Daily media briefing
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Wed, 1 May 2024
England scraps 50% rule on faith school admissions – NSS quoted
Faith schools in England will no longer have to offer up to half of their places to children who don't belong to their religion, under changes to state school admissions rules announced by the government.
The Guardian
Government plans to lift faith-based admissions cap on free schools in England – NSS quoted
The Government has announced plans to remove a cap on new faith-based free schools which currently stops them from selecting more than half of pupils on the grounds of religion.
The National
London mosque hosts preacher who said ‘Zionists’ run UK schools
A southeast London mosque led by an extremist imam has hosted a preacher who railed against "Zionists running schools and hospitals" in the UK and has doubted the extent of Hamas atrocities on October 7.
The Times*
Christian education in primary schools does not breach human rights law, Appeal Court rules
Exclusively Christian-focused religious education taught at primary schools in Northern Ireland does not breach human rights law, the Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday.
Irish News
Sheffield priest denies sex attacks on 11 women
A former priest who led an evangelical church movement has denied sexually abusing members of his congregation.
BBC
Five teenagers arrested after 'attempted kidnap' of Jewish man in Stamford Hill
Five teenagers have been arrested over the alleged kidnap of a Jewish man in north London.
Evening Standard
New Orleans archdiocese is target of child sex-trafficking inquiry, officials say
The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans is the target of an active child sex-trafficking investigation, according to a sweeping and unprecedented search warrant Louisiana state police recently served on an organization that for decades has been submerged in the global church's clergy molestation scandal.
The Guardian
Iranian teenager ‘sexually assaulted and beaten to death’ for anti-hijab protest
A teenage Iranian girl who became a symbol for anti-hijab protests was sexually assaulted and then beaten to death by a radical branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC), new documents reveal.
The Telegraph*
Saudi Arabia activist sentenced to 11 years in prison for ‘support’ of women’s rights
A young women's rights activist in Saudi Arabia was secretly sentenced to 11 years in prison by an anti-terrorism court after being arrested for "her choice of clothing and support for women's rights".
The Guardian
Tue, 30 Apr 2024
Faith based admissions in schools – NSS letter
"It would be entirely wrongheaded to make faith schools – and by extension society – even more divided and discriminatory now, at the behest of Catholic bishops", writes NSS CEO Stephen Evans.
The Telegraph*
Sydenham priest James Murphy jailed for sex abuse
A Catholic priest has been jailed for 31 months for sexually abusing young boys who were in his care in the 70s and 80s.
Local London
Survivors say 'devil will be in the detail' of CofE's financial redress scheme
"But ultimately, the Church and in particular, the Archbishops' Council, have to take responsibility", said Gilo, who is a leading advocate for those affected by abuse.
Premier Christian News
Local election candidate apologises for sharing Hamas post
A Green Party candidate in Thursday's local elections has apologised after he "unwittingly" shared footage of a Hamas press conference on social media.
Jewish News
'Invisible in our own country': Being Muslim in Modi's India
Ever since Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in 2014, India's 200 million-odd Muslims have had a turbulent journey.
BBC
Secret document says Iran security forces molested and killed hijab protester
As street protests spread across Iran in the autumn of 2022, Nika Shakarami's name was shouted by crowds furious at the compulsory hijab.
BBC
Radicalised Sydney teenagers ‘planned to target Jews’
Police detain six male teenagers who are alleged to have formed a terror cell as investigation into the stabbing of Orthodox bishop continue.
The Times*
‘Demolishing democracy’: how much danger does Christian nationalism pose?
Documentary Bad Faith looks at the history of a group trying to affect and corrupt politics under the guise of religion.
The Guardian
Taliban's treatment of women under scrutiny at UN rights meeting
The Taliban face criticism at a UN meeting, with Washington accusing them of systematically depriving women and girls of their human rights.
Reuters
Mon, 29 Apr 2024
Gillian Keegan to axe 50pc rule on faith school admissions
Gillian Keegan is to axe the 50 per cent cap on faith schools, ending a policy that forces institutions to keep half their places open for children of different religions.
The Telegraph*
'Liberal' Islamic think tank condemned for suggesting MPs should be 'called out' for having Jewish family members
The head of a "liberal" Islamic think tank has been accused of "despicable" and "atrocious" comments after suggesting that Sir Keir Starmer should be "called out" for having Jewish family members.
The Yorkshire Post*
Regulator warns Muslim charity after chair delivers ‘divisive’ sermon on Palestine
The Charity Commission has issued an official warning to an Islamic charity after its chair gave a sermon at its premises last year containing "inflammatory and divisive" content.
Civil Society
Strictly Orthodox brand school regulation ‘cultural genocide’
A large contingent of protesters from the strictly Orthodox community have staged their latest protest outside parliament at attempts by the government to regulate religious Jewish schools, claiming the proposals amount to "cultural genocide".
Jewish News
The Times view on illegal schools: Lessons in Conspiracy
Establishments continue to teach extremism due to loopholes that must be closed
The Times*
Detectives launch investigation into 'attempted kidnap' of Jewish man in Stamford Hill
Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into an alleged attempt to kidnap a Jewish man from a north London street.
Evening Standard
Former church curate jailed for child sex abuse
A former Church of England clergyman has been jailed for 11 years for abusing two altar boys.
BBC
Sadiq Khan apologises to Chief Rabbi over interview remarks
Sadiq Khan has contacted the Chief Rabbi to apologise for comments he made during a discussion about Islamophobia.
