Daily media briefing
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Thu, 18 Apr 2024
Church schools unaffected by Muslim prayer-ban ruling, says Genders – NSS quoted
A ruling that upheld a school's decision to ban prayer rituals does not challenge the principle of freedom of religion or belief, the CofE's chief education officer has said.
Church Times*
Religious groups divided over school prayer ban ruling – NSS quoted
The CofE's chief education officer has backed the ruling. However, Muslim leaders have blasted the decision as 'divisive'.
Daily Mail
Reclaiming free speech in academia – NSS quoted
RA24-E2 requires strong statements of support from an institution for an academic facing death threats because of comments about a particular religion (a wider phenomenon, not only in universities, rightly identified by the National Secular Society as a "de facto blasphemy law").
The Critic
Schools teaching too many religions in RE lessons, Ofsted warns
Watchdog says 'superficially broad curriculum' does not always provide pupils with the knowledge they need.
The Telegraph*
Cameron backs Bill for Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief
The Bill would put the post of Special Envoy and an office to support their work on a statutory footing.
Church Times*
Nigerian mega-pastor pushing malaria vaccine conspiracy theories
In August last year, he warned in a sermon of "an evil agenda that has been long in the making".
BBC
Once a fringe Indian ideology, Hindu nationalism is now mainstream
Hindu nationalism, once a fringe ideology in India, is now mainstream. Nobody has done more to advance this cause than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one of India's most beloved and polarizing political leaders.
AP News
‘I am not a Satanist!’: meet the great blasphemer of contemporary art
One of his best-known sculptural tableaux consists of a wax statue of Pope John Paul II crushed by a meteorite. "Sacrilege!" cried Cattelan's critics, who vandalised La Nona Ora (1999) when it was shown in Poland.
The Telegraph*
Wed, 17 Apr 2024
'A victory for all schools': Katharine Birbalsingh hails High Court prayer ruling – NSS quoted
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said: "Given the disruption experienced by the school, a ruling that the ban on prayer rituals was lawful is welcome."
The Standard
Education Secretary: Prayer policy ruling should give headteachers ‘confidence’ – NSS quoted
"Where the manifestation of religion is deemed divisive or disruptive, a balance must be struck. We're pleased the school's actions have been vindicated", said NSS chief executive Stephen Evans.
Independent
School prayer ban upheld as pupil loses High Court challenge – NSS quoted
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, said the case "serves as a useful reminder that claims of religious freedom do not trump all other considerations."
The Times*
Muslim pupil at leading London school loses challenge against ban on prayer rituals – NSS quoted
"Schools should be environments where everyone feels welcomed and valued, but that doesn't mean students have untrammelled religious freedom", said NSS chief executive Stephen Evans.
Daily Mail
Regulators assessing concerns over charities referring to ‘black magic’ and ‘witchcraft’ – NSS quoted
"No charity, religious or otherwise, should be allowed to promote ideology which fuels spiritual abuse", said NSS campaigns officer Alejandro Sanchez.
Civil Society
Scottish church leaders rally against assisted dying legislation
Rev Andrew Downie of the United Free Church of Scotland and Rev Bob Akroyd of the Free Church of Scotland have called on MSPs to oppose Liam McArthur's Bill on assisted dying.
Premier Christian News
‘#BringBackOurGirls fought to keep global attention on Nigeria’s stolen Chibok girls. Ten years on it is still fighting’
"Some have gone on to get their master's and others are working on PhDs. Other girls are now studying in Nigeria. This, for me, is perhaps the biggest achievement of the #BBOG movement. They have scuttled Boko Haram's core task, which is to deny girls education", writes Helon Habila.
The Guardian
Tue, 16 Apr 2024
‘Our son didn’t get into his first choice primary school – because we missed church’
"I explained that I missed attending church one month due to my mother's death but there was no compassion or understanding", says Sarah Atta.
iNews
Ruling due in Muslim student’s High Court challenge against ‘prayer ban’
A high-achieving north London school is set to discover whether a Muslim student has won a challenge against its ban on "prayer rituals".
The Standard
Iran-backed groups ‘tried to intimidate Charity Commission’
Watchdog was branded Islamophobic and targeted by activists including figures at Press TV, a state-funded channel that back Iran's attack on Israel.
The Times*
Man accused of knifing pensioner called Christian convert housemates 'devils’, court hears
The jury has heard how Mr Nouri and Alid had previously fallen out about religion.
Teesside Live
Sydney church stabbing was a 'terrorist' attack, police say
Investigations are still under way, but they say they are satisfied this is a case of religious extremism.
BBC
Italian schools will no longer shut for Eid
The new rules on school closures were announced by the education minister following the closure of a school near Milan on Eid al-Fitr.
The Times*
Argentina court blames Iran for deadly 1994 bombing of Jewish centre
The judges ruled that the bombing was carried out by the Shia militant organization Hezbollah and responded to a "political and strategic design" by Iran.
The Guardian
Mon, 15 Apr 2024
Iran centre blamed for stoking Islamic protests at British schools
Iran has been blamed for stoking protests outside British schools as a new report reveals its widespread and increasing attempts to impose de facto blasphemy laws in the UK.
The Times*
Sun, 14 Apr 2024
Philip North’s nomination to Blackburn was legitimate, reviewer concludes
Campaigners had raised concerns about Bishop North's views on the ordination of women.
