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Fri, 23 Nov 2018
Bristol authorities soften approach to FGM
Bristol authorities have softened their approach to protecting girls against female genital mutilation leading to a 94% drop in referrals. The city's FGM safeguarding group changed its guidelines for referring girls suspected of being at risk after the collapse of a high-profile trial.
Bristol Live
Western countries not doing enough to stop global surge in violence against religious minorities – report
Western nations are failing to help the world's religious minorities as they grapple with a surge in violent attacks and intimidation, a new report has said.
Christian Today
‘The West begins to stir over China’s massive abuse of Muslims’
At least 14 ambassadors from Western countries have come together to confront China over its mass detentions of Muslims in the far-western region of Xinjiang.
The Economist
‘Pro-life’ students banned from becoming an official club at Glasgow University
A pro-life group has been banned from membership of a student union at a leading Scottish university sparking a row over freedom of speech.
The Herald
Saudi Arabia ‘teaches kids gay sex causes natural disasters’
Saudi Arabia's textbooks for the current academic year promote violence against those who engage in gay sex, as well as women, Jews, Christians and Shia Muslims, according to a new report by the monitoring group Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Pink News
Woman jailed for blasphemy in Indonesia files appeal to Supreme Court
A woman found guilty of blasphemy for complaining about the volume of her neighborhood's mosque loudspeaker in Indonesia has appealed to the country's highest court.
Coconuts
Survey finds religion is becoming less meaningful in Americans’ lives
A study by the Pew Research Center suggests religion is becoming less of a motivator for many Americans.
Patheos
Thu, 22 Nov 2018
Thousands sign unstunned meat petition over schools in Kirklees in West Yorks – NSS prominently mentioned
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition asking a West Yorkshire council to stop "unstunned halal meat" being served in schools. This comes after NSS research revealed Kirklees Council supplied the meat to at least 40 schools.
BBC
Campaign to end supply of non-stun halal meat to schools – NSS prominently mentioned
The campaign to stop non-stun halal meat being served to schoolchildren in Kirklees is gathering traction and could be rolled out nationally.
Farmers Guardian
Thousands sign petition calling on council to stop supplying non-stun meat in schools – NSS mentioned
More than 3,500 people have signed a petition calling on a council to stop serving non-stun halal meat in local schools.
Farming UK
Ofsted slams independent Jewish school in Manchester
A failing school where pupils are not taught in English, leave with no recognised qualifications and are not prepared for "life in modern Britain" has been slammed by the education watchdog.
Manchester Evening News
Christian group complains over school’s LGBT Pride event
A school may face legal action after parents backed by a Christian legal group complained to governors about a 'Pride' event it put on for pupils.
BBC
Celebrities back decriminalisation of abortion in NI
More than 60 celebrities have written an open letter to the prime minister calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland.
The Irish News
Asia Bibi's family hunted 'house to house' as mobs continue to react badly to blasphemy acquittal
The family of a Pakistani woman acquitted of blasphemy charges last month have reportedly been driven into hiding by hardline religious groups trying to hunt them down.
Time
Campaigners say tens of thousands of girls at risk after US ruling on FGM
Campaigners have said a court ruling on female genital mutilation in the US will have an impact on tens of thousands of girls who are at risk of the practice across the country.
The Independent
Islamic militants four times stronger than during 9/11 terrorist attacks, study says
There are today almost four times as many Sunni Islamic militants around the world as on 9/11, a new study from a US think tank says.
9News
Jailed Saudi women’s rights activists said to face electric shocks, beatings and other abuse
Several women's rights activists who have been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for more than six months have reportedly been subjected to psychological or physical abuse while in custody, including sleep deprivation and beatings.
The Washington Post
Ireland plans to make abortion services available in January
Irish health minister Simon Harris has said his government's timeline for abortion services to be available in Ireland by January next year remains unchanged.
The Journal
Rights group: Christian religious freedoms decline in Egypt
An Egyptian rights group says the country's Christians are suffering increased discrimination despite official efforts to address their grievances.
The Washington Post
Wed, 21 Nov 2018
‘The government should stop funding faith schools’ – NSS research cited
GP Taylor, a priest, says all educational establishments should be run on strict secular lines. He cites NSS research which found 18,000 families were assigned faith schools for their children against their preferences in 2017.
The Yorkshire Post
C of E pays women £10,000 a year less on average than men despite Welby criticism of gender pay gap
Women working for the Church of England are paid on average over £10,000 a year less than men, the CoE acknowledged yesterday. The archbishop of Canterbury has previously condemned the gender pay gap as unjust.
Daily Mail
Preacher who praised Osama bin Laden broadcasts to Britain
The "personal television station" of an Islamic preacher who was banned from entering Britain is being broadcast to millions of homes despite concerns about extremist content, an investigation has found.
The Times (£)
Peers put pressure on ministers over Asia Bibi
Peers have stepped up pressure on the Government to offer asylum to Asia Bibi, who faces the threat of lynch mobs after her acquittal on blasphemy charges in Pakistan.
Premier Christian Radio
Evangelical preacher complains to council in Lincolnshire over ‘Mary Christmas’ sign
An evangelical preacher has branded a billboard advertising Grimsby's Christmas lights switch-on as "religious blasphemy". North East Lincolnshire Council said it had received a complaint about the message and passed it to the organisers of the event.
