Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 17 November 2025
Myanmar military accused of destroying hundreds of religious sites
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
China: Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest November 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
These Buddhist monks stopped in Houston on their 2,000-mile walk to Washington
(Michael Adkinson, Houston Public Media)
Kenya: Catholic bishops warn against repressive laws enacted hastily, call for fair SHA payments and urge youth to register as voters
(Paschal Norbert, Catholic Information Service for Africa)
Kenya clergy oppose bill aimed at regulating churches
(Moses Wasamu, Christianity Today)
Why is the idea of a Hindu nation growing louder today?
(Shruti Nimbargi, London School of Economics International Development)
Considerations for Bill C-218 on permanently pausing the expansion of MAiD for mental disorders
(Cardus)
An inter-center project exploring key sites in Trento to reconstruct the city’s multiple identities — between continuity and rupture.
(Fondazione Bruno Kessler)
Why those who ‘prefer not to say’ trust experts the least: faith, science, and silence
(Steve Pickering, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Center for Women, Faith & Leadership hosts transformative workshop in Rwanda on peacebuilding and reconciliation
(Institute for Global Engagement)
African highest human rights body finds Eritrea violated rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses
(Jehovah's Witnesses)
Pope returns 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada as part of reckoning with colonial past
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
Iran's streets 'transformed' as more women shun the mandatory hijab
(Fereshteh Ghazi and Farangis Najibullah, Radio Free Europe)
Religious freedom coalition thanks President Trump for designating Nigeria “Country of Particular Concern;” proposes next steps to protect persecuted Christians
(ADF International)
Sikhs flock to see rare outing of ancient holy book in Edinburgh
(Angie Brown, BBC)
Fateh! Legal win and new helpline for Sikh truckers
(Sikh Coalition)
TD Bank settles human rights complaint by B.C. Muslim-Indigenous man
(Brieanna Charlebois, St. Albert Gazette)
Morocco’s model of tolerance takes Toronto’s Moroccan-Jewish week
(Morocco World News)
State finds Oakland Unified created ‘discriminatory environment’ for Jewish students
(John Fensterwald, LA Times)
In Israel, Adams raises doubts about safety of Jews in New York
(Andy Newman, Johnatan Reiss and Debra Kamin, The New York Times)
Religious freedom fight grows in Massachusetts community over statues honoring police and firefighters
(Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News)
Germany cancels auction of Holocaust artifacts after backlash
(Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 17 November 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Old Order Amish practices do not justify termination of foster care placement
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
At least seven faith leaders arrested at Broadview ICE facility protest
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Appeal of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious Organizations to the people of Ukraine and state authorities
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
DESS authorizes list of religious organizations in Ukraine affiliated with Russian Orthodox Church
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Review of public order and hate crime legislation
(Home Office and The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP, GOV.UK)
Interdisciplinary think tank on religious diversity and globalisation conference
(The European Times)
Islamic soft power: Malaysia well-positioned to consolidate global leadership on halal branding and governance – Analysis
(Syaza Shukri, Eurasia Review)
Cash reward offered for reporting ‘conversions’ in India's Punjab
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)
US 'border czar' Tom Homan calls US bishops 'wrong' after immigration statement
(Kate Scanlon, National Catholic Reporter)
WCC sees fruits of HIV treatment work in Bolivia
(World Council of Churches)
Annual Article 17 TFEU EU-Churches meeting: COMECE urges stronger action to tackle religious discrimination and protect freedom of religion in the EU
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Sudan: Briefing: Attacks on places of worship
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Supreme Court won’t review loudspeaker prayers at state football championship
(Kelsey Reichmann, Courthouse News Service)
Polish official who removed cross from public office acquitted of insulting religious sentiment
(Notes from Poland)
Minister to ban religious symbols for law enforcement after State Council criticism
(NL Times)
Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest November 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Infiltration of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Bible studies by Russian FSB spies
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)
Sunday, 16 November 2025
Appeal for the future of listed churches in Germany (German)
(Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland)
Friday, 14 November 2025
Liberal and post-liberal religious freedom in church employment: An appraisal of the Strasbourg Court’s case law
(Matteo Corsalini, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
EVENT, 14 November 2025: 2025 Louisiana Religious Freedom Summit (Baton Rouge, LA, USA)
(Religious Freedom Alliance Council)
Red Week 2025: A global cry for religious freedom
(Aid to the Church in Need)
US bishops officially ban gender-affirming care at Catholic hospitals
(Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press)
Who’s accountable when religious freedom is violated?
