Daily media briefing
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Thu, 28 Mar 2024
Poll: Will you attend church this Easter? – NSS quoted
With Christianity and church attendance on the decline in the UK, Yahoo News asks readers just how religious this weekend will be.
Yahoo! News
Met facing calls to cancel notorious pro-Iran Islamist Quds Days rally in London
The Metropolitan Police are facing calls to ban the notorious annual Al Quds Day march as the government's adviser on political violence warns it could provoke "serious disorder" and fan the flames of antisemitism.
The Jewish Chronicle
Assisted dying backed by large majority of Scots, poll finds
A large majority of voters in Scotland believe the law should be changed to allow assisted dying, according to a new poll.
The Herald
Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi was known to Catholic diocese
A Catholic church gave the Clapham chemical attacker £25 per week and described him as a "pleasant, friendly and co-operative man", court documents have revealed.
The Times*
French PM backs school head who faced death threats after Muslim veil row
The French prime minister, Gabriel Attal, has defended French secularism following the resignation of a Paris school principal who received death threats after asking a student to remove her Muslim veil on the premises.
The Guardian
France to sue teen for falsely accusing school head in headscarf row
France's prime minister says a teenage girl will be sued by the state for falsely accusing her headteacher of striking her in a heated exchange over her wearing an Islamic head-covering.
BBC
Quran-burning Iraqi man who faces an expulsion order from Sweden plans to seek asylum in Norway
An Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden told a newspaper on Wednesday that he would seek asylum in neighbouring Norway in the wake of a deportation order by authorities in Stockholm.
Associated Press
Wed, 27 Mar 2024
The Marshall Plan
Hedge fund manager Paul Marshall is on a God-driven mission to transform the religious fabric of the nation–and he has the money to do it
Prospect
Batley Grammar School protest report 'deeply disturbing' – MP
A report criticising the handling of protests at a school "makes for deeply disturbing reading", an MP has said.
BBC
‘Theocratic mobs who chill free speech are the opposite of British pluralism’
"The unofficial endorsement of neighbourhood theocracies is not a path to stable coexistence. The harder path is also the only one with a chance of success: which is to stand up unflinchingly for the democratic rights and norms that underpin all that is best about this country."
Evening Standard*
Clapham attacker granted asylum by judge despite ‘lack of credibility’ and failing basic questions about Christianity
Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi was granted asylum by a judge who accepted he was a Christian convert despite concerns the sex offender was a liar, court records show.
LBC
‘Jew hate remains a toxic force in many UK Muslim communities’
Fiyaz Mughal, founder of Faith Matters and Muslims Against Antisemitism, asks where are the imams speaking out against Hamas and the rise in antisemitic attacks in this country.
Jewish News
Donald Trump turns to selling Bibles for $59.99 as he faces mounting legal bills
Former President Donald Trump is now selling Bibles as he runs to return to the White House.
Associated Press
Pakistan’s blasphemy laws continue to cause violence
The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently drew the ire of religious parties and anti-blasphemy groups for granting bail to a man accused of blasphemy. The court ruled against the retroactive implementation of a law that bans the distribution of an Ahmadiyya exegesis of the Qur'an.
The Conversation
Tue, 26 Mar 2024
Michael Gove pledges to take on ‘freedom-restricting harassment’
Michael Gove has promised to overhaul Whitehall to tackle a new form of harassment that an official review found was corroding the social fabric and threatening democracy.
The Times*
Muslim doctor told to roll up sleeves loses discrimination case
Hospital bosses have been vindicated after they were accused of discrimination for telling a Muslim consultant to roll up her sleeves as part of hygiene rules.
The Times*
Liverpool rector to quit a Church that validates ‘homophobic and misogynistic views’
The Rector of Liverpool Parish Church, Canon Crispin Pailing, has resigned, telling his congregation that he could "no longer, in good conscience" represent a Church which "perpetuates bias and discrimination against sections of society".
Church Times*
‘A Labour government would work with churches’
"As chairman of the Labour Faith Champions, a group of 20 MPs, appointed by Sir Keir Starmer to work with the UK's faith communities, I am excited about the role that faith can play in a future Labour government."
The Times*
Taliban leader says women will be stoned to death in public
The Taliban's Supreme Leader has vowed to start stoning women to death in public as he declared the fight against Western democracy will continue.
The Telegraph*
Malaysian convenience store owners charged over ‘Allah’ socks that angered Muslims
The owners of a Malaysian convenience store chain and one of its suppliers were charged Tuesday with offending the religious feelings of Muslims after socks printed with the word "Allah" were found for sale on its shelves.
Associated Press
Plan to end ultra-Orthodox students’ military exemption sparks row in Israel
A proposed bill to extend compulsory military service to ultra-Orthodox students, historically exempt from conscription, has ignited a fierce debate in Israel, with Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warning that failure to pass the law could jeopardise the stability of the government.
The Guardian
Christians in India fearful as election looms
With India's election on the horizon and Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi widely expected to win, many Christians fear they may once again become targets.
France 24
Mon, 25 Mar 2024
Protests have no place in an educational setting, government told
The government has been told that protests have "no place in an educational setting" after a review heavily criticised how authorities handled high-profile religious protests at Batley Grammar School.
The Times*
Regulator investigates Muslim charity over video post
The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into a Muslim educational and cultural organisation in Wales after it posted a video that could suggest support for Hamas.
The Jewish Chronicle
Britain ‘struggling to deal with extremism’
Towns and cities across Britain are "struggling" to deal with extremism being whipped up by Islamists and the far Right, an official report will warn this week.
