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Mon, 03 Jun 2019
Pakistan’s PM calls on OIC member states to take strong position against blasphemy
Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan has called upon the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to make a coordinated effort to clamp down on 'blasphemy'.
Radio Pakistan
Ann Widdecombe says science may 'produce an answer' to being gay
Brexit party MEP Ann Widdecombe, who has previously been outspoken in defence of Catholic political positions, has suggested science might one day "produce an answer" to being gay.
The Guardian
More details emerge on Hindu vet facing blasphemy charges in Pakistan
A Pakistani Hindu man has been charged with blasphemy against Islam. Police said yesterday that six people had been arrested over rioting in response to the arrest but the situation had returned to normal.
The New York Times
Orange walk blocked as court backs Glasgow council ban on march past Catholic church
Loyalist groups have failed to overturn a council ban preventing them marching past a Catholic church where a priest was spat on last year.
Daily Record
Longtime anti-LGBTQ leader is behind the US State Department’s new human rights panel
A 'conservative Christian big thinker' is playing an influential role on a new US government human rights panel.
LGBTQ Nation
Fri, 31 May 2019
Shame stops children reporting abuse in religious institutions, inquiry warns
Children who were sexually abused in religious institutions often did not disclose assaults and mistreatment because they felt ashamed and guilty, a report from the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse has said.
The Guardian
Tory leadership contender says parents should have “final say” over LGBT-inclusive teaching
Esther McVey, the Conservative leadership candidate, has sparked condemnation after saying parents should be free to stop their children learning about LGBT+ relationships in schools.
The Independent
'Cowardly government' blamed for breakdown of Birmingham protest peace talks
Lawyer Nazir Afzal has pointed the finger of blame at 'cowardly' government ministers and outsiders with a 'malicious' agenda after his failed bid to broker peace over LGBTQ equality at Anderton Park School in Birmingham.
Birmingham Mail
‘Fundamentalist Muslims’ protests over LGBT-inclusive lessons are spreading nationwide’
Paul Bracchi investigates the spreading protests against LGBT-inclusive education.
Daily Mail
Foreign Office needs to know about religion, bishop tells Lords
The UK's foreign policy should include "expertise and engagement with" religion, the bishop of Winchester has told the House of Lords.
Church Times
Leicester Islamic faith school told to stop separating girls and boys
An independent school has been ordered by the government to stop segregating male and female pupils.
BBC
Edinburgh City Council delays decision on stripping religious representatives of voting rights
Councillors in Edinburgh have delayed a decision on whether to strip religious representatives of voting rights on education issues.
Edinburgh Evening News
New FGM protection measures introduced in Scotland
New measures to protect women and girls against female genital mutilation are to go before MSPs.
The National
Anti-choice student group wins legal case
A student group that is opposed to abortion has successfully legally challenged a ban on affiliation to a campus student union.
Church Times
Dutch health ministry says professional circumcisers are breaking the law
Some of the Netherlands' most frequently used circumcisers of Jewish infant boys are breaking the law, the Dutch health ministry has said.
The Jerusalem Post
I still don't feel free in UK, says anti-blasphemy law campaigner who fled Pakistan
A man who has protested against Pakistan's blasphemy laws has told of how he still doesn't feel free despite being given leave to remain in the UK.
Sky News
Louisiana passes law banning abortions after heartbeat is detected
The Democratic governor in the US state of Louisiana has signed a highly restrictive new abortion law that bans the procedure after a foetal heartbeat is detected.
BBC
Thu, 30 May 2019
Teachers 'in tears' at school gates as row over LGBT-inclusive education in Birmingham worsens
Mediation between parents and staff over the issue of relationships education at a Birmingham primary school has stalled.
Sky News
Education secretary says tolerance has ‘broken down’ amid protests against LGBT-inclusive education
Damian Hinds has said 'tolerance and respect' has broken down amid ongoing protests outside schools in Birmingham.
Attitude
‘Birmingham’s anti-LGBT rhetoric limits the progress LGBT Muslims have fought hard for’
Asifa Lahore says people should not expect the education system to be compromised for the benefit of religious groups at the detriment of other groups within society.
Gay Times
Religious representatives could lose voting rights on education issues at Edinburgh City Council
Religious representatives could lose their voting rights at Edinburgh City Council under proposals to be discussed today.
Edinburgh Evening News
Sikh group launches legal challenge over census
The Sikh Federation UK is challenging the government over the 2021 census, particularly the decision not to include a Sikh ethnic group on the list of tick-box options.
Research Live
Louisiana is latest US state to pass six-week abortion ban
Louisiana lawmakers on Wednesday passed a strict new abortion ban that would prohibit the procedure before some women even know they are pregnant, joining half a dozen conservative US states with similar measures.
The Guardian
‘Missouri may lose its last abortion clinic this week. That's dark news for us all’
Jill Filipovic says US anti-abortion activists know that you don't need to outlaw abortion outright if you can make getting a safe, legal one nearly impossible.
The Guardian
Israel to hold fresh election amid row over ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
Israeli lawmakers have voted to dissolve parliament after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government. At the heart of the impasse was a military conscription bill governing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.