(William C. Duncan, Sutherland Institute)
Maine Supreme Court weighs case on religious freedom, parental rights
(Pearl Small, News Center Maine)
New Hampshire: Judge rules against religious freedom claims in land use lawsuit against Weare officials
(Paul Feely, New Hampshire Union Leader)
Fifth Ministerial to advance international religious freedom convenes in Prague
(Persecution.org)
Strengthening coalitions for action on freedom of religion or belief: UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief speech, November 2025
(David Smith, GOV.UK)
British university bars academic who repeated antisemitic libels in lecture to pro-Palestinian student group
(Philissa Cramer, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Weddings law reform: humanist weddings and cohabitation
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Jewish and Muslim peers raise concerns about late Friday debates in the Lords
(Lee Harpin, Jewish News)
Trump’s new ambassador Guilfoyle visits head of Greece’s Orthodox Church
(Associated Press)
Israeli settlers torch a mosque and scrawl hateful messages despite official condemnation
(Aref Tufaha and Julia Frankel, Associated Press)
New executive order on foster care system includes focus on religious concerns
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
In Tanzania, faith leaders who speak out against post-election violence are targeted
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Methodist pastors march into courtroom to support 'boring suburban dad' indicted for protesting
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)
Pakistan: Why Hindus want a temple in Islamabad (video)
(Ali Kaifee, Deutsche Welle)
Occupiers follow population replacement policy in Crimea: pro-Russian rabbi calls on Jews to move to Sevastopol
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Kazakhstan: Prosecutors stall criminal investigation into police torture of Jehovah's Witness
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)
Archbishop raises concern over religious freedom in Bangladesh
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
In Bangladesh, intra-Muslim conflict results in death and destroyed shrines
(Ashad Rahamad, Religion Unplugged)
G20 Inequality Report: Our common ethics calls to confront inequality as an emergency
(Katherine Marshall, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)
End times for lawsuit against end times preacher
(Eugene Volokh, The Volokh Conspiracy)
WCC meets with UN Refugee Agency to discuss work related to statelessness
(World Council of Churches)
Czechia: International Religious Freedom Roundtable in Prague: discrimination cases raised
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Czechia: Pluralism under pressure: How hate speech silences believers
(Hans Noot, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
Putin honours Protestant leaders with unity award
(William Immink, Christian Network Europe)
Despite government promises, ‘Total Peace’ remains elusive in Colombia today
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Over 16K police to be deployed for anti-corruption protests on Nov 14
(The Manila Times)
Catholic parents and preschools ask Supreme Court for equal treatment
(Becket)
Prayer Breakfast participants call for release of imprisoned clergy in Armenia
(Asbarez)
If the U.S. had 100 people: Charting Americans’ religious affiliations
(Becka A. Alper and Aleksandra Sandstrom, Pew Research Center)
Drop in U.S. religiosity among largest in world
(Benedict Vigers and Julie Ray, Gallup)
US decline in religion among biggest in world
(Jordan King, Newsweek)
Thursday, 13 November 2025
EVENT, 11–13 November 2025: Social Cohesion in Changing Climates: Fostering Inclusive Paths to Equity in Europe (Geneva, Switzerland)
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
VIRTUAL EVENT, 13 November 2025: Religious Freedom in Syria's Post-Assad Transition
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
HYBRID EVENT, 13 November 2025: Muslims, Latter-day Saints and Our Democratic Faith
(Arizona State University)
Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Women riding the streets of Tehran on motorbikes is the latest sign of Iran’s societal change
(Mehdi Fattahi, Associated Press)
Deaton, Deenen, and integrity and role of Catholic Social Teaching
(Ingeborg G. Gabriel, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)
EVENT, 12 November 2025: State Limits on Religious Freedom and Expression (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
(Woolf Institute)
Indonesia, global model for cross-cultural religious literacy
(Dika Dean Ananda, RRI Voice of Indonesia)
Meet chatbot Jesus: Churches tap AI to save souls — and time
(Russell Contreras and Isaac Avilucea, Axios)
As violence rages on, Nigeria’s Christians and Muslims find unity through soccer
(Nathaniel Bivan, Religion Unplugged)
5 facts about religion in Nigeria
(Conrad Hackett, Pew Research Center)
Mexico: MORENA party pushes for law to restrict freedom of expression of Catholic clergy
(Jorge Enrique Mújica, Zenit)
It is a mistake to bring Syria into the anti-Islamic State global coalition now
(Sirwan Kajjo, Middle East Forum)
States are pushing for more scrutiny of antisemitism in schools
(Carolyn Thompson and Michael Casey, Associated Press)
Vatican investigates Swiss Guard after allegations of an antisemitic incident in St. Peter’s Square
(Giada Zampano, Associated Press)
Articles of interest - 10 November 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Conflict at the drugstore: When pharmacists’ and patients’ values collide
(Elizabeth Chiarello, Conversation)
Bishops publicly lament Trump deportation policies after pope urges stronger voice
(Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)
Between success and suspicion: In US and Germany, Muslims meet the moment
(Ken Chitwood, Religion News Service)
'I was not the right kind of Jew,' says US Jewish teen deported from Israel
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)
Cornell inks $60M deal with Trump administration to resolve antisemitism claims
(Andrew Lapin, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Muslim fusionism
(Jacob Williams, Law & Liberty)
Lavrov reiterates the narrative about the 'persecution of the canonical UOC-MP'
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
SBU: 208 criminal proceedings initiated against UOC MP clergymen since 2022
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))
Russia: Exiled Orthodox journalist facing criminal charges added to Wanted List
(Felix Corley and Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)
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