The Telegraph*
Foetal sentience committee plan branded a ploy to ‘roll back abortion rights’
An attempt to set up a Government-backed committee to determine the sentience of unborn babies and embryos has been branded a ploy to "roll back advances" in abortion rights.
The National
Assisted dying proposals lodged by Jersey government
The Government of Jersey has lodged proposals detailing how an assisted dying service would work. The proposals describe who would be eligible for the service and how eligibility would be assessed.
BBC
School closure for Ramadan against Italian values, say ministers
A school in Italy which announced a day off at the end of Ramadan has come under fire from ministers in Giorgia Meloni's government, who claim the decision is an attack on Italian values.
The Times*
India court effectively bans madrasas in big state before election
A court in India has effectively banned Islamic schools in the country's most populous state. The ruling scraps a 2004 law governing madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, saying it violates India's constitutional secularism and ordering that students be moved to conventional schools.
Reuters
In Iran, Bahai minority faces persecution even after death
A flattened patch of earth is all that remains of where the graves once stood –- evidence, Iran's Bahais say, that their community is subjected to persecution even in death.
France 24
Fri, 22 Mar 2024
Antisemitic hate crime inquiry launched after London house fire
Police have launched an investigation into a house fire in east London and are examining whether it was an antisemitic hate crime.
The Guardian
Mother who used ‘biblical punishment’ guilty of killing toddler
A mother who claimed that the Bible told her to beat her toddler has been found guilty of his murder.
The Times*
NHS trust launches investigation into accusations ‘Pro-Palestine nurses’ mistreated Jewish child
An NHS Trust is investigating accusations that pro-Palestine nurses denied correct care to a nine-year-old Jewish boy.
The Telegraph*
Pope expels disgraced former bishop, says Belgian church
The pope has expelled from the priesthood a disgraced former Belgian bishop who admitted more than a decade ago to sexually abusing two nephews, the Belgian church said on Thursday.
Reuters
'On brink of abyss,' Polish church ignores warning signs
With empty pews and seminaries and its moral authority in free fall, Poland's Catholic church is on the brink of the abyss, a reality analysts say it is choosing to ignore.
France24
A Pakistani court sentences a woman to life in prison for burning pages from Islam’s holy book
A Pakistani court sentenced a Muslim woman to life in prison after finding her guilty of burning pages of Islam's holy book, a prosecutor said Friday.
Associated Press
Inside the Taliban’s sportswashing plan for cricket ‘world power’
Despite Australia's cancellation of T20 series over treatment of women and girls, Afghanistan's rulers still hope investment in cricket will win global acceptance
The Times*
Thu, 21 Mar 2024
Investigation launched into King’s Cross Ramadan messages
Rail bosses have launched an investigation into how controversial Ramadan messages were shown on departure boards at King's Cross station.
The Telegraph*
Activist who saluted Hamas is welcomed to Parliament
An Islamic hardliner who has defended Hamas reportedly attended a reception at Parliament hosted by a charity headed by the chief Muslim chaplain to Britain's armed forces.
The Jewish Chronicle
Rwanda votes on knife-edge as Bishops refuse to back down in clash with Government
Crunch votes which will influence when Rishi Sunak can finally put his controversial Rwanda plan into action are on a knife-edge with Bishops set to continue their clash with the Government on Wednesday.
iNews
Mum and daughter jailed for funding the Islamic State group
A mother and daughter have been jailed for funding terrorism in Syria. Stella Oyella, 53, and Vanessa Atim, 32, both of Newham, east London, sent hundreds of pounds to a relative who had joined the Islamic State group.
BBC
Landmark report calls for removal of LGBTQ+ discrimination exemptions for Australia’s religious schools
Blanket exemptions allowing religious schools to discriminate against staff and students on the basis of sexuality and gender identity should be repealed, a key report to the federal government has recommended.
The Guardian
Afghanistan’s school year starts without more than 1 million girls barred from education by Taliban
The school year in Afghanistan started Wednesday but without girls whom the Taliban barred from attending classes beyond the sixth grade, making it the only country with restrictions on female education.
Associated Press
Wed, 20 Mar 2024
Network Rail warned over Ramadan message on King’s Cross board – NSS quoted
Network Rail has been branded "misguided" after an Islamic message was displayed on the departure board at London King's Cross station as part of a diversity initiative for Ramadan.
The Telegraph*
Network Rail removes Islamic message on King's Cross display boards after fierce criticism – NSS quoted
Network Rail has removed its daily Ramadan messages at King's Cross after extensive criticism.
GB News
Over 50 children miss out on place at only secular secondary school in Workington
More than 50 children in Workington have been left disappointed after not getting into their chosen secondary school, with the MP hitting out at the council over a 'lack' of school places.
News & Star
One in five Muslim prisoners is white as ‘gangs drive conversions’
One in five Muslim prisoners is white, official figures show, amid fears that Islamic gangs are driving conversions.
The Telegraph*
German police detain 2 Afghans for plotting an attack near Swedish parliament over Quran burnings
German police detained on Tuesday two Afghan citizens accused of planning to attack police near the Swedish parliament in response to the burning of copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, federal prosecutors said.
Associated Press
Victims of sexual abuse in Portugal’s Catholic Church apply for compensation
Twelve victims of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in Portugal have applied for compensation, Group VITA – the group set up to implement the findings of an independent report on the subject – has announced.
Portugal Resident
Muslim students attacked by Hindu mob over Ramadan prayers at Gujarat University
A Hindu mob armed with stones and iron bars attacked Muslim students at a university in western India on Sunday, with the victims including foreign nationals studying in India on government scholarships.
The Independent
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