Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 15 March 2021
Iranian government orders teachers to identify children of persecuted Baha'i minority
(Verity Bowman, The Telegraph)
Statement of Baha’i International Community on persecution in Iran
(Weekly Blitz)
Iran: Leaked document reveals plans to intensify suppression of Baha’is and other religious minorities
(International Federation for Human Rights)
New pressure on Baha'is in Iran revealed
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Exposed: Sinister plan by Iranian authorities to monitor and suppress Baha’is
(Bahai International Community)
South Africa: state institution created to protect religious communities
(Paul Hoffman, Daily Maverick)
Lamu Muslims say curfew extension will hamper Ramadhan
(Cheti Praxides, The Star Kenya)
How the provisions of the civil marriage law are failing interfaith couples
(Shreeti Shubham, Feminism India)
Supreme Court refuses to entertain habeas corpus plea seeking protection of girl in an interfaith relationship allegedly detained by her parents
(Srishti Ojha, Livelaw.in)
Does President Biden need Catholic 'safe spaces' to practice his faith?
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)
Conversion for marriage-"Can't exercise judicial power just because no law in place, but can examine validity of law if enacted.": Calcutta High Court
(Sparsh Upadhyay, Livelaw.in)
International conference on interfaith dialogue kicks off in Cairo
(Egypt Today)
Muslim woman didn't convert to Hinduism before marrying Hindu man, marriage not valid but couple entitled to live-in-relation: P&H High Court
(Sparsh Upadhyay, Livelaw.in)
Two years on from the Christchurch terror attack, how much has really changed?
(Alexander Gillespie, The Conversation)
Graffiti, arson, death threats: new research finds widespread violence against Australian mosques
(Scott Poynting, Derya Iner, Gail Mason, Nicole L. Asquith, and Ron Mason, The Conversation)
Assessing the Catholicity of a president
(Richard A. Rosengarten, Sightings: The Martin Marty Center, University of Chicago Divinity School)
Backlash against Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is real and risky – here’s how to make its rollout a success
(Tinglong Dai, Christopher S. Tang, and Ho-Yin Mak, The Conversation)
Pandemics, procedure and participation: Hybrid hearings in the Mauritius/Maldives maritime boundary dispute
(Arron N. Honniball, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Prosecutors behaving badly: Revisiting the operational duty to protect trafficked persons in V.C.L. and A.N. v. the United Kingdom
(John Trajer, Strasbourg Observers)
El Salvador’s abortion ban jails women for miscarriages and stillbirths – now one woman’s family seeks international justice
(Juliet S. Sorensen, Alexandra Tarzikhan, and Meredith Heim, The Conversation)
“Freedom, I dream of freedom”: Freedom of religion or belief in Cuba
(Yusleysi Gil Mauricio, FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Denmark’s provincial bias against foreign religious languages
(Matthew P. Cavedon, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Myanmar’s ‘darkest moment’: death toll rises sharply as junta's crackdown continues
(The Guardian)
Critical race theory’s anti-Semitism problem
(Ellie Krasne, The Daily Signal - Commentary)
Mississippi bans transgender students from women's sports
(The Daily Signal)
The FAQs: How Biden’s stimulus bill affects churches and individuals
(Joe Carter, The Gospel Coalition)
How will COVID permanently change churches?
(Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, The Gospel Coalition)
Painful issue of SBC culture – is the word 'Southern' more important than 'Baptist'?
(Terry Mattingly, OnReligion)
The government cannot dictate your conscience: Medical conscience rights
(Religious Freedom Institute)
Is Nigeria at risk of becoming a failed state?
(Adam Ragozzino, Geopolitical Monitor Situation Report)
WEBINAR, 15 March 2021 (11:30AM EDT): The Panorama of Religious Freedom and Practice in Cuba
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
WEBINAR, 15 March 2021 (11AM EST): Keeping Faith with the Sahel--The Role of Religious Leaders in Justice & Peace in the Sahel
(Catholic Relief Services)
WEBINAR, 15 March 2021 (14.00 GMT): Latest Developments in the Extraterritorial Application of Human Rights Law
(Lea Raible, Aurel Sari, Ralph Wilde, Shaheed Fatima, British Institute of International and Comparative Law)
WEBINAR, 15 March 2021 (12PM EDT): The Pope's Visit to Iraq: An Historic Juncture
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Texas Human Rights Act bars LGBT discrimination
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Texas appeals court ruling ensures state-level protections for LGBTQ employees
(Human Rights Campaign)
Swiss airline settles suit by female passenger pressured to move seats
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Easyjet settles with woman who was “forced” to move seat to accommodate religious passengers
(Matthew Klint, Live and Let's Fly)
Articles of interest - 15 March 2021
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
France to return Nazi-looted Klimt to rightful Jewish heirs
(Associated Press)
France: 25% seulement des “dérives sectaires” sont de nature religieuse, selon la MIVILUDES
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
France: Only 25% “cultic deviations” are related to religious beliefs, according to the MIVILUDES
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)
New Zealand ‘has a duty’ to support its Muslim community says PM
(Toms Dumpis, Morocco World News)
NZ Bishops pray for end to violence on anniversary of Christchurch massacre
(Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ, Vatican News)
Eight Indian Christians hospitalized after attack by Hindu mob
(Bijay Kumar Minj, Union of Catholic Asian News)
Two weeks in review, 1 – 14 March 2021
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)
Mormon leader says family donation to Biden was ‘oversight’
(Brady McCombs, Associated Press)
Concerns rise over Sri Lanka’s move to ban burqas
(Bharatha Mallawarachi, Associated Press)
Greeks fly kites for Clean Monday holiday despite pandemic
(Petros Giannakouris and Giovanna Dell'Orto, Associated Press)
Becoming the church we say we are (Birth of a Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church)
(John Gehring, Commonweal)
Italian birth rate sinks further amid pandemic
(Bernd Riegert, Deutsche Welle)
The COVID relief package includes $2.75B for private schools. Orthodox Jewish groups thank Chuck Schumer.
