Law and Religion Headlines

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Thursday, 27 March 2025

WEBINAR, 27 March 2025 (10AM ET): Transnational Organized Crime & Religious Persecution in Latin America: An Overlooked Issue
(Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America)

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

EVENT, 26 March 2025: Renewing the Conversation - A one-day colloquium on Africa, Christianity and Human Rights (Twickenham, London, UK)
(University of Birmingham and Aid to the Church in Need (UK) with St Mary’s University)

EVENT, 26 March 2025: The UK's Approach to Classifying Acts of Genocide (London, UK)
(David Alton, Dr Ewelina U Ochab, Sara Elizabeth Dill, UK Parliamentary Group for Sudan & South Sudan)

VIRTUAL EVENT, 26 March 2025 (11AM ET): Turkmenistan’s Social Contract under Scrutiny: Ongoing Challenges and International Responses
(Central Asia Program, George Washington University)

Illinois first state to mandate availability of halal, kosher meals in schools, hospitals, prisons
(Sean Lewis and BJ Lutz, WGNTV)

Japan: Court in Japan orders the dissolution of the Unification Church
(Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press)

Japan: Court orders Unification Church demise over donations
(Yuto Yoneda, The Asahi Shimbun)

These churches offer shelter and sanctuary to vulnerable migrants. Here's why
(Patric , Sarah Ventre, NPR)

Japan: The dissolution of the Unification Church damages all religions, Japan, and its international image. All friends of religious liberty should protest a scandalous verdict.
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)

Forum: Religion’s surprising impact on academic success
(Bitsy Tullis, BYU News)

China’s religious freedom crisis escalates: Christian churches face comprehensive suppression
(Feng Reng, Bitter Winter)

USCIRF releases 2025 Annual Report
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

India terms US religious freedom report biased, calls panel 'entity of concern'
(Times of India)

The Untold Story of the Proto-Smith Era: Justice O'Connor's Papers and the Court's Free Exercise Revolution
(Stephanie H. Barclay and Matthew Krauter, SSRN)

Kentucky faith leaders urge Gov. Beshear to veto bill erecting Ten Commandments monument at state Capitol
(Don Byrd, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty)

Abortion fight won, conservative Christians mimic Dobbs tactics to go after same-sex marriage
(Jack Jenkins, Religion News Service)

Sudanese Christians pray in secret, plead for end to war and religious attacks
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service)

UK Bishop: Patients deserve access to safe healthcare, not suggestions to commit suicide
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Estonian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate wins court ruling to change its official name
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Greg Abbott gives update on Muslim 'city' project in Texas
(James Bickerton, Newsweek)

Mozambique: Strengthening intra-Muslim dialogue for peacebuilding
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Niger: Mosque attack which killed 44 should be ‘wake-up call’, says rights chief
(UN News)

Wisconsin denies the religious dimensions of charity
(Jack Fitzhenry, First Things)

Pakistani YouTuber Rajab Butt’s perfume stirs religious controversy
(South China Morning Post)

Around the world, many people are leaving their childhood religions
(Kirsten Lesage, Kelsey Jo Starr and William Miner, Pew Research Center)

Next Week: Catholic Charities at Supreme Court to defend mission to serve
(Becket)

Iran: The suffocation and slow death of the Anglican Church in Iran
(Article 18)

Kenya: "Issues of human dignity should feature as critical conversations in universities," CRECO team urges
(Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology)

Cambodia: Showing solidarity with Khmer Muslims during fasting month
(Khmer Times)

International religious freedom in the spotlight amid US political recalibration
(Catherine Putz, The Diplomat)

Georgia 'religious freedom' bill advances in State House
(Ty Tagami, Rome News Tribune)

Can states bar religious charter schools? The Supreme Court will soon decide
(Rick Hess, Education Week)

Religiosity and beliefs in medical conspiracy theories in 37 European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Piotr Jabkowski, Jan Domaradzki & Mariusz Baranowski, Nature)

An expert in religion education expected to become new president of the German parliament
(Evangelical Focus)

Church of Sweden may add same-sex marriages as job requirement
(Kathryn Idema, Christian Network Europe)

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

EVENT, 25 March 2025: 2025 Annual Report: Key Findings and Recommendations (Washington, DC, USA)
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

VIRTUAL EVENT, 25 March 2025: Facing Family Fears: Economic Uncertainty, Evolving Technology and Culture Shifts
(European Union & International Affairs Office of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Monday, 24 March 2025

A big heart open to God: Notes on the legacy of Pope Francis
(Ingeborg G. Gabriel, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

Pacifism and Non-Violence in Contemporary Islamic Philosophy: Mapping the Paths of Peace
(Tom Woerner-Powell, Cambridge University Press)

Volume 5 (2024)
(various, Australian Journal of Law and Religion)

A Documentary History of Jewish–Christian Relations: From Antiquity to the Present Day
(Edited by Edward Kessler and Neil Wenborn, Cambridge University Press)

Around the web - 24 March 2025
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

In federal suit, Illinois diocese says state ‘human rights’ law violates religious freedom
(Daniel Payne, Catholic News Agency)

Oklahoma man pleads guilty to attempting to destroy Satanic Temple in Salem with a pipe bomb
(U.S. Department of Justice)

