Law and Religion Headlines

---

Friday, 21 February 2025

Secularism and Freedom of Religion in Italy: Religious Symbols in the Public Space
(Maria Cristina Ivaldi, Routledge)

FFRF criticizes Boise State football program for giving ‘Jesus the glory’
(Freedom From Religion Foundation)

Sudan: Christian entity petitions African Commission on Human Rights over religious, gender-based violations in Sudan
(Silas Isenjia, ACI Africa)

India: Under MP’s controversial anti-conversion law, Hindus & Jains among accused too
(Iram Siddique, The Print)

Must the Norwegian state protect the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses?
(Evert van Vlastuin, Christian Network Europe)

India: As Christian-Hindu tensions mount, Manipur’s ‘territorial integrity’ remains a risky narrative
(Vishal Arora, Religion Unplugged)

India: Kerala: Central government-funded programme inaugurated with Islamic prayers, stoking controversy
(T Satisan, Organiser)

Team Bliss stresses spiritual resiliency during National Prayer Breakfast
(U.S. Army)

Kentuckians could sue government over religious liberty violations under proposed bill
(Sylvia Goodman, Louisville Public Media)

West Virginia Senate OKs bill allowing for religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions
(Leah Willingham, Associated Press)

Judge won’t immediately block Trump administration’s abrupt halt to Catholic refugee funding
(Michael Kunzelman and Peter Smith, Associated Press)

Syrian Jews’ homecoming brings hope for reconstruction and a permanent return after decades in exile
(Omar Sanadiki and Abby Sewell, Associated Press)

Why are American evangelicals not backing their counterparts in Ukraine?
(Religion News Service)

“The Kremlin has set a new standard of cynicism in the abuse of religious freedom,” - Cyril Hovorun
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

‘Leave the UK if yeshiva changes become law’, says leading rabbi
(Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News)

Tell MAMA records the highest number of anti-Muslim hate cases in 2024 since its founding
(TellMAMA: Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks)

Charity trusteeship and the right to free speech: Mond
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Complaint filed with Boise State over ‘religious coercion’ concern in football program
(Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman)

Bangladesh: Freedom for secular thought still eludes Bangladesh, a decade after blogger’s murder
(Kamran Reza Chowdhury, Benar News)

Zimbabwe: Catholic bishops’ commission in Zimbabwe lauds President for abolishing death penalty
(ACI Africa)

International Mother Language Day: An appeal for Uyghur language by the Netherlands’ “Lonely Uyghur”
(Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur, Bitter Winter: A magazine on religious liberty and human rights)

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Australian woman charged with assaulting two Muslims
(Joel Guinto, BBC)

Australia: Explainer: New national and NSW hate crime laws
(Australian Human Rights Commission)

Sharia court adjudication: Gendered perspective
(Kyriaki Topidi, Talk About: Law and Religion - Blog of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies)

EVENT, 19 February 2025 (17:15 GMT): The new geopolitics of faith (Cambridge, UK)
(Cambridge Interfaith Programme)

EVENT, 19-21 February 2025: International Dialogue of Civilizations & Tolerance Conference - 2nd Edition (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
(The Emirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies)

27 religious groups sue Trump administration over immigration enforcement policy
(Sarah Ventre, NPR)

Utahns react to religious lawsuit against Trump admin for allowing ICE to enter churches
(Kristen McPeek, KUTV)

Catholics argue university anti-union efforts go against religious teachings
(Jack Jenkins and Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Religion News Service)

JD Vance spoke, then a TV star. A BYU professor was next and suggested a major shift in direction
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)

Sikh communities fear immigration raids at temples as Trump ends sanctuary for houses of worship
(Kimmy Yam, NBC News)

As regards religious liberty in Jamaica, "We are moving forward," leader says
(Adventist Review)

Does the U.S. need a task force on anti-Christian bias? Your questions, answered
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

JD Vance spoke, then a TV star. A BYU professor was next and suggested a major shift in direction
(Tad Walch, Deseret News)

CEC highlights role of religious communities in European peacebuilding
(Conference of European Churches)

US Catholic bishops sue Trump administration for halt in funding for refugee settlement
(Peter Smith, Associated Press)

France's interior minister promises progress for Muslims
(Sarah Belouezzane, Le Monde)

France: Hijab ban in all sports would violate human rights and target Muslim women and girls
(Amnesty International)

French lawmakers mull banning headscarves in sport. Amnesty International says it’s discriminatory
(Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press)

Italy PM Meloni visits pope in hospital, says he’s in good spirits as tests show slight improvement
(Associated Press)

Refusing to allow minister to wear collar at his criminal trial was not reversable error
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Who are Ismaili Muslims and how do their beliefs relate to the Aga Khan’s work?
(Shariq Siddiqui, The Conversation)

Somalia: The Islamic State has regrouped in Somalia — and has global ambitions
(Katharine Houreld, The Washington Post)

Vatican praises Burkina Faso for fight against terrorism
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Canada: Montreal synagogue defaced with swastika on Shabbat
(Ben Sales, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Quran burning and hate crimes: Will Sweden stumble into anti-blasphemy laws?
(Paul Marshall and Jacob Rudenstrand, Religion Unplugged)

