Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 13 December 2024

Religious freedom in Europe is at risk, but the struggle is not hopeless
(Anja Hoffmann, Christian Network Europe)

Sudan: Caught between two paranoid and barbaric military forces, nowhere is safe for the people of Sudan
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

Hovenier in a farewell meeting with Theodosija, talk about religious freedom in Kosovo
(KOHA)

Hindus debate the legacy of caste in America
(Richa Karmarkar, Religion News Service)

Taiwan: Religious freedom in post-authoritarian Taiwan. 5. A failure of democracy?
(Tsai Cheng-An, Bitter Winter)

Metropolitan Epifaniy: Russian state-church system will never be a neutral observer in Ukrainian affairs
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Japan's political landscape shifts amid religious controversies
(Evrim Ağacı)

China: Religion in China: A taboo that is slowly being revealed
(FSSPX News)

The unholy alliance of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin
(The Economist)

USCIRF releases factsheet on key international religious freedom appointments for the incoming Donald J. Trump Administration
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Vietnam: USCIRF alarmed over escalating crackdown in Vietnam
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)

Ohio ministry aiding young survivors of sex trafficking sues county
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

Good News clubs sue California school district for access
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Why the religious beliefs of Trump defense pick Pete Hegseth matter
(Julie Ingersoll, The Conversation)

Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition
(U.S. Bishops’ Conference and American Jewish Committee)

Kyrgyzstan: Repressive new Religion Law passes first reading
(Felix Corley and Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Final in-person IRF Roundtable of 2024 honors IRF Ambassador, Rashad Hussain on Capitol Hill
(The European Times)

Pakistan: Why a bill on religious seminaries is Pakistan’s latest flashpoint
(Abid Hussain, Al Jazeera)

WCC reflects on “Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity” at European consultation on just peace
(World Council of Churches)

Faith communities champion evidence-based advocacy for ecosystem restoration at desertification COP16
(World Council of Churches)

Ghana Catholic Bishops condemn post-election violence
(Modern G)

European Parliament re-establishes Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief
(Juan Sanchez Gil, The European Times)

Faithful baker goes to court to protect her business
(Becket)

Switzerland eyes ban on Nazi symbols due to surge in antisemitism
(Agence France-Presse)

Could this tiny school break down the wall between church and state?
(Caleb Gayle, The New York Times)

Iran: UN experts call for strict new hijab law to be repealed
(UN News)

Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Clinic defends religious freedom through asylum
(Elyse Paul, University of Notre Dame)

Vatican officials, Palestinian president discuss Gaza's 'very serious' needs
(Joshua McElwee, Reuters)

Christians, Jews and Muslims reject the derogation of crimes against religious feelings in Spain (Spanish)
(Nicolás de Cárdenas, ACI Prensa)

Brazil: Chapters of Constitutional History: Law and Religion (part 1) (Portuguese)
(Arnaldo Sampaio de Moraes Godoy, Consultor Juridico)

Brazil: Young Brazilians win UN award for film on religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Nações Unidas Brasil)

Argentina: Interreligious meeting in Buenos Aires: the president of the bishops' conference and Rabbi Dr. Fishel Szlajen seek to create an innovative academic program on religious freedom (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)

Thursday, 12 December 2024

VIRTUAL EVENT, 12 December 2024: Intro to Interfaith Engagement
(United Religions Initiative)

WEBINAR, 12 December 2024 (12PM ET): The Geopolitics of Religion and Culture in Asia
(Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

Wednesday, 11 December 2024

David Smith MP announced as UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief
(Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Lord Collins of Highbury, GOV.UK)

Human Rights Day - 10 December
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)

Syria: Church leaders express ‘hope’ that Syrian regime will respect Christian communities
(Madalaine Elhabbal, Catholic World Report)

Syrian opposition bans forced wearing of hijab
(bne IntelliNews)

Syria: COMECE advocates for peaceful transition
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Global reforms of taxation
(YouTube Video, G20 Interfaith Forum)

Indonesian Christian province hosts major Muslim group for first time
(Herald Malaysia Online)

First military prayer breakfast was held
(Institute for Religious Freedom, Ukraine)

Ukrainian Council of Churches shares key insights during European consultation on just peace
(e, Conference of European Churches)

European churches call for renewed commitment to human rights
(Conference of European Churches)

Peru case imperils Vatican sovereignty, religious freedom, and anti-abuse efforts
(John L. Allen Jr., Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Borderline places: Reflections on religion in contemporary culture
(Fondazione Bruno Kessler)

Canada: Politicization of charitable status
(Cardus)

African Parliamentarians for change: IPPFoRB UPR workshop in Accra
(International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief)

Religious responsibilities and action for children: The Abu Dhabi Forum
(Katherine Marshall, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)

EU, National Peace Committee rally stakeholders to high-level Dialogue on Religion and Democracy
(European External Action Service)

Iran: hijab ‘treatment clinics’ echo historical use of mental illness to control women
(Daanika Kamal, The Conversation)

