Law and Religion Headlines

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Monday, 14 February 2022

Russia’s 4,000 shamans seek official recognition as a traditional Religion
(Paul Goble, Eurasia Review)

Plug-In: No nostalgia – some pandemic-weary souls want to reclaim Sunday as day of rest
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)

Maybe angry Christians should try chanting 'Pray for Biden' instead of 'Let's go Brandon'?
(Terry Mattingly, GetReligion)

Entering a religion-beat minefield: What is the proper definition of the word 'cult'?
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)

UK: We’re being forced to change our beliefs, says Christian GP fired over transgender views
(Steve Bird, The Telegraph)

UK: The Trojan Horse Affair: Islamophobia scholar on the long shadow cast by the scandal
(Chris Allen, The Conversation)

UK: Christian teachings to be protected from conversion therapy ban, says Government
(Hayley Dixon, The Telegraph)

UK: Law and religion round-up – 13th February
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

GOP bill aims to halt government restrictions on houses of worship during a public health crisis
(Liam Adams, The Tennessean)

Iowa Senate bill on social studies class about the Bible
(O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa)

Sri Lanka: Support for rights defender: Targeting of Ambika Satkunanathan over European Parliament testimony
(Human Rights Watch)

Lebanon: Politicians mobilise in Sunni districts after Hariri
(Kareem Chehayeb, Al Jazeera)

Interfaith Harmony Week video
(Religions for Peace)

Two weeks in review, 31 January – 13 February 2022
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

French politician Zemmour targets mosques in another anti-Muslim comment
(TRTWorld)

France: The quiet flight of Muslims from France
(Norimitsu Onishi and Aida Alami, The New York Times)

France: More than 800 anti-Christian incidents reported in France in 2021
(Catholic News Agency)

Why is it so hard to have constructive conversations about abuse?
(Brad Hambrick, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)

Philippines: Catholic lay group leader in Philippines backs Marcos
(Joseph Peter Calleja, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Indonesian: Huge wave kills 11 Indonesians during beach ritual
(Konradus Epa, Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: Hijab controversy: Religion should not be taken to schools, says Ramdas Athawale
(Sheenu Sharma, India TV)

Indian Muslim students say hijab ban forces choice of religion or education
(Sunil Kataria, Reuters)

India: The legitimacy of hijab in public institutions: an explainer
(Mohammad Abid Siddiqui, Leaflet)

India: Some schools reopen in Indian state after hijab dispute
(Sunil Kataria, Reuters)

New Education Policy 2020: A subtle attempt to reshape India’s collective thinking
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

India, COVID-19, and religious secularism
(Daanyal Ebrahim, Berkley Center, Joint Learning Initiative, WFDD)

India: Prominent Indians call for repeal of anti-conversion laws
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: Religion and marital rape, a tricky territory
(Ankita Upadhyay, The New Indian Express)

India: Manipur Christian leaders welcome poll rescheduling
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: Persecution of India’s Christians on pace for second record year, group says
(Mark A. Kellner, The Washington Times)

Religion, culture and nationalism: Sabrina Lei’s philosophical exploration – OpEd
(K.M. Seethi, Eurasia Review)

When is drinking ayahuasca a religious experience?
(C.J. Ciaramella , Reason)

Evangelical left panel condemns anti-abortion movement
(Hope Rawlson, Juicy Ecumenism, Institute on Religion and Democracy)

Finland: Closing arguments to be heard in Finnish MP’s criminal trial over Bible-tweet
(ADF International)

Turkish president in UAE as relations thaw after icy decade
(Jon Gambrell, Associated Press)

Sunday, 13 February 2022

NEW COURSE, applications due 13 February 2022: Religion and Human Rights in Southeast Asia
(Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM))

Friday, 11 February 2022

Iranians celebrate 43rd anniversary of Islamic Revolution
(Nasser Karimi, Associated Press)

Iran's revolution at 43: Politics
(Hadi Semati, The United States Institute of Peace)

Iran: 10 Christian converts forced to take Islamic re-education classes in Iran: report
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

In and out of prison in China, Iran, Pakistan & Russia in January 2022
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

VIRTUAL EVENT, 11 February 2022 (9:45AM ET): Religion, Science, and Diplomacy
(The Fletcher Initiative on Religion, Law, and Diplomacy)

Religion Watch, Volume 37 No. 3
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)

South Africa: Beloftebos owners write to Human Rights Commission in bid to resolve anti-gay controversy
(Mwangi Githahu, Independent Online)

Hong Kong: Religious repression in Hong Kong could soon worsen, Christian cleric warns
(Jonah McKeown, Catholic News Agency)

France: European bishops hit back against Macron abortion plan
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

France: Secularists demand removal of Virgin Mary statue in French village
(Remix)

What role will religion play in current U.S. Supreme Court nomination intrigue?
(Richard Ostling, GetReligion)

Perspective: The prospects for religious liberty in Biden’s Supreme Court pick
(Tanner Bean, Deseret News)

Supreme Court contender Leondra Kruger’s aggressive and alarming position on religious liberty
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)

First Liberty defends Christian nurse practitioner fired by CVS Pharmacy
(Jorge Gomez, First Liberty)

