Law and Religion Headlines

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Friday, 11 October 2024

Taiwanese flock to China religious festival despite tensions
(Laurie Chen and Xiaoyu Yin, Reuters)

India slams Bangladesh for 'systematic desecration' after firebomb thrown at temple
(Hindustan Times)

Israel: Supreme Court orders Tel Aviv to allow public Yom Kippur prayers with gender partition
(Jeremy Sharon, The Times of Israel)

OSCE-Kyrgyzstan: A controversial new religious legislation
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

RFI joins religious freedom experts to warn of growing intolerance towards traditional religious beliefs in the West
(Religious Freedom Institute)

South Africa: Coalition of religious leaders hold key meeting with minister of basic education
(Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA))

Nigeria: Toll-free hotline for reporting of religious freedom violations launched in Taraba
(Great Ozozoyin, Daily Post)

The Origins of Church Autonomy: Religious Liberty After Disestablishment
(Lael Daniel Weinberger, SSRN)

Thursday, 10 October 2024

EVENT, 10 October 2024: International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief (Berlin, Germany)
(German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance)

EVENT, 10 October 2024 (3:30PM MT): Can War Be Just? Religious and Ethical Responses to the Wars in Gaza and Ukraine (Tempe, Arizona)
(Arizona State University)

Wednesday, 9 October 2024

Kenya: Ruto: 'We stand firm on religious freedom' in face of proposed church regulations
(David Njaaga, Standard Media)

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

Mozambique: Catholic bishops call for transparency and fairness ahead October 9 elections
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)

Nigeria: Governor Abiodun again promises promotion of religious harmony
(Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation)

At OSCE, Archon Sisson explains how Turkey’s hostility to religious minorities provides an opportunity for Russia to expand its imperialism and asphyxiation of religious freedom
(Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate)

OSCE-Norway: Declassification and discrimination of Jehovah’s Witnesses (EN/ Norwegian)
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Freedom of religion or belief: UK statement to the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, 2024
(Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and UK Delegation to the OSCE, GOV.UK)

MI5 chief: UK facing growing threat from Islamic State, Russia and Iran
(Dan Sabbagh, The Guardian)

Catholic educators in Oklahoma challenge state AG’s hostility to religious schools
(University of Notre Dame Law School)

EEOC sues logic staffing for religious discrimination and retaliation
(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)

Evangelical church in Rome, deemed a “shop” by authorities, appeals to top human rights court – Italian state demands 50,000€
(ADF International)

Viewing abortion rights through the lens of religious liberty is revealing (opinion)
(Andrew Koppelman, The Hill)

Israel: 'A duty of the highest order': Top religious Zionist rabbis tell gov't to push for hostage deal
(Aaron Reich, The Jerusalem Post)

Interreligious vigil in Geneva marks a year of suffering
(World Council of Churches)

Israel closes Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim to allow settler celebrations
(Middle East Monitor)

Kazakhstan: Global religious leaders convene in Astana to discuss conflict resolution
(Aibarshyn Akhmetkali, Astana Times)

EVENT, 9 October 2024 (4PM CEST): Ministerial side event: FoRB and Tolerance for Tradition: The Challenge for the Pluralistic West (Berlin, Germany)
(Religious Freedom Institute, Embassy of Hungary)

Nazi-looted Monet artwork returned to family generations later
(Jack Brook, Associated Press)

Colorado’s Supreme Court dismisses suit against baker who wouldn’t make a cake for transgender woman
(Matthew Brown, Associated Press)

7th Day Adventists sue Maryland over narrow interpretation of Fair Employment Practices Act exemption
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

Tennessee county sued by woman who was required to remove hijab for booking photo
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

What makes anti-Zionist antisemitism different
(Mark Silk, RNS Column: Spiritual Politics)

Fiji: Archbishop in Fiji says Pacific island nation is free, but not yet democratic
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Occupied Ukraine: Orthodox priest handed 3-year restricted freedom sentence
(Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service)

Dr. Nazila Ghanea addressed to the Faith and Freedom Summit IV
(The European Times)

The Muslim family law reform: Exploring cross-national and historical differences
(Yüksel Sezgin, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)

7 religious charities helping with hurricane recovery efforts
(Clemente Lisi, Religion Unplugged)

Latin American community leaders in dialogue with the EU at COMECE
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

OSCE-Pakistan: Why shouldn’t the Ahmadi Muslim asylum-seekers be deported?
(Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Video: Why are religious parents fighting Montgomery County School Board’s opt-out policy?
(YouTube Video, Becket)

Vietnam: Freedom of belief, religion in Vietnam guaranteed in both law and practice
(Voice of Vietnam)

Malaysia: Competing sectarianisms in Malaysia
(Aizat Shamsuddin, The Diplomat)

Indonesia: Will Prabowo’s election end Indonesia’s era reformasi?
(Paul Marshall, The Diplomat)

Commemoration of the victims of the Hamas attack attended by religious, political leaders (German)
(Hamburg Parliament)

Classic video (2016): The mutating virus: Understanding antisemitism
(YouTube Video, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks)

A Christian baker wouldn’t make a gender transition cake. The Colorado Supreme Court just ruled in his favor
(Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)

Tuesday, 8 October 2024

Texas judicial conduct commission withdraws reprimand of judge who refused to perform same-sex weddings
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

31st Annual International Law and Religion Symposium, 6-8 October 2024: Religious Freedom as a Tool for Peacemaking (Provo, Utah, USA)
(International Center for Law and Religion Studies (ICLRS), Brigham Young University)

