)

22 arrested in Amsterdam protest over contentious Hanukkah concert featuring IDF cantor
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Russia rejects idea of Christmas truce
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Azerbaijan: Conscientious objector freed from prison under restrictions, with electronic tag
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Incoming FM Macinka backs moving Czech embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
(Radio Prague International)

Philippine communist insurgents declare Christmas ceasefire
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Chile's bishops' congratulate new Catholic president, 'worry' over anti-migrant attitudes
(David Agren, National Catholic Reporter)

COMECE calls on MEPs to exercise responsibility ahead of vote on “My Voice, My Choice”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

“Pray, speak against this evil”: Zimbabwe’s Catholic Bishops urge action against proposed abortion law
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)

Senators grill judicial nominees on church sermons, 2020 election
(Benjamin S. Weiss, Courthouse News Service)

California teachers warn antisemitism statute will chill classroom speech
(Carly Nairn, Courthouse News Service)

Draft ethnic unity law intensifies language and cultural repression of Uyghurs and other ethnic groups
(Congressional-Executive Commission on China)

Why religion matters at the EU-Balkans summit today
(Bohumil Petrík, Catholic News Agency)

Gunmen kidnap 13 worshippers in central Nigeria church attack
(Camillus Eboh, Reuters)

How blasphemy laws are fueling persecution in Nigeria and across the globe
(Kelsey Zorzi, ADF International)

Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province: Beijing’s bonfire of Tibetan prayer flags
(Lopsang Gurang, Bitter Winter)

Religion on Egyptian citizens’ ID cards enables Christian persecution
(Jill Nelson, Christianity Today)

Religious liberty doesn’t end at the college classroom door
(William C. Duncan, Sutherland Institute)

Monday, 15 December 2025

US Jewish groups urge heightened security at public events after Hanukkah attack in Australia
(David Crary, Associated Press)

Mass shooting at Jewish event on Bondi Beach follows rising antisemitism in Australia
(Melanie Lidman, Associated Press)

Ministers finalising definition of anti-Muslim hatred
(Christina McSorley, BBC)

Religion and judicial review of the RAISE programme to reduce educational disadvantage in Northern Ireland: JR338 & Ors
(Frank Cranmer)

Badenoch calls for ‘robust response’ by government to dealing with Islamic extremism
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)

Undeterred by Sydney attack, Chabad defiantly celebrates Hanukkah around the world
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

The Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting was an attack on Judaism
(Jeffrey Salkin, Religion News Service)

Bondi attack came after huge increase in online antisemitism: research
(Matteo Vergami, The Conversation)

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Condemns the terrorist attack in Sydney targeting a group of Jewish Civilians
(Al-Azhar Al-Sharif)

CALL FOR PAPERS, deadline 15 December 2025: Human Rights and Freedoms under Pressure from Algorithms: International and National AI Challenges
(Pavol Jozef Šafarik University in Košice, Slovakia)

Why do some Americans leave their religion while others stay?
(Becka A. Alper, Patricia Tevington, Asta Kallo and Jeff Diamant, Pew Research Center)

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