Law and Religion Headlines
Friday, 15 March 2024
South Africa threatens to arrest dual nationals fighting in Israeli army
(Middle East Monitor)
Ramadan will be difficult for those in Gaza or other war zones – what does fasting mean for those who might be already starving?
(Mahan Mirza, The Conversation)
Philippines: WCC calls on UN to ensure counter-terrorism laws in Philippines don’t infringe on human rights
(World Council of Churches)
China: The world must honour the memory of Cao Shunli by standing up for human rights defenders in China
(FoRB in Full: A blog by CSW)
Hong Kong: Sixteen international experts express “profound and grave concerns” about looming threat to religious freedom and Sacrament of Penance in Hong Kong
(Hong Kong Watch)
Cuba: Report finds return to hardline tactics
(CSW: Everyone Free to Believe)
Brazil: Industry must compensate mechanic who was pressured to change religion (Portuguese)
(Bom Dia Advogado)
3 Egyptian Coptic church monks are killed in an attack at a monastery in South Africa
(Gerald Imray, Associated Press)
Yeezy shoe sales lead Adidas to plan to donate $150 million to anti-hate groups
(Associated Press)
Thursday, 14 March 2024
HYBRID EVENT, 14 March 2024 (13.30 GMT+1): Rethinking Human Rights Treaty Withdrawals (Maastricht, The Netherlands)
(Başak Çalı and Laurence R. Helfer, Maastricht Centre for Human Rights)
EVENT, 14 March 2024 (18:30 GMT+1): Self-Censored Live Premiere (film in English, discussion in German) (Vienna, Austria)
(Ralph Schöllhammer, P. Simon De Keukelaere, Pamela Chavez-Reder, Markus Bauer, Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe)
WEBINAR, 14 March 2024 (17:30 CET): Being a Christian in politics and society
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Wednesday, 13 March 2024
India: 'CAA is not anti-Muslim': Govt calls Al Jazeera's report as 'misleading'
(The Economic Times)
Russia: Religious freedom survey, March 2024
(Victoria Arnold and John Kinahan, Forum 18 News Service)
Imminent risk of irreparable harm: why failure to protect Russians fleeing the Putin regime would be a serious blow to the Court’s reputation
(Eszter Benkő, Tamás Fazekas And Zsolt Szekeres, Strasbourg Observers)
Why we must ban Russian Orthodox Church’s activities in Ukraine
(Mykyta Poturaiev, Kyiv Post)
India announces steps to implement a citizenship law that excludes Muslims
(Sheikh Saaliq, Associated Press)
India: US, UN express concern about India's religion-based citizenship law
(Reuters)
India: How urbanisation – and Hinduisation – is stripping India’s indigenous communities of their cultural heritage
(Smytta Yadav, The Conversation)
Animal chaplains offer spiritual care for every species
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Australia: Queensland – new proposed discrimination law
(Neil Foster, Law and Religion Australia)
Australia: NSW gay conversion therapy bill offers exemptions for religion, parents
(CathNews)
Mexico’s presidential candidates sign commitment for peace with church leaders concerned by violence
(María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press)
Alarming religious freedom trends in democracies demand attention
(Johnnie Moore, Real Clear Politics)
Religion and diplomacy in the Middle East – student event blogger report
(Alison Carter, London School of Economics Religion and Global Society Blog)
Public bodies slandering religious minorities: A wrong decision by the Osaka district court
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Sierra Leone: Africa's high tolerance for other faiths
(Kate Hairsine, Deutsche Welle)
Canada: ‘No empty words’: Muslim Canadians use Ramadan to urge Gaza action
(Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, Al Jazeera)
Canada: Hate and harm: Rethinking dignity, dissent & equality in Canadian law
(Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University)
Rallies held around the globe for Tibetan Uprising Day
(Radio Free Asia)
China: Pastor John Cao’s first testimony after release
(China Aid)
Pakistan’s Christians still ‘living in fear’ after 2023 Punjab violence
(Anne Preckel, Vatican News)
Uzbekistan: “Protection of rights of artistic expression and other cultural rights and diversity in Uzbekistan” - International Expert Discussion was held at the Ilkhom Theater under EU-funded project
(Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan)
South Africa: Three Egyptian Coptic monks killed in S.Africa, Coptic Orthodox Church says
(Reuters)
Iran: USCIRF calls for accountability for Iran’s crimes against humanity
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Cuba: Virgin of Charity unites all Cubans — Catholics, Santeria followers, exiled and back on the island
(Luis Andres Henao and Giovanna Dell'Orto, Associated Press)
Indigenous people rejoice after city of Berkeley votes to return sacred Native land to Ohlone
(Janie Har and Olga R. Rodriguez, Associated Press)
New York's removal of religious exemption from school vaccination requirement is upheld
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Unexpected defeat of referendums shows growing power of Ireland’s traditional Catholics
(Daniel O'Connor, Religion News Service)
Transgender cases at SCOTUS
(Mark Rienzi, Mirror of Justice Blog)
Poll shows slight dip in US support for LGBTQ rights across religious groups
(Kathryn Post, Religion News Service)
Views on LGBTQ rights in all 50 states: findings from PRRI's 2023 American Values Atlas
(PRRI)
Spirituality, culture, and politics: A conversation with Andrew Prevot
(Andrew Prevot, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University)
Ghana bishops oppose new anti-gay law passed by parliament
(Ngala Killian Chimtom, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Hong Kong: Cardinal Chow: Taoists and Christians can join hands to build harmonious society
(Joseph Tulloch and Devin Watkins, Vatican News)
Vatican engages Hong Kong, Taiwan in interfaith dialogue
(Elise Ann Allen, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Pro-Palestinian protesters target Israeli president during opening of Dutch Holocaust museum
(Shira Li Bartov, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Affirmative action, religious liberty, and the freedom to discriminate
(Rachel F. Moran, Canopy Forum on the Interactions of Law & Religion)
Bishops back pro-European Project candidates in upcoming EU elections
(Guillaume Daudé, La Croix International)
Religious objections to vaccines in Africa complicates cholera fight
(Cyril Zenda, Religion Unplugged)
Haiti on the brink: Did Evangelicals break the Caribbean nation?