New set of human rights principles aims to end displacement and abuse of Indigenous people through ‘fortress conservation’
(John H. Knox, The Conversation)

Judge weighs Minnesota law that bans religious tests for colleges participating in state program
(Steve Karnowski, Associated Press)

Virginia school district respects teachers' religious freedom
(Alliance Defending Freedom)

Vatican’s keffiyeh Nativity scene raises eyebrows and then disappears — at least until Christmas Eve
(Nicole Winfield, Associated Press)

Rural resurrection: A Greek village leans into faith in fight against demographic collapse
(Derek Gatopoulos and Thanassis Stavrakis, Associated Press)

Australia: Vandals burn a car and spray graffiti in latest antisemitic attack in Australia
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

Australia: The Melbourne synagogue fire is being treated as a terror attack. Here’s why that matters
(Greg Barton, The Conversation)

Hundreds protest in New Delhi against reported attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
(Associated Press)

2nd Circuit: Lawyers have standing to challenge bar rule that limits comments on transgender and religious subject matter
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Indigenous leaders bring first case under Texas' COVID-19-era religious liberty measure
(BeLynn Buckley, Religion News Service)

Kenya: Breaking with tradition, Kenyan church leaders refuse politicians’ cash donations
(Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service)

Kenya: Church groups increasingly vocal in Kenya, as Council of Churches warns politicians: 'Culture of lies and corruption must stop'
(Christian Daily)

Kenya: Court orders Oshwal Academy to allow Muslim students to pray in school
(Sam Kiplagat, Nation)

Vandals graffiti San Francisco Hillel with slogan evoking ancient battle between Muslims and Jews
(Asaf Elia-Shalev, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

U.S. imposes trade restrictions on two Chinese firms over human rights
(Reuters)

Louisiana defends Ten Commandments in federal appeals court
(Becket)

The Supreme Court’s internal battle over gender-related laws
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

Supreme Court hears arguments on transgender rights as cultural battles multiply
(Steve Rabey, Baptist News Global)

Tuesday, 10 December 2024

HYBRID EVENT, 10 December 2024 (10AM in Rio de Janeiro): Autonomia constitucional do Direito Religioso (Portuguese)
(Instituto dos Advogados Brasileiros)

Monday, 9 December 2024

Syria: Solidarity and support for the Syrian people in their pursuit of security, stability, and dignity
(Muslim World League)

Syria: Who is Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the Islamist rebel leading the Syrian advance?
(Adam Taylor, The Washington Post)

Syria: US pounds ISIS camps in Syria after Assad flees
(Jack Detsch, Paul McLeary and Joe Gould, Politico)

MPs agree to register cultural, religious values of immigrants
(Dutch News)

Pope Francis, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán talk Ukraine and family policies
(Almudena Martínez-Bordiú, Catholic News Agency)

Foreign Minister calls for action against persecution of Christians in the Middle East
(HungaryToday)

Religious freedom awards 2024: A tribute to coexistence and human dignity
(The European Times)

China: Human rights lawyers and religious leaders decry systematic accusations of 'fraud' against unregistered churches
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)

Iran’s Catholic archbishop admits churches ‘closed to almost everyone’
(Article 18)

Thessaloniki breaks ground on new Holocaust museum
(Larry Luxner, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Israeli diplomat: "I don't see Nazism and anti-Semitism in Ukraine"
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Uzbekistan: Demands to reopen, not demolish, church and mosque
(Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service)

Addressing anti-Christian hatred: COMECE’s call for an EU coordinator gains momentum
(Juan Sanchez Gil, The European Times)

Summary of global summit of religious leaders
(JoAnne Wadsworth, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

South Korea: Churches in South Korea condemn declaration of martial law
(World Council of Churches)

COMECE at the European Parliament: “Time is mature for the appointment of an EU Coordinator on combating anti-Christian hatred”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

Haiti gang kills 110 people accused of witchcraft
(Vanessa Buschschlüter, BBC)

Australian synagogue fire declared terrorism in a decision that increases investigation resources
(Rod McGuirk, Associated Press)

Giant statue of the Buddha in New Jersey becomes interfaith hub and spiritual home for many
(Luis Andres Henao, Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 9 December 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Street preacher who refused to leave restricted area around Kentucky Derby loses challenges to his arrest
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Nicaragua: Religious sisters face government pressure to leave Nicaragua
(Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar)

Canada: Praying in public? Pas au Québec
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Law and religion roundup – 8th December
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Anti-Jewish hatred has become normal in Britain. We need decisive action
(Karen Pollock, The Telegraph)

Faith leaders call on Biden to commute federal death row sentences before Trump takes office
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)

Pakistan interfaith group urges dialogue in latest blasphemy row
(Union of Catholic Asian News)

Religious parents & schools take state to court for punishing faith-based education
(Becket)

Hail Santa and Merry Satan — Satanic Temple post display at [NH] state house
(NH Journal)

India: West Bengal OBC case: Reservation can't be on basis of religion, says SC
(The Economic Times)

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