Law and Religion Headlines

---

Monday, 21 December 2020

Secular ‘values voters’ are becoming an electoral force in the US – just look closely at 2020’s results
(Phil Zuckerman, The Conversation)

Islamic militias are protecting churches in Indonesia
(Paul Marshall, Religion Unpugged)

What happened to the promise of never again?
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Abortion and infanticide: The ECLJ before the Inter-American Court
(Nicolas Bauer, European Centre for Law & Justice)

Addressing gender discrimination at work, still an important challenge for the ECtHR in Napotnik v. Romania
(Beril Önder, Strasbourg Observers)

Iraq, KRG, Turkey find common ground in response to PKK
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

How realistic are Turkey’s ambitions over strategic corridor with Azerbaijan
(Fehim Tastekin, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)

Child recruitment casts shadow over Syrian Kurds' push for global legitimacy
(Amberin Zaman, Dan Wilkofsky, Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

NYT retracts main story in hit 'Caliphate' podcast, citing failures
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

Germany and Finland repatriate children from Syria's al-Hol camp
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

German extremist convicted of murder after synagogue attack
(Geir Moulson, Associated Press)

In Georgia, Warnock brings faith and activism to the arena
(Sudhin Thanawala, Associated Press)

President in the pews: DC churches offer Biden options
(Will Weissert and Elana Schor, Associated Press)

Federal Court refuses to enjoin state COVID enforcement proceedings against church
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Federal judge declines to overturn contempt of court charge for California church
(Matthew Renda, Courthouse News Service)

Articles and books of interest - 21 December 2020
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

International Criminal Court says it cannot investigate crimes against Uyghurs in China
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Religion Unplugged)

International Criminal Court will not take further the case of the Uyghurs
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

International court declines to investigate China for Uyghur persecution
(Catholic News Agency)

US Muslims press Organization of Islamic Cooperation on China
(Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East)

China sentences multiple Christians to 3 years in prison for publishing church books
(Michael Foust, Christian Headlines)

China: Speech on behalf of HR/VP Borrell at the European Parliament on forced labour and the situation of the Uighurs in Xinjiang
(European External Action Service)

Vatican green-lights COVID vaccines, finds no ‘cooperation’ in abortion for users
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Will religious leaders fight for — or against — COVID-19 vaccinations?
(Mya Jaradat, Deseret News)

Germany: Synagogue attacker sentenced to life in prison
(Ben Knight, Deutsche Welle)

Israeli chief rabbi gives his blessing to institutions in UAE, marking new era of religious Jewish life in Dubai and beyond
(Asma Ali Zain, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Relatively light, but unjustified, sentences for Jehovah's Witnesses in south Russia
(Kavkazskii Uzel, Russia Religion News (Stetson University))

About hundred new Orthodox churches opened in Moscow
(Interfax-Religion)

Religious freedom, public health, and the limits of law
(Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Divert arms money to fight COVID-19, ensure vaccine for all, pope says
(Philip Pullella, Reuters)

New COVID-19 legislation and guidance to 26 December
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Stop press: changes to Christmas arrangements for Northern Ireland
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Law and religion round-up – 20th December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

COVID-19: Tier 4 and other restrictions announced
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Top 10 religion-news stories of 2020: Coronavirus pandemic touched almost everything
(Bobby Ross Jr., GetReligion)

Two weeks in review, 7 December – 20 December 2020
(Gail Lythgoe, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Saturday, 19 December 2020

‘A huge game-changer’: Report says more than 570,000 Uighurs forced to pick cotton
(France 24)

Friday, 18 December 2020

Uyghur forced labor in the cotton fields: Denial is futile, the evidence is here
(Ruth Ingram, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

Thousands of pastors go into hiding amid China’s rising persecution, attempts to eradicate Christianity
(Jackson Elliott, The Christian Post)

China claims there’s religious freedom in Xinjiang. Not even close.
(William Echols, Polygraph)

