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Mon, 06 Sep 2021
‘The Deobandi sect and the Taliban’s cheerleaders in the UK’
The Taliban is a Deobandi regime, a sect that has a long history in Britain, says Hannah Baldock.
The Spectator*
Man set to stand trial over 'terror plot against Fife Islamic Centre'
A man accused of preparing to commit acts of terrorism and suggesting online that he planned to attack the Fife Islamic Centre will stand trial next month.
The National*
Church in Wales to vote on blessings for same-sex marriages
Same-sex couples could have their marriage blessed by the Church in Wales following a vote on Monday.
BBC
‘Why do unionism and nationalism unite against integrated education?’
In a recent poll, integrated education was supported by 71% of respondents in Northern Ireland. It continues to be a popular policy issue; yet, parties have split hairs over the issue for decades, says Jay Burbank.
Slugger O'Toole
Montenegro clashes as Serb Orthodox Church leader installed
There have been fierce clashes in Montenegro as the Serbian Orthodox church installed a new leader in a ceremony that exposed divisions in the Balkan country.
BBC
US: Gay teacher wins lawsuit against Catholic school that fired him because he wanted to marry
A gay teacher has won his lawsuit against the Catholic school that fired him after they learned he was planning to marry his same-sex partner.
Pink News
‘Evangelicals are one step closer to the ultimate prize: ending abortion in America’
Texas is the result of a decades-long effort to undermine the women's equality movement in the name of saving the US from God's judgment, says Matthew Avery Sutton.
The Guardian
Taliban instruct female Afghan students to cover their faces
Women must wear an abaya robe and niqab to cover their faces when attending classes at private colleges and universities, the Taliban have decreed.
The Times*
Fri, 03 Sep 2021
Millions of children in religious groups in England and Wales vulnerable to abuse
Children involved in religious organisations, including Sunday schools and madrasas, are vulnerable to sexual abuse in cultures where victim blaming, abuse of power and mistrust of external authorities are common, a report says.
The Guardian
‘Justice for sexual abuse survivors in religious organisations is overdue’
"Astonishingly, instead of going to the police, one survivor says the Jehovah's Witnesses made her give evidence to two elders, on her own, without either of her parents present."
The Independent
Monk crushed my hand in vice as punishment, claims ex-pupil
A former pupil at a residential school said that the staff member at the former St Ninian's List D school in Stirlingshire tightened the vice, leaving him with a cut and crushed finger, most of which had to be amputated.
The Times*
Welby should have done more to stop Smyth, says author
Andrew Graystone's book describes 'cult' of Christian Iwerne camps.
Church Times*
Man arrested over 5 hate crime attacks on Jewish people in Hackney including boy, 14
Police investigating a spate of unprovoked attacks on Jewish people in Hackney have made an arrest.
My London
British-born Islamic State terror suspect pleads guilty to multiple charges
A British terrorist accused of beheading western hostages for Islamic State has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in a US federal court.
The Guardian
'Topshop terrorist' jailed for sending Islamic State videos to undercover policewoman
A 44-year-old man who told an undercover police officer he wanted to see London under the Islamic State flag has been jailed for sharing extremist videos on social media.
ITV
US-based priest calls for ‘merely cosmetic’ crucifix to be removed from Irish classrooms
A Catholic priest based in the US has called for the crucifix to be removed from classrooms in Ireland as it is "merely cosmetic".
The Irish News*
Biden condemns US supreme court’s ‘unprecedented assault’ on abortion rights
Joe Biden condemned the US supreme court on Thursday, saying it had delivered "an unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional right" in a rebuke of its decision not to consider a Texas law that effectively bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
The Guardian
‘The Guardian view on the Texas abortion ban: this is not the end’
The supreme court's refusal to block the law marks a grave blow to the freedom and safety of women.
The Guardian
Afghanistan: Taliban let women go back to ‘low-level’ jobs
Afghans are still waiting to hear from their Taliban rulers what the new government will look like. The group has confirmed that no women would be included in the governing classes, but claimed that they would be able to return to low-level civil service jobs.
The Times*
‘Beaten and humiliated by Hindu mobs for being a Muslim in India’
Unprovoked attacks on Muslims by Hindu mobs have become routine in India, but they seem to evoke little condemnation from the government, says Geeta Pandey.
BBC
Thu, 02 Sep 2021
Over 100 children in Torbay assigned to faith schools – NSS quoted
More than a hundred children in Torbay were assigned to faith schools contrary to their families' top preferences this year, according to new research by the National Secular Society.
Radio Exe
‘Start with our schools to tackle sectarianism’
Ending denominational education would be a positive step for an increasingly diverse country, says Fiona Rintoul.
The Times*
Preacher convicted of hate crime over homophobic tirade at Speakers’ Corner
A preacher who subjected a gay man to a barrage of homophobic abuse during a debate at Speakers' Corner has been convicted of a hate crime.
Evening Standard
Survivors criticise Jehovah's Witness elders for failing to act over child sexual abuse claims
Several abuse victims claim there is a culture within the Jehovah's Witnesses that fails those looking for help and puts others at risk.
Radio Exe
Religious brother ‘gave pupil painful electric shocks’ at school
A man told a court how he was subjected to painful electric shocks as a child by a brother from a religious order at a residential school.