Religious sociology, current law, and the failure in the information sphere: Notes from the Razumkov Center presentation
(Jaroslava Muzychenko, Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

On the eve of talks with the United States, Lavrov mentions the language and faith issues once again
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Uzbekistan: Torturers' impunity "is mockery not justice"
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Sofia hosts ‘Magnificent Bridges of Light’ concert to mark UN World Interfaith Harmony Week
(The European Times)

Freedom of conscience and religion in the Americas: Following OAS General Assembly resolutions to promote pluralism and strengthen communities
(Emily Cole, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

Sri Lankan Muslims seek compensation for pandemic burial ground
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

‘It’s a gut punch:’ Muslim group calls on Houston ISD to reinstate Eid al-Fitr as school holiday
(Colleen DeGuzman, Houston Public Media)

Palestine condemns Fiji's decision to open embassy to Israel in Jerusalem
(Middle East Monitor)

WCC calls for tax justice at Vatican high-level event
(World Council of Churches)

COMECE President calls for long-term peacebuilding in Syria: “Christians are an essential part of the country”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

The Church Against the State: On Subsidiarity and Sovereignty
(Andrew Willard Jones, New Polity)

Philippines: Neutrality not a Christian option in polls
(Ruben C. Mendoza, Union of Catholic Asian News)

Philippines: Religious freedom and violations of law and public order
(Antonio Contreras, The Manila Times)

2025 SCOTUS one-pager
(Becket)

Iran: Christian convert arrested, Bibles and musical instruments confiscated during IRGC raid
(Article 18)

Black churches take lead in helping the state increase health care access
(Racquel Stephen, WXXI News)

In audience with Burkina Faso’s President, Vatican Secretary of State says Holy See supports peace efforts
(Jude Atemanke, ACI Africa)

Tajikistan to publish new dress 'guidelines' for women
(AFP)

Ghana: Catholic Bishops, Christian Council decry exclusion from National Education Forum
(Ashiadey Dotse, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation)

The Islamist militant
(Rachel Chason, The Washington Post)

Secular students dismiss case against Christian groups, protect First Amendment on campus
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

Uganda: Religious freedom in Uganda excites Orthodox pope
(Issa Aliga, Monitor)

Qatar earns respect with key role in global peace
(Gulf Times)

Congolese church leaders push for peace talks between government, rebels
(Giulia Paravicini, Reuters)

Egypt: USCIRF releases report on religious freedom in Egypt
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Monday, 17 February 2025

VIRTUAL EVENT, 17-27 February 2025: IBAHRI Training for Human Rights Defenders
(International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI))

Taliban reject US report on presence of ISIS in Afghanistan
(Islamuddin Sajid, Anadolu Agency)

Peaceful Iranians arrested in Turkey for publicly manifesting their religious beliefs
(Willy Fautré, The European Times)

Faith vs rights: Cook Islands debates declaring itself a Christian nation
(Cook Islands News)

Rejected elsewhere, these LGBTQ+ Jews find love and acceptance in the Connecticut woods
(Yonat Shimron, Religion News Service)

USCIRF marks the 10th anniversary of the execution of 21 Christians in Libya
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Around the web - 17 February 2025
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Religion Watch, ‘Volume 40 No. 3’
(Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion)

Global Interfaith Monitor No. 32
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Are charter schools public schools? The question that has divided educators now has religious implications.
(Michael Avi Helfand, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Mexico: Countering violence in neighborhoods through service
(Bahá’í World News Service)

The work begins to end global blasphemy laws: An interview with Mubarak Bala
(Scott Douglas Jacobsen, The Humanist)

IGE conducts lecture series on “Faith and Resilience in Conflict” for university students and professors in Myanmar
(Institute for Global Engagement)

Deeply religious African countries (surprisingly) provide little state support to religion – unlike countries in Europe
(David Jeffery-Schwikkard, The Conversation)

The first openly gay Muslim imam is killed in South Africa, prompting claims of an assassination
(Gerald Imray, Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 17 February 2025
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Cabinet minister Reynolds hits back at Vance over religious freedom claims
(David Hughes, Yahoo News)

Mass attendance rises in the UK, though still far below pre-pandemic levels
(Catholic News Agency)

Law and religion roundup – 16th February
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

NextGen Talks: Faith in Action – Empowering youth-led interfaith initiatives
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)

Ukraine and Russia: The increased nuclear threat in these uncertain times
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Hong Kong to become Muslim-friendly city for Asean businesses, tourists: John Lee
(South China Morning Post)

Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issue humanitarian plea for Gaza
(World Council of Churches)

Jewish population in West Bank keeps rising. Settlers hope Trump will accelerate growth
(Julia Frankel, Associated Press)

Russia: Religious issues and persecution: Bimonthly Digest February 01-15
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

In first for Italy, Tuscany approves right-to-die law
(Reuters)

Anti-Catholic prejudice disappearing in Sweden, says cardinal
(Aleteia)

Amish voters for Trump? The Amish and the religion factor in Republican electoral politics
(Daniele Curci, The Conversation)

Jamaica: As regards religious liberty, “we are moving forward,” leader says
(Adventist Review)

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