The coronavirus pandemic's impact on religious life
(PRRI)

In a year of pandemic and pain, women fight back
(Hillary Margolis, Human Rights Watch)

Argument: Tibet was China's first laboratory of repression
(Kelsang Dolma, Foreign Policy Argument)

DC mayor backs down following Catholic Church lawsuit, eases restrictions on churches ahead of Christmas
(Mary Margaret Olohan, The Daily Signal)

Kaifeng Jews: As Hanukkah gift from CCP, more repression
(Wang Yichi, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

Black Lives Matter and the UN Human Rights System: Reflections on the Human Rights Council Urgent Debate
(E. Tendayi Achiume, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Combatting domestic violence is dangerous work in Russia
(Yulia Gorbunova, Human Rights Watch)

Azerbaijan: Attack on church possible war crime
(Human Rights Watch)

Romanian court slams law banning discussion of gender in education
(Cristian González Cabrera, Human Rights Watch)

DC Archdiocese seeks liberalized capacity rules for its churches
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Facing lawsuit over restrictions on Christmas services, D.C. mayor eases coronavirus rules
(Julie Zauzmer and Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post)

VP Pence hosts pro-life event at White House complex
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Life is Winning Event
(The White House)

Supreme Court, 7-2, refuses to reinstate injunction against Kentucky school closing order
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Citing imminent expiration, justices reject Christian school’s request for exemption from Kentucky’s in-person school closures
(Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog)

Check on UK Government progress toward meeting its international human rights obligations
(Equality and Human Rights Commission)

Pakistani court acquits Christian imprisoned for blasphemy
(Ken Camp, Baptist Standard)

USCIRF condemns Boko Haram attacks and threats against Christians
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Bahrain country update
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Christmas holiday bus attacks in Kenya bring condemnation from Christian and Muslim leaders
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)

Biden laces Electoral College victory speech with Scripture and Prayer of St. Francis
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says Biden will need to ‘rebuild trust’ with Palestinians
(Claire Giangravé, Religion News Service)

In a rare move, Catholic nuns set out to build a new monastery
(Katelyn Ferral, Religion News Service)

17 Christian groups ask Biden to change US policy in the Holy Land
(Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post)

Most common religious identity among young adults is 'none;' belief in God not necessary for morality: study
(Leah MarieAnn Klett, The Christian Post)

Biden's OMB nominee heads think tank with history of anti-religious freedom advocacy
(Kevin J. Jones, Catholic News Agency)

Pope Francis to take part in Netflix series on perspectives of the elderly
(Catholic News Agency)

Pope Francis: Hundreds of millions of children ‘left behind’ amid pandemic
(Catholic News Agency)

Islamic State continues to pose threat in Syrian desert
(Sultan al-Kanj, Al-Monitor: Syria Pulse)

Me Too movement rattles Turkey’s literary world
(Nazlan Ertan, Al-Monitor: Turkey Pulse)

Atheist organization robs kids of Christmas joy
(Becket: Press Release)

Athens' first-ever mosque is closely guarded
(La Croix International)

Church Reporter, Vol 5, 17 December 2020 - Newsletter for the English speaking members and friends of the Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro
(Jiří Rajmund Tretera and Záboj Horák, eds., Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro)

Church Reporter, Vol 5, 21 October 2020 - Newsletter for the English speaking members and friends of the Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro
(Jiří Rajmund Tretera and Záboj Horák, eds., Church Law Society Prague – Brno – Olomouc – Stříbro)

Guðmundur Andri Ástráðsson: the right to a tribunal established by law expanded to the appointment of judges
(Mathieu Leloup, Strasbourg Observers)

The Convention and the ECHR Blog in 2020
(Antoine Buyse and Kushtrim Istrefi, ECHR Blog)

Bowser eases limits on DC religious gatherings after Catholic Church lawsuit
(Luke Garrett, WTOP News)

