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Mon, 13 Jun 2022
Shamima Begum fears she will be sentenced to death
Jihadi bride Shamima Begum fears she will be prosecuted in Syria over her support for Islamic State – and could even face the death penalty if convicted.
Mail Online
‘Catholic Church sexual abuse survivor wants Pope Francis to listen’
Mark Murray is one of seven sexual abuse survivors from St Peter Claver College in West Yorkshire who will meet the Pope in private on Monday morning.
BBC
Ireland: Bishops sought 'commitment' on priority for Catholic children in schools
The Catholic Bishops' Conference looked for a "binding commitment" from the state that Catholic children would be given priority access to Catholic schools, in exchange for the divestment of a small number of Catholic primary schools to multi-denominational status.
RTE
Abortion rights: European Parliament condemns regressions
A large majority of MEPs strongly condemn "the backsliding in women's rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights taking place globally, including in the US and in some EU Member States".
European Secularist Network
Indian state razes Muslim homes after riots over prophet remarks
Uttar Pradesh authorities demolish property belonging to people allegedly involved in unrest.
The Guardian
Humanist children’s books translated, available free in Muslim-majority countries
The translations were done through the Translations Project, an offshoot of the humanist Center for Inquiry that aims to make books about science and reason available to those in Muslim-majority countries.
Religion News Service
Fri, 10 Jun 2022
Muhammad film protest backer is government's Islamophobia adviser
Imam Qari Asim says The Lady of Heaven is 'derogatory' and backs those who are protesting for screenings to be cancelled.
The Telegraph*
Fresh protests erupt in London over controversial film The Lady of Heaven
More protests have erupted from Muslims who are angry over screenings of a controversial film about the daughter of the prophet Muhammad.
LBC
‘Ministers must defend the right to criticise religion’
Of course it is important to be considerate of our fellow citizens' religious beliefs but those who shout loudest about their sensitivities must never be allowed the final word, says Jawad Iqbal.
The Times*
Charedi Jewish activists plan to protest outside Parliament against Schools Bill
A public protest against the government's move to regulate faith schools is being planned to take place outside Parliament next Wednesday.
The Jewish Chronicle
Scottish Government supports nationalising anti-abortion buffer zones in U-turn decision
The Scottish Government now supports a national approach to deter anti-abortion protesters from gathering outside hospitals and clinics in a U-turn decision.
The National*
No leave for holy days ‘discriminates against Muslim teachers’
Muslim teachers face discrimination after being forced to take unpaid leave to observe holy days, a union claims.
The Times*
‘It’s time to improve women’s prayer spaces in UK mosques’
Having grown up feeling isolated from her local mosque, Saman Javed speaks to other Muslim women about their experiences and examines how the worship space came to be dominated by men.
The Independent
US: Google misdirects one in 10 searches for abortion to ‘pregnancy crisis centres’
One in 10 Google searches for abortion services in US "trigger states", where the procedure is likely to become illegal if the US supreme court overturns Roe v Wade, are being misdirected to clinics known as "pregnancy crisis centers" that do not actually provide care, according to a new study.
The Guardian
US: Same-sex marriage advocates push for post-Roe protections
As the nation awaits a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a Mississippi law that calls for banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, LGBTQ advocates are pushing to codify protections for same-sex marriage in states throughout the country.
The Associated Press
US: ‘Jan. 6 committee must address Christian nationalism’
The hearings in Congress provide an opportunity for the public to see Christian nationalism for what it is, says Amanda Tyler.
Religion News Service
India: ‘Why justice eludes many Dalit survivors of sexual violence’
Crimes of a sexually violent nature disproportionately impact women and girls from India's less privileged castes, mainly Dalits.
NEWSJatti
Thu, 09 Jun 2022
Campaigners granted judicial review of compulsory sex education in Wales
A High Court judge has granted parents a judicial review of new relationship and sex education being rolled out in Wales from September.
Wales Online
Sajid Javid attacks ‘cancel culture’ as UK cinemas pull ‘blasphemous’ film
Health secretary Sajid Javid has said he is "very concerned about cancel culture in the UK" after screenings of a "blasphemous" film about the daughter of Islam's prophet Muhammad were pulled from cinemas.
The Guardian
Campaigners call on Clackmannanshire councillors to scrap voting rights for religious reps
Campaigners have called on Wee County councillors to scrap voting rights for non-elected church representatives.
Alloa Advertiser
Charity regulator investigates ‘misleading’ accounts of church
The charity watchdog is investigating claims that it received "misleading and inaccurate" accounts information by a senior official in an Anglican church district mired in a bullying scandal.
The Times*
NI: Western Trust to recommence early medical abortion services
The Western Trust suspended its early abortion services in April 2021 due to "staffing resourcing issues".
BBC
Taliban detain Afghan fashion model on religious charges
The Taliban have detained a famous Afghan fashion model along with three colleagues, accusing them of disrespecting Islam and the Quran.
The Associated Press
US preacher calls for execution of ‘every single homosexual’
Extremist Christian hate preacher Dillon Awes has declared that every gay person in America "should be lined up against the wall and shot in the back of the head".
Pink News
Mexico megachurch leader jailed for child sex abuse
Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of the La Luz del Mundo megachurch, has been sentenced in a Los Angeles court to 16 years and eight months in prison.