(Warren Cole Smith, Religion Unplugged)
Faith sector's engagement with migrants, refugees for health and HIV services highlighted
(World Council of Churches)
Orientation session opens ecumenical participation at UN talks on women’s rights
(World Council of Churches)
EU Bishops in view of the 2024 elections: “For a responsible vote promoting Christian values and the European project”
(The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE))
Notre Dame Religious Liberty Clinic supports Hindu organization’s freedom to use its property for religious practice
(University of Notre Dame Law School)
Brazil: Church must compensate employee called 'demoniated' (Portuguese)
(Eduardo Velozo Fuccia, Conjur)
Brazil: It is necessary to combat the “abusive use” of religion in politics, says Barroso (Portuguese)
(Gabriel Bandeira, Poder 360)
Sadiq Khan hails Jewish attendance at Ramadan Lights switch-on as sign of ‘hope’
(Justin Cohen, Jewish News)
UK government pledges funds to protect Muslim communities
(Mehmet Solmaz, Anadolu Agency)
Hate Crime Act Scotland: Concerns raised as controversial new laws due to come into force
(Alistair Grant, The Scotsman)
British parliament questions ‘false baptism’ by asylum seekers
(Charles Collins, Crux: Taking the Catholic Pulse)
Lords Spiritual: future composition
(David Pocklington, Law & Religion UK)
Religious Freedom Commission says it always has new requests to analyze (Portuguese)
(RTP Noticias)
Number of Orthodox increases more than that of Muslims (Portuguese)
(Redação, JN)
Legal clarity on ayahuasca in Portugal (Spanish)
(International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service)
Constitutional Court of Spain protects rights of mother who opposed her minor daughter receiving a religious education, as was the father's wish (Spanish)
(Diario Constitucional)
Monday, 11 March 2024
Statement from President Joseph R. Biden on the occasion of Ramadan
(The White House)
With war in Gaza, American Muslims plan Ramadan of protest and activism
(Rhonda Roumani, Religion News Service)
Türk calls for measures to address religious hatred
(Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations)
Christian petition accuses Texas republican of attack on religious freedom
(Nick Mordowanec, Newsweek)
Why people are reluctant to call themselves atheists
(Harmeet Kaur, CNN)
Anti-immigrant rhetoric sparks fears of more hate crimes against Latinos
(Russell Contreras, Axios)
Alabama has restored IVF access. But legal battles are likely just beginning.
(Shefali Luthra, The 19th)
USCIRF leaves Saudi Arabia after government official insisted chair to remove kippah
(U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom)
Around the web - 11 March 2024
(Law and Religion Forum, St. John's Law School Center for Law & Religion)
Iraq hopes to lure Christian pilgrims with new church in ancient Ur
(Reuters)
Irish voters reject bid to rewrite constitution’s view of women and family
(Shawn Pogatchnik, Politico.eu)
Afghanistan: If you are a girl in Afghanistan, the Taliban has decided your future for you
(Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes)
Preventing lawful and decent burial
(Frank Cranmer, Law & Religion UK)
UK pledges additional funds to protect Muslim communities
(Al Jazeera)
Israeli forces attack Muslim worshippers at al-Aqsa during first night of Ramadan
(Middle East Eye)
Israeli police block hundreds of Palestinians from al-Aqsa on Ramadan's first night, hit worshipers with batons
(Nir Hasson, Haaretz)
How Hamas is using Ramadan to prolong the war
(Mario Mancuso, Hudson Institute)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Religion, Peace and Conflict Country Profile
(The United States Institute of Peace)
Myanmar: Religion, Peace and Conflict Country Profile
(The United States Institute of Peace)
Philippines: Religion, Peace and Conflict Country Profile
(The United States Institute of Peace)
Ukraine: Religion, Peace and Conflict Country Profile
(The United States Institute of Peace)
Pakistani court sentences man to death and teenager to life in prison for insulting Islam’s prophet
(Asim Tanveer, Associated Press)
Ban on caste discrimination is constitutional
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Canada: Should people suffering from mental illness be eligible for medically assisted death? Canada plans to legalize that in 2027 – a philosopher explains the core questions
(Maria Kulp, The Conversation)
Recent articles of interest - 11 March 2024
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Celebrating women at KAICIID: A commitment to empowerment and progress
(KAICIID Dialogue Centre)
India implements ‘anti-Muslim’ 2019 citizenship law weeks before election
(Al Jazeera)
France's Macron announces bill for assisted dying
(France 24)
Turquoise Freedom: FECRIS, atheism, and support for the Russian war against Ukraine
(Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter)
Australia: Anti-discrimination laws would ‘stop religious schools sacking staff for adultery’
(Natasha Bita and Lydia Lynch, The Australian)
NY lawmakers want $90M in security funds to protect religious schools as hate crimes rise amid Gaza war
(Carl Campanile and Vaughn Golden, New York Post)
Brazil: Union against religious intolerance (Portuguese)
(Emerson Cunha and Camilla Barbosa, A União)
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