To herald a new era, global religious leaders from all faith institutions and traditions, call for a vaccine for all
(Religions for Peace)

In the year of the pandemic, counting down the top 10 religion stories of 2020
(Bobby Ross Jr., Religion Unplugged)

Nigeria school attack: Hundreds of boys return home after kidnap ordeal
(BBC News)

Kankara students’ release show God’s faithfulness to Nigeria, Buhari – Interfaith group
(Vanguard Nigeria)

After 100,000 assassinations, an urgent call for religious freedom in Nigeria
(Msgr. Obiora Ike, Bitter Winter: A Magazine on Religious Liberty and Human Rights in China)

Nigerian Christians facing 'calculated genocide,' Catholic bishop tells Congress
(Matt Hadro, Catholic News Agency)

Nigeria one of the most dangerous countries for Christians
(ADF International)

U.S. Human Rights Commission calls Nigerian violence 'genocide' and a violator of religious freedom
(Jillian Cheney, Religion Unplugged)

Justice Department defends health care workers from being forced to perform abortions with Vermont lawsuit
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Suit by fired parish office manager dismissed on Ecclesiastical Abstention grounds
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Photos of the Week: Nativities, Boko Haram kidnaps schoolboys
(Kit Doyle, Religion News Service)

ECJ ruling to uphold ban on kosher, halal slaughter a disastrous decision
(Christoph Strack, Deutsche Welle Opinion)

European Court upholds Flemish restrictions on halal and kosher slaughter
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

EU states can ban kosher and halal ritual slaughter, court rules
(Arthur Neslen, Politico)

Ban on ritual animal slaughter upheld by EU high court
(Molly Quell, Courthouse News Service)

In order to promote animal welfare in the contextof ritual slaughter, Member States may, without infringing the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter, require a reversible stunning procedure which cannot result in the animal’s death (PDF)
(Court of Justice of the European Union)

EU states can require stunning before ritual slaughter
(Associated Press)

After turbulent 2020, faith in America faces more big issues
(David Crary and Elana Schor, Associated Press)

Egyptian court acquits men accused of abusing Coptic woman
(Associated Press)

Final joint rule from nine federal agencies removes critical religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of government services
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

COVID’s toll on the Orthodox Christian Church
(George E. Demacopoulos, Commonweal)

Iraqi parliament formally declares Christmas a national holiday
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Italy: Catholic Church distributes $1.2 billion from annual tax fund
(Junno Arocho Esteves, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Search

Go!