Monday, 7 October 2024

Statement from President Joe Biden marking one year since the October 7th attack
(The White House)

Warsaw Human Dimension Conference I Plenary Session 7: Fundamental Freedoms II
(Michael G. Kozak, U.S. Mission to the OSCE)

Statement by President von der Leyen on the one-year anniversary of the 7 October 2023 acts of terror against Israel
(European Commission)

How the world is marking Oct. 7 attack on Israel, start of Gaza war
(Reuters)

Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the workplace, new study
(Religious Freedom & Business Foundation)

What American history can teach us about religious freedom and democracy
(Corey D. B. Walker, Religion Unplugged)

CEC reaffirms solidarity with the Middle East churches amidst regional conflict
(Conference of European Churches)

Belief, Dialogue and Security — Fostering dialogue and joint action across religious and belief boundaries
(Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)

Around the web - 7 October 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)

Taiwan calls out China's systematic 'religious suppression' following USCIRF findings
(ANI)

Japan: UNHRC – Geneva: New report – Religious persecution in Japan
(Forum for Religious Freedom Europe)

Australia: The price of free speech skyrockets in Queensland, Australia
(Amy Lewis, World)

Archbishop: We must speak out and defend our persecuted brothers and sisters
(Amy Balog, Independent Catholic News)

£7 million to tackle antisemitism in education confirmed
(Department for Education and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, GOV.UK)

Defaced mural of Oct. 7 survivor another example of rising antisemitism in Italy
(Associated Press)

A faith is on the edge of vanishing in Georgia after being exiled from Russia centuries ago
(Kostya Manenkov, Associated Press)

Articles of interest - 7 October 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)

An urgent call for climate action
(Mary Robinson, G20 Interfaith Forum Blog)

Lithuania: Conscientious objection to military service
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Argentina-France: Religious minorities in the eye of media cyclones: From BAYS to MISA
(Willy Fautré, Bitter Winter)

Kenya: Religious leaders urge unity and dialogue as deputy president’s impeachment reaches public participation stage amid presidential feud
(Wesley Omondi, Catholic Information Service for Africa)

Six years in prison instead of a suspended sentence: Appeal in Crimea changes the 'too lenient' sentence for two Jehovah's Witnesses
(Jehovah's Witnesses)

Supreme Court asked to consider Oklahoma religious charter school’s case
(Zach Schonfeld and Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill)

Brazil: Jurist claims Christians have suffered institutional persecution (Portuguese)
(Michelli de Souza, Comunhão)

Religious freedom vs. medical deontology: bioethical solution (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)

European Court of Justice: Gender and nationality sufficient to grant Afghan women asylum
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)

Friday, 4 October 2024

Archbishop Gallagher appeals for freedom of religion and conscience
(Deborah Castellano Lubov, Vatican News)

Sen. Mike Lee says Kamala Harris poses ‘severe threat’ to religious liberty
(Brigham Tomco, Deseret News)

US judge backs Catholic employers who challenged abortion regulation
(Brendan Pierson, Reuters)

Most Hispanic Americans support abortion access: AP-NORC poll
(Giovanna Dell'Orto, Amelia Thomson-Deveaux, Luis Andres Henao, and David Crary, Associated Press)

Two tales from one city show the challenges Pope Francis faces to retain his flock in Europe
(Raf Casert, Associated Press)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rules in favor of prison minister barred from county jail
(Elyse Paul, University of Notre Dame Law School)

Pepperdine and RFI announce partnership to advance religious freedom globally
(Religious Freedom Institute)

Jordan: Calling it 'religious duty,' Jordanians boycott products from Israel-allied countries
(Heather M. Surls, Religion News Service)

Federal asylum restrictions demonstrate ‘absence of moral compass,’ advocate says
(John Lavenburg, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

Uganda: Church-linked groups are helping South Sudanese refugees live like locals in Uganda
(Tonny Onyulo, Religion News Service)

Lavrov wants Trump to “repeal” the law on the Ukrainian language and the ban on the ROC
(Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU))

Russia: Religious issues and persecution – Bimonthly digest September 16-30
(Human Rights Without Frontiers International)

Russia: Internet censorship and freedom of religion or belief
(Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 News Service)

Law Commission consultation on burial and cremation law
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)

Calls to appoint religious-freedom envoy soon
(Abigail Frymann Rouch, Church Times)

The Rule of Law in the Islamic Republic of Iran
(Edited by Hadi Enayat and Mirjam Künkler, Cambridge University Press)

Seeding the peace and friendship in Yakoruda – a journey beyond cultures and religions
(Angelina Vladikova, The European Times)

Routledge Handbook of Islam in Africa
(Edited By Terje Østebø, Routledge)

Egypt's Mufti stresses human dialogue as path to global peace
(State Information Service)

A heartfelt appeal for peace in the Holy Land and all the Middle East
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))

North Korea: We cannot look away
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)

UCLA still denies responsibility for excluding Jews during encampments
(Ryan Colby, Becket Law)

Georgia signs into law bill seen by EU as anti-LGBTQ
(France 24)

Kosovo at the center of Europe's ongoing Hijab debate
(Bekim Bislimi, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty)

Religious leaders, civil society oppose Taliban’s vice and virtue law
(Palwasha L. Kakar; Mohammad Osman Tariq, The United States Institute of Peace)

Belgium, Vatican in diplomatic row over pope’s language on abortion
(Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)

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