BBC
Fury at UN human rights chief over ‘whitewash’ of Uyghur repression
Dozens of scholars have accused the UN human rights chief of having ignored or contradicted academic findings on abuses in Xinjiang with her statements on the region.
The Guardian
‘Nigeria’s Christians are relentlessly under attack’
Nigeria is experiencing an epidemic of terror attacks, says Kunwar Khuldune Shahid.
The Spectator*
Wed, 08 Jun 2022
Muslim primary school worker loses religious discrimination lawsuit she brought after boss called her a 'guinea pig'
A Muslim school worker who attempted to sue for religious discrimination after complaining her boss called her a 'guinea pig' has had her lawsuit rejected by an employment tribunal.
Mail Online
Doctor 'traumatised' woman with request to remove veil
A doctor who left a female patient "traumatised" when he told her to remove her veil has an "impaired" fitness to practise, a tribunal ruled.
BBC
Majority of British Muslims say their lives have improved
More than half of British Muslims feel that their lives have improved over the past five years, citing more job opportunities, an increasing number of public role models and growing acceptance in wider society.
The Times*
Rev Richard Coles ‘frustrated’ Church of England is resisting LGBT equality
Reverend Richard Coles has said it is "frustrating" that the Church of England is resisting giving the LGBT community equal status but we "should not shirk a difficult task if what's at stake is justice and human dignity".
Express & Star
World Cup 2022: LGBT Wales fans vow to boycott Qatar tournament
Some Wales football fans are to boycott the Fifa World Cup in Qatar due to the host country's stance on gay rights.
BBC
‘The Islamophobia definition ignores Islamist sectarianism’
That a group of Muslims share a faith with another group of Muslims they oppose religiously, should not mean that sectarianism is not anti-Muslim – if anything, it is anti-Muslim hatred, says Wasiq Wasiq.
Harry's Place
Lisa Smith made anti-extremism videos in Islamic State camp in Syria
Time was running out for Lisa Smith when she was found living among the hundreds of Islamic State brides being held at the Ein Issa camp by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Sunday Times*
Poland, with near-total abortion ban, to record pregnancies
The government of Poland, where a near-total abortion ban is in place, faced accusations Monday of creating a "pregnancy register" as the country expands the amount of medical data being digitally saved on patients.
The Associated Press
US woman admits to training all-female IS battalion in Syria
A US woman has confessed to leading an all-female squadron for the so-called Islamic State group in Syria, as well as plotting attacks on American soil.
BBC
‘How Republicans pass abortion bans most Americans don’t want’
Legalised abortion in some form is widely supported, but gerrymandered districts allow politicians to push extreme measures through.
The Guardian
Tue, 07 Jun 2022
Cineworld Bolton pulls Our Lady in Heaven film after protests from Muslims
A cinema in Bolton has pulled a film, described as 'blasphemous', following protests.
The Bolton News
Christian school fails seven Ofsted inspections in six years
A Christian homeschool has failed seven out of eight Ofsted inspections since it opened - and refused to allow the inspectors entry to the school premises on at least two occasions.
Birmingham Live
Man 'posted terror video' after Liverpool hospital bombing
An asylum seeker posted Islamic State propaganda on social media after the bombing at a Liverpool hospital, a jury has heard.
BBC
Minister warns of “atheist ideology” after Polish scouts allowed not to mention God in oath
The Polish Scouting Association's recent decision to allow recruits to omit the word "God" from their oath has drawn criticism from Catholic clergy and a minister in Poland's national-conservative government, who warns that "attempts are being made to implement atheist ideology".
Notes from Poland
Tunisia expert drafting new constitution says no reference to Islam
The legal expert charged with rewriting Tunisia's constitution said Monday he would present President Kais Saied with a draft stripped of any reference to Islam, in order to confront Islamist parties.
Mail Online
Legal claims shed light on founder of faith group tied to Amy Coney Barrett
Examination of People of Praise comes as supreme court seems poised to reverse Roe v Wade.
The Guardian
Nupur Sharma: Prophet Muhammad row deepens India’s diplomatic woes
India's diplomatic nightmare over controversial comments made by two senior officials of the country's ruling party about the Islamic prophet Muhammad is showing no signs of ending.
BBC
Indian state goes ahead with ‘regressive’ caste census
India has been trying to eradicate its highly discriminatory caste system for 70 years, but despite this the state of Bihar is pushing ahead with a census that critics say will entrench class lines.
The Times*
China ‘one of the worst abusers of religious freedom in the world’, says US
The US State Department's annual report on international religious freedom has accused China of continued genocide and repression of predominantly Muslim Uyghurs.
The Independent*
Indonesia's LGBTQ community fears crackdown under legal reforms
LGBTQ rights activists are worried new legal standards on morality could be used to persecute same-sex couples.
Deutsche Welle
Mon, 06 Jun 2022
NSS quoted: Fury as homophobic and anti-vax Scots fundamentalists cleared by charity regulator
The charity regulator has given the green light for a Christian fundamentalist group to continue spreading homophobic and anti-vax messages.
Daily Record
NSS speaks out: ‘Should religion and politics mix?’
NSS head of policy and research Megan Manson comments on the problems with Anglican bishops in the House of Lords (from 1:40:30).
BBC Hereford & Worcester
India: ‘The Uniform Civil Code has nothing to do with “secular liberals”’ – NSS quoted
It's a false dichotomy arising from widespread misunderstanding of what liberalism, and secularism, truly mean, says Jammi N Rao.
News Laundry
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