Grimsby Telegraph
US judge dismisses FGM charges in historic case
A judge in Detroit has declared America's female genital mutilation law unconstitutional. Key charges against eight people accused of subjecting girls to the cutting procedure have been dropped. The judge said FGM was for local states to ban.
Detroit Free Press
US judge blocks Mississippi 15-week abortion ban
A US judge in the state of Mississippi has overturned an abortion ban that would have prevented women from getting abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
BBC
Muslim leaders reject meeting with Australian PM
Muslim leaders are refusing to meet Scott Morrison after "strongly" taking offence to the Australian prime minister's suggestion that they should do more to combat extremism. Morrison's comments came in the wake of the recent Melbourne terror attack.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Kabul suicide bomber kills dozens
A suicide bomb attack on a gathering of religious scholars in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed at least 50 people.
BBC
Hindus take offence as Twitter boss criticises Hindu ‘caste’
Some Hindus have reacted badly after Twitter boss Jack Dorsey was photographed holding a picture of a woman waving a banner which read "smash the Brahminical patriarchy" during a trip to India.
The Telegraph
Catholic school in Italy teaches homosexuality is curable ‘deformity’
A Catholic school in Italy has taught its students that homosexuality is a "psychological deformity" which can be cured.
Pink News
Tue, 20 Nov 2018
Hundreds sign petition for ban on non-stunned halal meat in Kirklees schools – follows NSS research
Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling on a council in West Yorkshire to stop serving schoolchildren halal meat from animals which were not stunned before slaughter. The petition, which now has over 2,700 signatures, comes after NSS research uncovered the practice.
Examiner Live
Government minister says Christians have “special role” in dealing with prisoners
Prisons minister Rory Stewart has claimed Christians are in a prime position to contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners.
Premier Christian Radio
The scandal of FGM in the Black Country revealed
Doctors in the Black Country are recording an average of nearly 12 cases of female genital mutilation every month.
Birmingham Live
C of E school in Yorkshire Dales to close after pupil numbers dwindle to eight
A Church of England school in the Yorkshire Dales is set to close after pupil numbers fell to just eight.
Yorkshire Post
Bishop who sits in Lords claims another referendum on Brexit would 'make things worse'
The bishop of Oxford, who sits in the House of Lords, has said another referendum on Brexit would deepen divisions in the country.
Premier Christian Radio
North Wales council considers removing free travel to faith schools
Wrexham Council is consulting on whether to remove free travel for youngsters living further than two or three miles away from religious schools.
The Leader
Australian archbishop: Gay teachers tolerated if they live far away from their schools
The Catholic archbishop of Melbourne has suggested religious schools in Australia are accepting of gay teachers if they keep their relationships hidden.
Gay Star News
Swedish council to take religiously slaughtered meat off school menus
A municipality in Sweden has said it will remove religiously slaughtered meat from school menus.
The Local (Sweden)
Half of reproductive-age women in US want easier access to abortion pills
A new survey has revealed that half of reproductive-age women in the United States want easier access to abortion pills.
Gay Star News
Mon, 19 Nov 2018
Schools not telling parents about non-stun halal meat – NSS research extensively cited
Schools are feeding children halal meat but not telling parents that it comes from animals that had their throats cut while they were still conscious. The NSS recently revealed that at least 17 councils are supplying non-stun halal meat to schools.
The Times (£)
BBC sticks to atheist and humanist ban on Thought for the Day
The BBC has refused to broaden its longstanding Radio 4 Thought for the Day slot to include contributions from the non-religious.
The Telegraph
Faith schools ‘owe success to wealthy pupils’
Campaigners have questioned the predominance of religious primary schools at the top of a new performance league table, saying that many socially select their pupils.
The Times (£)
Gay ‘conversion therapy’ associated with suicide risk, study finds
A new study provides concrete evidence that gay conversion therapy is dangerous.
Psychology Today
All Catholic schools in part of east London could become academies
The diocese of Brentwood has announced plans to academise all Roman Catholic schools in Barking and Dagenham.
Barking and Dagenham Post
US Democrats want to change rules on religious headwear in House of Representatives
Democrats have proposed a clarification to a 181-year-old rule banning representatives from wearing hats on the floor of the US House of Representatives after two Muslim women were elected in the recent midterm elections.
Time
Politicians withdraw support from Danish proposal to end child genital cutting
Several politicians are withdrawing their support from a proposal to introduce a gender-neutral age of consent for genital cutting in Denmark.
The Local (Denmark)
Baby 'lucky to be alive' after genital cutting in Ireland, court hears
A man has been accused of carrying out a "crude" circumcision on a 10-month-old baby boy who had to be hospitalised and was "lucky to be alive".
The Independent (Ireland)
Norwegians protest against proposals to restrict abortion
Thousands in cities across Norway have been protesting against proposals to restrict women's access to abortion. Critics say Norway's prime minister is planning the restrictions in an attempt to appease a Christian party and cling to power.
Euro News
Israeli airline diverts flight after religious passengers cause uproar
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish passengers on board a pair of Israel-bound El Al planes that took off from New York on Thursday caused an uproar, with some reportedly becoming violent. The passengers were reportedly angry that they would arrive in Israel after sundown on Friday.
The Times of Israel
Fri, 16 Nov 2018
NSS criticises use of non-stunned meat in Bradford schools
The NSS, and other groups, have criticised the serving of non-stunned halal meat in schools run by Bradford's local council.
Telegraph & Argus
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