(Andrew Silow-Carroll, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
In Austrian anti-Semitism study, 31% of respondents made biased statements. It’s a huge improvement.
(Cnaan Liphshiz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Celebrity politicians vs. servant leadership
(Malak Shalabi, Muslim Matters)
Supreme Court's COVID-19 cases stir up battle between religion, same-sex couples over foster care
(John Fritze, USA Today)
Russian Orthodox Church concerned about EU plans to introduce Covid passports
(Interfax-Religion)
President's press secretary avoids the question whether Putin observes the Lent
(Interfax-Religion)
New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 20 March
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Kosovo becomes first Muslim nation to open Jerusalem embassy
(Michael Daventry, Jewish News)
Law and religion round-up – 14th March
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
CJ Search: Duterte’s appointees address killings, war on drugs, and church-state divide
(Carmela Fonbuena and Stanley Buenafe Gajete, The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism)
COVID-19: places of worship and the latest Welsh Regulations
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
Why American Jews should reject Israel's Law of Return
(Bernard Avishai, Haaretz Opinion)
Village of Airmont ordered to cease enforcement of zoning code that discriminates against Orthodox Jewish residents and to restore right to home worship
(Southern District of New York, U.S. Department of Justice)
Malaysia government appeals ruling on Christians using 'Allah'
(Channel News Asia)
UPDATE: Vatican says no blessing gay unions, no negative judgment on gay people
(Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service)
Vatican’s doctrinal office: Catholic Church cannot give blessings to same-sex unions
(Catholic News Agency)
Annual Fatima pilgrimage to be virtual due to pandemic
(Catholic News Agency)
Poland objects to EU declaring itself ‘LGBT freedom zone’
(Catholic News Agency)
Israeli Arabs wonder how COVID-19 will shape Ramadan 2021
(Afif Abu Much, Al-Monitor: Israel Pulse)
Algeria’s Islamist parties failing to inspire
(Anthony Skinner, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)
Erdogan’s Islamic credentials no longer a winning hand among Turkey’s Kurds
(Amberin Zaman, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)
Religious news from around the web - 15 March 2021
(World Religion News)
Vatican says Catholic Church can't bless same-sex marriage: God 'cannot bless sin’
(Emily Wood, The Christian Post)
California ‘ethnic studies’ proposal teaches kids white Christians are evil, chant to Aztec gods
(Brandon Showalter, The Christian Post)
Nearly a quarter of churchgoers plan to attend worship more regularly post-pandemic: Lifeway
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)
Nun kneels in front of police to stop Myanmar violence: 'Kill me instead'
(Leah MarieAnn Klett, The Christian Post)
The Archbishop who fears for Joe Biden’s soul
(Emma Green, The Atlantic)
Vietnamese nuns help lepers displaced by seaside project
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
At least 38 killed in Myanmar's bloodiest Sunday
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Sri Lankan Catholics step up struggle over Easter attacks
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
UN accuses Myanmar military of 'crimes against humanity'
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
UN team to visit victimized Karen Christians in Thailand
(Union of Catholic Asian News)
Thank God, Now Christians In Malaysia Can Use The Word ‘Allah’ Again: Allah, A Journey, Not A Controversy – OpEd
(Dr. Azly Rhamn, Eurasia Review)
‘Aurat March’ And Islamophobia: Debunking Myths About Muslim Women – OpEd
(Haleema Zia, Eurasia Review)
Riz Ahmed first Muslim nominated for Best Actor Oscar
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)
Across Africa, hijab in schools divides Christians and Muslims
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)
Faith leaders’ year of pandemic: grief, solace, resilience
(Luis Anders Henao, David Crary, and Mariam Fam, Religion News Service)
Chaldean Christians in the US, delighted with pope’s visit, say it comes too late
(Weam Namou, Religion News Service)
Pope Francis says priests cannot bless same-sex unions, dashing hopes of gay Catholics
(Chico Harlan and Sarah Pulliam Bailey, The Washington Post)
After Vatican says same-sex unions cannot be blessed, White House reaffirms Biden’s support for them
(Catholic News Agency)
Vatican bars gay union blessing, says God ‘can’t bless sin’
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)
LGBTQ Catholics stung by Vatican rebuff of same-sex unions
(David Crary and Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)
Pope Francis shuts down proposals to bless same-sex couples
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)
The hard edge of the Pope’s moral power: The pontiff’s Middle Eastern diplomacy may seem superficial, but it could make a huge practical impact.
(Steven A. Cook, Foreign Policy)
What Pope Francis has said about same-sex marriage and civil unions in the past
(Rick Noack and Adam Taylor, The Washington Post)
Islamophobia on the rise, according to United Nations report
(Joseph Hammond, Religion News Service)
Uyghur women are China's victims--and resistance
(Simina Mistreanu, Foreign Policy)
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