Serbia-Kosovo: Lasting peace is needed to join the EU
(Faton Tony Bislimi, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

South Korea: The Universal Peace Federation: Moon front or respected NGO? A white paper
(Alessandro Amicarelli, Willy Fautré, Holly Folk, Massimo Introvigne, Marco Respinti, Bernadette Rigal-Cellard, Rosita Šorytė, Bitter Winter)

Are diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Beijing on the horizon?
(Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency)

Human rights activist: Diplomatic relations between Vatican and China would be ‘totally unacceptable’
(Catholic News Agency)

China: Can China use the Beijing Olympics to ‘sportwash’ its abuses against the Uyghurs? Only if the world remains silent
(Michael Clarke, The Conversation)

China: UN labor agency cites concerns about China’s Xinjiang region
(Jamey Keaten, Associated Press)

Taiwan: The UN International Day of Fraternity and the Tai Ji Men case
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

62% of white Evangelicals have had at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine: poll
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

Nicaragua: 'Political messianism:' What’s behind Christian persecution in Nicaragua?
(Anugrah Kumar, The Christian Post)

Americans left behind in Afghanistan far exceed State Dept. claims: Senate report
(Ryan Foley, The Christian Post)

High-ranking US Muslim soldier performs Umrah, meets Saudi counterparts
(Jospeh Hammond, Arab News)

Study: Clergy feel ill-equipped to help Black and Latino congregants with mental health
(Alejandra Molina, Religion News Service)

New report details the influence of Christian nationalism on the insurrection
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

Indonesian diocese bans wedding ritual sacrificing animals
(Ryan Dagur, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Women religious in US are transforming assets into agents of change
(Dan Stockman, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Turkey probes concert at Black Sea monastery after Greek protest
(Nazlan Ertan, Al-Monitor: Turkey Press)

Islamic State still 'global operation,' says Pentagon report
(Al-Monitor: Syrian Press)

Hamas targets Sufis in Gaza
(Hadeel Al Gherbawi, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

Egypt’s top judiciary body opens door to women for first time
(Hagar Hosny, Al-Monitor: Egypt Pulse)

Pope Francis: The dying need palliative care, not euthanasia or assisted suicide
(Catholic News Agency)

China: Christian faces trial for prayers on Tiananmen anniversary
(Eurasia Review)

Malaysia: USCIRF calls attention to Pastor Raymond Koh on 5th anniversary of disappearance
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Study: Fewer crashes after Utah sets strictest DUI law in US
(Sam Metz, Associated Press)

Afghanistan: 'They are killing the souls of our children' - Afghan artist describes life under the Taliban
(Ben Cohen, Christian Today)

Afghan Taliban say explosion near mosque kills 1, wounds 7
(Associated Press)

Fordham names first woman and first layperson as president
(Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, Associated Press)

U.S. Department of Education dismisses Title IX complaint against BYU
(Brigham Young University)

Federal investigation of LGBTQ dating ban at BYU dismissed
(Associated Press)

Bill would let unvaccinated WVa workers get unemployment
(Leah Willingham, Associated Press)

Latvia passes long-awaited Holocaust restitution law
(Jari Tanner, Associated Press)

Suspect in church killing dead after Colorado cops shoot him
(Associated Press)

Photos of the week: India hijab controversy, Lourdes reopens
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)

India court: No religious clothes until hijab row settled
(Associated Press)

India: Hindu nationalism pushed in voting test for Modi’s politics
(Krutika Pathi, Associated Press)

India hijab row: 'All I want to do is study'
(Murali Krishnan, Deutsche Welle)

Statement on hijab ban in India
(Twitter, Rashad Hussain)

Indian SC: Will protect rights of every individual regardless of religion
(Dhananjay Mahapatra, The Times of India)

Indian state closes schools, prohibits gatherings over hijab ban protests
(Sanjay Kumar, Arab News)

Syria: Adrift after enslavement, Yazidi teen says she can’t go home
(Samya Kullab, Associated Press)

Nun sentenced to year in prison for stealing $835,000 from Torrance elementary school
(Michael Finnegan, Yahoo News)

Explainer: Survey shows Americans agree about religious freedom
(Jordan Wootten, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission)

Orthodox Jewish families & Catholic businessman sue New York mayor over unconstitutional vaccine passports
(Tom Ciesielka, Thomas More Society)

Illinois wildlife code requirement survives Free Exercise challenge
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

When worship online no longer felt like a community, a wine club became ‘wine church’
(Bob Smietana, Religion News Service)

10th Circuit: Muslim terrorism inmate can sue under RFRA for damages
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Report on Christian nationalism and the January 6 insurrection
(Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Australia: Coalition shelves religious discrimination bill after Christian lobby says changes do ‘more harm than good’
(Sarah Martin and Paul Karp, The Guardian)

Australia: Grattan on Friday: Morrison’s religious discrimination package couldn’t fly on a wing and a prayer
(Michelle Grattan, The Conversation)

Australia: Only 19% of Australians agree religious schools should be able to ban LGBT+ teachers
(The Conversation)

Australia: ‘I will never be considered human’: the devastating trauma LGBTQ+ people suffer in religious settings
(Joel Hollier, The Conversation)

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