BBC
Protesters call for Islamic state in Germany
More than 1,000 people marched through Hamburg on Saturday calling for a caliphate in Germany.
The Telegraph*
Anti-abortion activists set to target women at clinics in Italy as new bill approved
Activists opposed to abortion in Italy are expected to ramp up their targeting of clinics after being "emboldened" by an amendment to the law.
i News
US: Columbia campus protester apologises for 'kill Zionists' comments
A leader of students protesting the war in Gaza at Columbia University has apologised after video emerged of him saying "Zionists don't deserve to live".
BBC
Human rights groups and diplomats condemn Iraq’s anti-LGBTQ+ law
Human rights groups and diplomats have criticised a law passed by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend that would impose heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people.
The Guardian
Fri, 26 Apr 2024
Exposed: the ‘illegal school’ teaching children conspiracy theories
At a grimy former nightclub pupils are told how to survive a 'plot against humanity'. This is what our undercover reporter saw.
The Times*
Headband was worn in support of Hamas, judge finds
A man has been found guilty of wearing a headband in support of Hamas at a pro-Palestine rally in central London.
BBC
Lack of action on Iran could lead to more threats and attacks in UK, says journalist
A former BBC journalist has said the UK government will "pay a heavy price" for its lack of action against the Iranian regime, which could lead to more "threats" and "operations" in Britain, after the stabbing of an Iranian journalist in London.
The Guardian
Abuse survivors could be paid £660,000 in C of E’s four-stage redress scheme
The Church of England's redress scheme for survivors of abuse will be able to make awards ranging from £5000 to £660,000, it was announced on Thursday evening.
Church Times*
US: Police serve search warrant on New Orleans archdiocese in child sex abuse case
Louisiana state police went into the office of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of New Orleans on Thursday to begin the process of collecting records from the organization spanning the history of its decades-old clerical abuse scandal, as troopers investigate whether the local church hierarchy illegally covered up systemic child molestation.
The Guardian
Canada: Legacy Christian Academy considering closing its doors in wake of abuse allegations
A controversial Christian school in Saskatoon may close its doors at the end of June in the wake of abuse allegations and ongoing criminal court cases, according to a letter.
CBC
Russian Orthodox Church suspends priest who prayed at Navalny's grave
A Russian Orthodox priest who led a memorial service last month at the grave of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been suspended from clerical duties and ordered to serve three years of "penance".
Premier Christian News
Thu, 25 Apr 2024
Islamic charity warned by regulator after ‘inflammatory and divisive’ sermon
The Charity Commission has issued an official warning to an Islamic charity after it hosted a sermon that discussed party politics and included "inflammatory and divisive" content.
Third Sector
Church of England branded ‘feudal’ landowner in row over leasehold reform
The Church of England has been branded a "feudal" landowner in a row over leasehold reform in the House of Lords.
Independent
Bid to remove Isle of Man bishop's vote takes step forward
Politicians have progressed a bill to remove the bishop's vote from Tynwald, despite the move being branded "bizarre" by the chief minister.
BBC
Couple who ran illegal Park Royal school banned from teaching
A man and woman who ran an illegal secondary school in Park Royal have been banned from teaching.
Kilburn Times
Headband was statement of faith, not pro-Hamas, court told
A man accused of wearing a headband in support of Hamas told police it was a "statement of faith", a court heard.
BBC
Bishop investigated over misleading accounts claim
A charity watchdog is reviewing fresh allegations against Scotland's first female bishop.
BBC
US archdiocese must submit clergy-abuse documents to police
The criminal investigation into child sexual abuse in New Orleans' Roman Catholic archdiocese has entered a major new phase, after a judge ordered the church to turn over records to Louisiana state police showing how it responded to abuse allegations over the last several decades.
The Guardian
Iranian women violently dragged from streets by police amid hijab crackdown
Harrowing first-hand accounts of women being dragged from the streets of Iran and detained by security services have emerged as human rights groups say country's hijab rules have been brutally enforced since the country's drone strikes on Israel on 13 April.
The Guardian
Wed, 24 Apr 2024
Terry Sanderson, 1946-2022: a celebration of his life
Keith Porteous Wood writes about the life of former National Secular Society President Terry Sanderson, a giant of the secularist and gay rights movements, among others, died in June 2022.
The Freethinker
Admission of child sex abuse errors at monk island
Mistakes were made over the handling of child sex abuse allegations at an island inhabited by monks, the woman in charge of safeguarding there has admitted.
BBC
Barking school apologises after pupil put up 'art project' banner calling for hijab to be banned
An Essex school says they are "extremely sorry" after a GCSE student put up a banner which called for hijabs to be banned. The banner was put up by a Year 10 pupil at Greatfields School in Barking as part of an art project, they said.
Essex Live
Police to pay Bristol street preacher's £80,000 legal bill after imposing 'disproportionate' restrictions
The taxpayer is paying an £80,000 legal bill after police chiefs in Bristol agreed they acted 'disproportionately' in trying to restrict the activities of a Christian street preacher who uses a loudspeaker to speak out on controversial subjects.
Bristol Post
Controversial law allowing anti-abortion activists into clinics reaches Italy's Senate
Protests have erupted in Rome after the lower house of Italy's parliament passed new legislation allowing anti-abortion activists to enter abortion clinics.
Euro News
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