The Times*
Abortion chief defends Nottingham priest
The former head of the UK's largest private abortion provider has come to the defence of a Catholic university chaplain "cancelled" for expressing his anti-abortion opinions.
Catholic Herald
Online Safety Bill gives legal basis for censorship of LGBT people, Stephen Fry and campaigners warn
Stephen Fry has led warnings that a proposed law to tackle "harmful content" online could curb the free speech of LGBT people and other marginalised groups.
iNews
Texas abortion law: Supreme Court votes not to block ban
The so-called Heartbeat Act bans terminations after the detection of what anti-abortion campaigners call a foetal heartbeat - a point when many women do not know they are pregnant.
BBC
‘India’s closet Taliban are crawling out of woodwork after the fall of Kabul’
The Taliban have suddenly turned into freedom fighters, liberated educationists, and "legitimate stakeholders" for a section of Indian Muslims, says Abhijit Majumder.
Firstpost
‘Is Nepal’s secularism under threat?’
Growing calls for a Hindu state underline popular dissatisfaction with Nepal's long stretch of political instability, says Kamal Dev Bhattarai.
The Diplomat
Wed, 01 Sep 2021
Reporting Jewish sex abuser ‘is sin’, says ultra-Orthodox leader
Child abusers from a British religious community should not be reported to the police, one of its leaders has argued.
The Times*
Catholic Seaview Primary School reopens with integrated status
The first Catholic school in Northern Ireland to formally change its status to integrated is to open its doors for pupils.
BBC
Afghan refugees: Those who worked for UK can stay permanently
Afghans who worked for the British military and UK government will be able to move to the UK permanently, the Home Office has announced.
BBC
Man harassed ex-wife with biblical messages after coming under influence of 'extreme Christian group'
A man bombarded his ex-wife with messages about marriage and adultery after falling under the influence of "extreme" American Christians, a court has heard.
Wales Online
‘Why new petition on Witchcraft Act is being presented to Scottish Parliament’
A petition is being presented today at 10am to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament, seeking a pardon for all those convicted in Scotland under the infamous Witchcraft Act between 1563 and 1736.
The National*
‘Discomfort is not grounds to prosecute football fans’
The Famine Song is offensive — that is the point of it — but that does not make it criminal, says Alex Massie.
The Times*
‘Sacramental preparation should not be a school responsibility’
As a result of school closures in Ireland, specific educational recovery procedures will need to be implemented, and the removal of sacramental preparation from the school timetable would be a good place to start, a teacher writes.
The Irish Times*
Finland to consider conversion therapy ban after overwhelming public demand
The parliament of Finland will consider a total ban on conversion therapy, after an overwhelming number of Finns signed a citizens' initiative.
Pink News
Saudi Arabia bans 'extremist books' and missionary activities in mosques
Saudi authorities have ordered mosques to remove "extremist" literature from libraries and end preaching to non-Muslims without permission, according to reports on Tuesday.
The New Arab
Study reveals how LGBTQ+ acceptance differs across the world in 2021
A new study has revealed how supportive Britons would be of a family member coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Gay Times
Tue, 31 Aug 2021
Council safeguarding chief refers mosque boss 'Taliban' post to Charity Commission
A social media post by the manager of a city mosque which appears to praise the Taliban's leaders in prayer after taking Kabul is to be investigated by the Charity Commission.
Birmingham Live
Faith school flouted coronavirus rules with Hampstead Heath BBQ
A private Jewish school disregarded Covid-19 restrictions and took pupils for a barbecue on Hampstead Heath during the third national lockdown.
Evening Standard
Anti-abortion priest not recognised as official chaplain by university
A priest has been blocked from becoming a university chaplain after refusing to moderate his language around abortion and assisted dying.
The Times*
Humza Yousaf accused of fuelling anti-Hindu tensions in racism row over nursery place for daughter
Scotland's Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has been accused of stoking up anti-Hindu tensions in the racism row over a nursery place for his daughter.
Daily Record
'Arrests expected' over anti-Catholic singing by group of Rangers fans
Police say they expect to make arrests after footage emerged appearing to show Rangers supporters singing a sectarian song before Sunday's Old Firm game.
BBC
‘The Jewish divorce controversy explained’
When the government agreed to recognise get refusal as a form of domestic abuse, it was welcomed in the Jewish community as an important step that could help free 'chained wives' trapped in a dead marriage. But nothing is quite that simple, says Simon Rocker.
The Jewish Chronicle
Taliban vows to purge education system of anything ‘against Islam’ as Afghan folk singer shot dead
The Taliban is planning to purge Afghanistan's education system of all elements that are "against Islam", according to an official, as activists and campaigners warn of a return to authoritarian rule in the country.
The Independent
Gay man in Kabul 'raped and beaten' by Taliban after being tricked into meeting
Hanan, a gay man terrified since the Taliban took control of the country, had been promised a safe way out of the country. He was deceived - two members of the Taliban met him and carried out their brutal attack.
ITV
‘Afghanistan's Uyghurs fear the Taliban, and now China too’
Like other Afghans, the Uyghurs fear a worse existence under the Taliban. But they also fear something else: greater influence for China.
BBC
‘This is how theocracy shrivels’
If extremists thought they could mobilise Muslim opinion through acts of clarifying violence, they have failed, says David Brooks.
The New York Times*
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