BBC
Conservative Australian MPs push for changes to religious freedom laws after Israel Folau sacking
Conservative coalition MPs in Australia have called for changes to the country's religious freedom laws after the rugby player Israel Folau was sacked over comments on gay people, atheists and others going to hell.
NZ Herald
‘For Indian Muslims, Narendra Modi’s emboldened leadership is a reign of terror’
Kapil Komireddi says the BJP's shady "social media unit" administers a drip-feed of hate against minorities and dissenters.
New Statesman
UN establishes commemorative day recognising victims of violence based on religion or belief
The UN has adopted an international day commemorating the victims of violence that occurred because of their religion or belief.
Premier Christian Radio
‘Jakarta riots reveal Indonesia’s deep divisions on religion and politics’
Tim Lindsey says riots in Jakarta are the product of tensions over the place of Islam in Indonesian life and what is now a deep cleavage in Indonesian politics.
The Conversation
Wed, 29 May 2019
Tory leadership contender wants archbishop of Canterbury to mediate over citizens’ assembly
Conservative leadership hopeful Rory Stewart has said he wants to set up a citizens' assembly to thrash out a Brexit compromise, with the archbishop of Canterbury as mediator.
The Independent
Church of England diocese waiting on child abuse review guidance a year on
A year after being ordered to carry out a fresh inspection into child abuse, the Church of England's Rochester diocese is yet to receive guidance on exactly what to include.
Kent Online
Catholic Church lobbying against voting ban on education at council in Scotland
Talks have opened between the Catholic Church and Perth and Kinross Council over a decision to withdraw religious representatives' voting rights on education issues.
The Courier
‘When protected characteristics collide’
Tehmina Kazi says the government must support schools which have faced anti-LGBT protests from Muslims.
Quillette
‘School protest is a show of some Muslims’ bigotry’
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown says too many Muslims are hysterically homophobic and fair-minded Muslims need to denounce them.
Mirror
Teacher is behind Islamic anti-RSE campaign
A teacher is behind a national campaign to challenge sex education in schools, which he claims can expose children to adultery.
The Times (£)
Equality watchdog launches Labour antisemitism probe
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a formal investigation into the Labour Party over allegations of antisemitism.
BBC
Teachers told to look out for signs of FGM during ‘cutting season’
Some girls may be at greater risk of female genital mutilation over the next few months, a charity has warned.
Metro
MSPs back Scottish smacking ban proposals despite religious opposition
A proposed ban on smacking children has been overwhelmingly backed in principle by the Scottish parliament, despite opposition from some religious groups such as the Christian Institute.
BBC
Police re-route Loyalist marches in Glasgow
The routes of four Loyalist parades through Glasgow have been changed after police raised "significant" concerns.
BBC
Abortion may be unavailable in Missouri by Friday, advocates warn
By Friday Missouri may be the first state in the United States to no longer offer abortions since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973.
CNN
Non-believers do not lack morality, research suggests
The idea that those who do not believe in God lack morality has been disputed by new research.
ITV
Tue, 28 May 2019
‘Islam must not be put above criticism’ – letter from NSS chief executive
NSS chief executive Stephen Evans says the adoption of a proposed definition of 'Islamophobia' would drive important debates underground and accelerate the normalisation of blasphemy taboos.
The Sunday Times (£)
Teacher in LGBT-inclusive education row leads Birmingham Pride
A teacher whose lessons on LGBT relationships have been met with protests has led Birmingham Pride this weekend.
Sky News
Fear of LGBT-inclusive lessons harks back to 80s, says Peter Tatchell
Veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has criticised the government's lack of guidance to schools amid protests over LGBT-inclusive lessons in Birmingham.
The Guardian
‘“We can’t give in”: the Birmingham school on the frontline of anti-LGBT protests’
The school head caught in the crossfire between demonstrators and the law amid protests in Birmingham tells Donna Ferguson of the stress endured as a result of her desire to promote equality.
The Observer
Lancashire County Council rejects proposed definition of Islamophobia in debate
A proposed definition of Islamophobia has been rejected in a debate at Lancashire County Council.
Lancs Live
Petition backing doctor who asked Muslim mum to remove veil has topped 74,000 signatures
A petition to save the career of a doctor who asked a Muslim patient to remove her veil so that he could better hear the details of her daughter's medical condition has reached more than 74,000 signatures.
Stoke-on-Trent Live
Ireland votes to liberalise divorce laws
People in the Republic of Ireland have voted overwhelmingly in favour of liberalising divorce laws, in a referendum held on Friday. Catholic pressure groups were the main source of opposition to the measure.
BBC
Pope Francis compares abortion to hiring a hitman
Pope Francis compared having an abortion to hiring a "hitman" and called the procedure always unacceptable on Saturday.
The Hill
Christian rightwingers warn abortion fight could spark US civil war
Prominent figures on the Christian right in the US ranging from religious magazines to authors to elected politicians have warned that the fight over abortion rights could lead to a new civil war.
The Guardian
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