Filter by Category

Events

International

Europe

United States

Filter by Topic

Abuse Adoption Blasphemy / Offense to Religion Children and Youth Church-State Relations Citizenship Constitutional Space COVID-19 COVID-19 Resources Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (abortion case) Ecclesiastical Abstention Education Environment Espinoza v. Montana (SCOTUS school funding case) Eugenics Extremism Family Law Freedom of Expression Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Fulton v. Philadelphia (faith-based adoption agencies and same-sex couples) G20 Interfaith Forum Gender Genocide George Floyd Health and Wellbeing Human Dignity Human Fraternity ICLRS Symposium Identity Interfaith Dialogue Jewish Law June Medical Services (SCOTUS abortion case) Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania Our Lady of Guadalupe School (SCOTUS ministerial exception case) Politics Poverty Property Race Religious Food Practices Religious Freedom Religious Holidays Religious Literacy Rule of Law Russia's Extremism Laws Slavery Social Service Spirituality Technology, Innovation, Infrastructure The Economy Ukrainian Autocephaly Violence Women / Equality Abortion Accreditation Activism Advocate Health Care Network v. Stapleton Affordable Care Act/HHS Mandate Al-Qaeda Annual International Law and Religion Symposium Anti-Christian Sentiment Anti-Islam Film Anti-Muslim Sentiment Anti-Semitism Apartheid Apostasy Articles & Speeches Asylum Australia Same-Sex Marriage Vote Bakery cases Billy Graham Blaine Amendments Boko Haram Bostock v. Clayton County (LGBT employment rights case) Boy Scouts Braidwood v. Becerra (Affordable Care Act) Brexit Calls for Papers / Contests Canada's Office of Religious Freedom Censorship Charlie Gard Case Charlie Hebdo Circumcision Climate Change Conscientious Objection Copenhagen Declaration (2018) Counter-terrorism Death Penalty Defamation Definition of Religion or Belief Democracy Derogation Desecration Discrimination Dissent ECHR/ECtHR ENDA ERISA Ethics Ethnic Cleansing EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief European Court of Justice Euthanasia/Assisted Dying Events Eweida and Others Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Faith Based Law Schools Family FIDELA First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) Franciscan Alliance v. Burwell (Texas Transgender Mandate Case) Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Movement Globalism Gloucester County School Board ("Transgender Bathroom case") Government Funding of Religion Government Obligations Ground Zero Cross Hate Crimes Hate Speech Headscarf / Veil / Burqa HHS Transgender Mandate Hobby Lobby case Holt v. Hobbs Honor Killing Human Genomics Debate Human Rights Human Trafficking Humanitarian Aid Immigration Inequality Inhumane Treatment Interfaith International Law ISIS / ISIL / Daesh / "Islamic State" Jehovah's Witnesses v. Wall (Canada) Jerusalem passports case Jurisdiction Justice Scalia Kelley v. Becerra (Affordable Care Act) Kentucky Clerk Case Lee v. Tam (trademark case) Legislation & Religion LGBTQi+ issues Magna Carta Malaysia Allah Case Margin of Appreciation Marrakesh Declaration Marriage / Divorce / Civil Union Masterpiece Cakeshop Case Mexico Massacre Middle East Migration Military Ministerial Exception Minorities Missionary/Proselytism Mt. Soledad Cross Multiculturalism Narratives Neutrality New Religious Movements Newsletter NIFLA v. Becerra (compelled-speech case) Oaths of Allegiance Obergefell v. Hodges Orlando Massacre Pan-Orthodox Council Parental Rights Parliament of the World's Religions Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Peacebuilding Pluralism Politics & Religion Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Pornography Prejudice Prisoner Free Exercise Prisoners Privacy Private and Family Life Proselytism / Evangelism Public Cross Cases Public Morals Public Prayer Publications Pussy Riot case Quebec Charter Plan Radicalization Refoulement Refugee/Migrant Crisis Registration Religion & Culture Religion & Government Religion in the Public Sphere Religious Accommodation Religious Autonomy Religious Clergy Religious Clothing Religious Conversion Religious Demographics Religious Demonstration Religious Diversity Religious Exemption Religious Free Exercise Religious Freedom & Business Religious Harmony Religious Hatred Religious Hostilities Religious Incitement Religious Intolerance Religious Oppression Religious Persecution Religious Registration Religious Symbols Religious Tolerance Reparations Restrictions on Religion RFAR RFRA Right to Effecitve Remedy Right to Fair Hearing Right to Life RLUIPA Roe v. Wade Romney Sacred Spaces Same-sex unions Secularism Security Social Justice Social Media Sovereignty Sterling v. United States (RFRA) Stormans v. Weisman (Pharmacists' Case) Surrogacy Sustainable Development Syria Tax / Finance and Religion Terrorism The Vatican Third-party intervention Title IX Torture or inhuman treatment Travel Ban Treaties Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer Trinity Western University Ukraine UN Human Rights Council UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief US Constitution US State Department Religious Freedom Reports USCIRF Utah Compromise Victims War Crimes Wedding vendor cases Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt (Texas abortion case) Workplace / Employment Zubik v. Burwell ("Little Sisters of the Poor")

Filter by Country

Afghanistan African Union Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Council of Europe Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia European Union Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao PDR Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherland Antilles Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan (Republic of China) Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Tibet Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Türkiye Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine Union of Soviet Socialist Republics United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Nations United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe