Law and Religion Headlines
Monday, 14 October 2024
Afghanistan: Radical jihadism and its security consequences for Afghanistan
(Besmillah Taban, Hasht-e Subh Daily)
Religious diversity in the workplace could foster more inclusion, experts argue in new book
(Rice University)
North Koreans pray to Buddha statues for good luck
(Son Hye Min, RFA Korean)
The ethics of conflict as a political tool (Spanish)
(Fishel Szlajen, Infobae)
Friday, 11 October 2024
Malaysia: Leaving Islam: The Orang Asli's court battle
(Joseph Masilamany, Asia News)
Malaysia: Fatwas under federal territories Mufti Bill only binding on Muslims - Mohd Na'im
(Bernama)
Malaysia: Proposed Mufti bill threatens Malaysia’s religious freedom
(International Christian Concern)
WEBINAR, 11 October 2024 (19.00 WIB): Istiqlal Declaration: Interfaith Collaboration for Humanity (Indonesian)
(Institut Leimena)
The long road to freedom for Jack Phillips
(National Review)
The Philippines has held out on legalizing divorce. Is it set to call it quits?
(Mark Saludes, Christian Science Monitor)
Suit over deceptively promoted school religious program moves ahead
(Howard Friedman, Religion Clause)
Religious hate crimes at record levels in England and Wales, official figures show
(Rajeev Syal, The Guardian)
Parliament debates how to stop the rise of religious intolerance in Europe
(YouTube Video, European Parliament)
Thailand: What happens when Christianity and Buddhism are forced to compete?
(Thien Bui, Religion Unplugged)
Colorado may strike religious preference rule for preschools in the UPK program
(Jenny Brundin, Colorado Public Radio)
Majority of Poles support reducing Catholic catechism teaching in schools
(Notes from Poland)
Turkey’s policies threaten Greek Orthodox community, benefit Russia, leaders warn
(Stockholm Center for Freedom)
Bangladesh: Govt committed to protecting religious rights of all communities: Touhid
(BSS News)
Dialogue and partnership across religious and belief communities vital to strengthen human rights and security
(Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
Religious freedom at risk? Experts warn of ‘polite persecution’ in the West
(The European Conservative)
RFI’s Miles Windsor appointed to serve as strategic advisor to Czech Republic’s freedom of religion or belief ambassador
(Religious Freedom Institute)
South Asia: Raisa Wickrematunge, helping journalists cover religious intolerance
(Taylor Dibbert, International Center for Journalists)
Liberty University employment lawsuit should be dismissed
(Liberty Counsel)
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)
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