Articles of interest - 24 March 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Kansas House condemns planned Satanic Black Mass at statehouse
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Yeshiva University drops opposition to LGBTQ+ student club
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

Chile: Church rejects opening of commercial stores on Good Friday
(Aníbal Pastor N., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Racism in Germany is the norm not the exception
(Hans Pfeifer, Deutsche Welle)

Nearly 80 bipartisan lawmakers call on Trump administration to unfreeze security funding for religious institutions
(Grace Gilson, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Interfaith iftar shares joint prayer for peace: Jewish and Muslim women come together in interfaith solidarity
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)

UK Islamophobia definition to protect right to 'insult religions'
(Imran Mulla, Middle East Eye)

Statement from The Archbishop of York (regarding assault on the Gaza Strip)
(Archbishop of York)

Law and religion roundup – 23rd March
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Burial of a baptismal font – some considerations
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)

Unprofessional conduct vs freedom of religious expression: Leger
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Can Hindus and Sikhs find peace on Khalistan?
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

Another Genocide Convention case, another conundrum for interventions
(Pranay Lekhi, EJIL: Talk! Blog of the European Journal of International Law)

Buddhism’s holiest site erupts in protests over Hindu ‘control’ of shrine
(Mohammad Sartaj Alam and Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera)

India: Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity's claims
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

India: A comedian’s jokes about an Indian state leader are being investigated as potential defamation
(Associated Press)

Khamenei: Zionist regime committing atrocious crimes, US is complicit
(The Jerusalem Post)

EU bishops to discuss Europe’s unity and its role as a global actor for peace
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

COMECE warmly welcomes Archbishop Auza’s appointment as new Apostolic Nuncio to the EU
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Georgia: Freedom of religion or belief, equality and secularity in February, a report of a Georgian NGO
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Taiwan: Military to study exemptions on religious grounds
(The Taipei Times)

Zimbabwe: Makandiwa, Magaya, Uebert Angel under fire, as government cracks down on fake prophets
(ZimEye)

Cambodia’s religious harmony is a source of pride
(Khmer Times)

Azerbaijan: The boundaries of religious freedom
(Javadbay Khalilzade, Transitions)

Bill would allow more faith-based content in batterers' intervention programs
(Margie Menzel, WFSU Public Media)

Saturday, 22 March 2025

EVENT, 22 March 2025: A Religious Freedom Symposium (Columbia, SC, USA)
(Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate)

Friday, 21 March 2025

Afghanistan: Religious freedom in Afghanistan: Three years after the Taliban takeover
(Fereshta Abbasi, Human Rights Watch)

Uzbekistan: Ramadan ban on children at mosques, fasting by National Guard officers
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Tajikistan: Authorities obstruct Ismaili commemoration of Aga Khan's death
(Felix Corley and Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Pakistan: Mass arrests of innocent Ahmadis, including young children, intensify religious persecution based on their belief
(International Human Rights Commitee)

Islamophobia has become real threat to global peace: Al-Azhar grand imam at UN
(Ahram Online)

Latin American and Caribbean faith leaders release “A Call to Action towards COP30”
(World Council of Churches)

Side event addresses Christians finding it difficult to secure legal status for services
(World Council of Churches)

WCC calls for action on climate finance, debt cancellation, and tax justice at UN Human Rights Council
(World Council of Churches)

Iran: Fact-finding mission ‘only scratched surface’ of Iran’s religious discrimination
(Article 18)

India: “Unprecedented surge” in violence against Christians in 2024
(Evangelical Focus)

India: BJP MPs seek law to undo religion-based quota, slam K'taka
(The Economic Times)

Prayer in times of war: Religious practice and collective trauma in Ukraine
(Eugenijus Liutkevičius, University of Chicago Divinity School: Sightings)

Woman who had sought protection from deportation in Colorado churches is detained, advocates say
(Colleen Slevin, Associated Press)

Open for business (no debanking)
(Jerry Bowyer, World)

EEOC enjoined from enforcing Pregnant Workers Fairness Act against Christian nonprofit organization
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Cameroon: Archbishop urges direct talks with separatist fighters
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Research: U.S. Christians more pro-Israel, less antisemitic than U.K., but concern rising
(Diana Chandler, Baptist Press)

Evangelical clergy largely reject human-caused climate change
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)

A ‘common vision’ for humanity and peace: Interview with the Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations
(Paolo Affatato, Agenzia Fides)

Justice Gorsuch's dissent in death penalty / religious objection case
(The Volokh Conspiracy)

WCC delivers statement at UN Human Rights Council on Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan
(World Council of Churches)

Norway, Jehovah’s Witnesses “fully vindicated” by appeal court
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)

COMECE assesses EC proposed ‘First Omnibus package’
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Wisconsin says Catholic Charities isn't religious - Here's why they're wrong
(YouTube Video, Becket)

Myanmar: Military sets fire to cathedral in Kachin State amid escalating attacks on Christians
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

China: Police in China’s Anhui detain 2 Christians for ‘cult’ activities
(Qian Lang, Radio Free Asia)

De-Christianizing international law: US Politics and the evangelical legacy
(Ilias Bantekas and Andrew Dahdal, Opinio Juris)

Canada: Quebec bill would extend religious symbols ban to school support workers, force students to uncover faces
(Benjamin Shingler, CBC News)

T&T: Young discusses Concordat with religious leaders
(Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)

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