Church Times*
Allowing silent prayer in buffer zones still under consideration
The Government is expected to announce whether provisions under the new Public Order Act will allow for silent prayer following consultations on the proposals.
Premier Christian News
British Muslim clerics praise 'beautiful' Taliban
The all-male delegation spent eight days touring Afghanistan and meeting with Taliban leaders and making statements on Afghan TV extolling their virtues.
Daily Mail
Scientists claim shechita makes no difference to blood loss in slaughtered animals
Scientists claim tests on halal and kosher meat have found no significant difference in blood loss when animals are killed after being stunned.
The Jewish Chronicle
Poland: Lawmakers send forward bill to ease abortion law
The anti-abortion law has strong support of the Catholic Church, which retains a powerful influence in the country.
Deutsche Welle
EU bishops oppose abortion ahead of crucial vote
EU bishops have voiced their opposition to recognising abortion rights within the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as a decisive vote approaches.
Premier Christian News
Two stabbed in Bordeaux for drinking wine during Eid
Attacker shot dead by police after frenzied attack in tourist area.
The Times*
Vatican complains after French court rules in favour of nun dismissed from religious order
The case is highly unusual, because it represented a secular civilian court essentially determining that the Vatican's in-house canonical procedures grossly violated the nun's fundamental rights.
ABC News
China: What Ramadan is like in Xinjiang
Several times ordinary Uyghurs signalled that this has been a distressing Ramadan, during which it was risky to be caught fasting.
The Economist*
Himalayan state is a testing ground for Modi’s nationalism
Hindu priests made explicit threats against Muslims in the state, calling to "kill 2 million" of them, and stating Hindus should be "prepared to die or be prepared to kill".
The Guardian
US: Trial begins for man who allegedly drowned his father as part of exorcism
The younger Callahan, who was 19 at the time, told police he thought his father was possessed by a demon called "Dirty Dan".
Boston.com
6 in 10 US Catholics are in favour of abortion rights, Pew Research report finds
Catholics in the US, one of the country's largest single Christian groups, hold far more diverse views on abortion rights than the official teaching of their church.
NPR
Fri, 12 Apr 2024
Islamic extremist murdered Hartlepool man over Gaza – prosecutors
An Islamic extremist murdered a man in the street in protest against the Israel and Gaza conflict, a court has heard.
BBC
Church of England praises Matt Redman for disclosing abuse by Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi
The Church of England has praised the "bravery" of Christian music superstar Matt Redman after The Telegraph revealed details of his abuse at the hands of Soul Survivor's Mike Pilavachi.
The Telegraph*
Cap on faith-school places under discussion again
The cap on the proportion of places that academies and free schools are allowed to allocate on the basis of faith may be lifted, it is reported.
Church Times*
Portuguese Catholic Church announces it will compensate victims of sex abuse
The Portuguese Catholic Church said Thursday it has unanimously agreed to pay some form of compensation to victims of sex abuse by clergy.
Associated Press
Students in Iran threatened with prosecution for graduation dance video
A group of Iranian students have been threatened with prosecution after a video of them dancing after their graduation emerged on social media this week.
The Guardian
‘Right to freedom from torture’: UN experts urge the Gambia not to decriminalise FGM
A team of UN experts has urged Gambian lawmakers not to repeal a ban on female genital mutilation, saying such a move would set a dangerous global precedent.
The Guardian
Thu, 11 Apr 2024
Churches 'trying to wind down clock' on abuse redress
Churches and other institutions being asked by Stormont to contribute towards redress for victims of historical child abuse have been accused of "trying to wind the clock down".
BBC
Fears that Muslim prisoners are being ‘groomed’ by extremists
A militant campaign group linked to the Iranian regime has provided spiritual guidance and religious materials to hundreds of Muslim prisoners in British jails, including at least one book written by an Islamist extremist.
The Jewish Chronicle
Caldey Island Abbey historical child sex abuse review announced
A Welsh abbey has commissioned an independent review into alleged historical child sex abuse.
BBC
Church of England investigation into Soul Survivor ex-chair and bishop concludes
The Church of England's inquiry into the former chair of Soul Survivor, Bishop Graham Cray, has reached its conclusion.
Premier Christian News
‘Rabbis misunderstand purpose of education’
The continuation of unregistered yeshivahs denies boys in the Chasidic community not just secular learning but access to their basic human rights, claims Eve Sacks
Jewish News
NI: Sinn Féin launch report supporting integrated education
The restored Stormont institutions provide an opportunity to fulfil a series of Sinn Féin proposals aimed at combatting sectarianism, Michelle O'Neill has said.
The Irish News
IRGC spies posed as Israelis to hack me, reveals stabbed Iran dissident
The TV presenter attacked outside his home last week calls for a UK ban on the regime terror group
The Jewish Chronicle
German police arrest Iraqi couple suspected of genocide for enslaving Yazidi girls
German police have arrested an Iraqi couple alleged to be Islamic State members, on suspicion of genocide and crimes against humanity for enslaving two Yazidi girls, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Reuters
US: Arizona state senator leads prayer in tongues on floor before abortion ruling
An Arizona state senator led a prayer circle speaking in tongues on the chamber floor Monday, a day before the state supreme court upheld a Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions.
Huffington Post
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