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Tue, 05 Feb 2019
MP quizzes government 50 times in one day over its response to persecution of Christians
An MP asked the government 50 times during one day what it is doing to tackle persecution against Christians around the world, it has emerged.
Premier Christian Radio
European and Muslim-majority countries urged to act over China’s persecution of Uighurs
European and Muslim-majority nations should take the lead in setting up a UN investigation into the detention of up to one million ethnic Uighurs in China, say campaigners.
The Independent
New party launched in Poland to challenge influence of Catholic Church
A former MP has launched a new political party in Poland which will challenge the governing Law and Justice Party's close links with the Catholic Church.
Premier Christian Radio
‘An old culture war on Bible reading in US public schools is emerging again’
David Mislin charts the history of rows over Bible reading in US public schools, and says it is unsurprising that the issue is rearing its head again.
The Conversation
Mon, 04 Feb 2019
"Why free speech, hate speech and radicalisation are hard to define" - NSS quoted
In Britain, words like extremism and Islamophobia are furiously contested
The Economist
Mother guilty of genital mutilation of daughter
A woman who mutilated her three-year-old daughter has become the first person in the UK to be found guilty of female genital mutilation (FGM).
BBC
FGM 'increasingly performed on UK babies'
FGM expert and barrister Dr Charlotte Proudman said it was "almost impossible to detect" as the girls were not in school or old enough to report it.
BBC
DfE could lose ‘millions’ under faith academies plan
The government could lose millions in contributions towards capital funding if religious groups convert their schools into academies en-masse.
Schools Week
Call to register home-schooled children
Children taught at home should be recorded on a compulsory register, England's children's commissioner has said.
BBC
"The groups lining up to undermine UK’s successful counter-terror strategy"
Islamist bodies, NGOs and some on the left are seeking to use an upcoming government review to discredit the Prevent progamme
The JC
"Demonisation of Dina Torkia proves that hijab is hardly a free choice"
World Hijab Day is held on February 1st, however the case of Dina Torkia proves that even in the West the hijab is hardly a free choice.
Conatus News
Sikh man held for carrying kirpan wants more 'education'
The airport said decisions on carrying a kirpan and blades up to 6cm (2.36in) were at managers' discretion.
BBC
University speakers should not be banned just because they 'offend, shock or disturb' students
University speakers should not be banned from campus just because they "offend, shock or disturb" students, the Government's first "safe spaces" guidance says.
The Telegraph
Many people in mostly Christian countries believe values clash with Islam
Almost one-third in UK see rift, finds survey
The Guardian
Fri, 01 Feb 2019
"Why I'm starting a global campaign to remove religion from politics"
The world's leading powers have made grave mistakes when dealing with ideological conflicts, playing into the hands of extremists, says Salam Sarhan.
Independent
Orthodox Jewish educational charity investigated over 'financial discrepancies'
A Charedi education charity is being investigated over potential financial "misconduct and mismanagement", authorities have said.
The JC
"If we’re defended against bigotry, so must the LGBT+ community"
A mother in Birmingham objected to her child's school hosting a course that tackles homophobia, but shouldn't every community in our society deserve protection, says Fiyaz Mughal
Independent
Almost equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland of working age
The number of Catholics and Protestants of working age is almost the same for the first time as Northern Ireland's population changes continue.
Irish News
Catholic bishop who denied the Nazis used gas chambers loses hate speech conviction appeal
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled Germany was within its rights to convict British bishop Richard Williamson of Holocaust denial.
Mail Online
Catholic Church in Texas Names Nearly 300 Priests Accused of Sex Abuse
The Roman Catholic Church in Texas on Thursday released the names of almost 300 priests who it said had been credibly accused of child sex abuse over nearly eight decades.
The New York Times
Sarah Sanders says 'God wanted Trump to be president'
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has told a religious television network that God "wanted Donald Trump to become president".
BBC News
Muslim inmate scheduled for execution says Alabama violating his religious rights
Attorneys for Dominique Ray, convicted of killing a 15-year-old, say the warden refused to allow an imam in the execution chamber instead of a chaplain.
NBC News
Lawsuit challenges school's policy about passing out Bibles
A Pennsylvania district faces a federal lawsuit claiming officials improperly prevented a high school Christians in Action Club from passing out Bibles on school property during the school day.
Mail Online
Thu, 31 Jan 2019
Muslim school will not allow girls to eat lunch until after boys have finished, Ofsted chief says
Al-Hijrah school in Birmingham, which was at the centre of a High Court case over gender segregation in 2017, is still segregating boys and girls, according to an Ofsted chief.
The Telegraph
Christian group tells pupils abortion is like crimes of Nazis
Pupils in hundreds of schools are being told that abortions are like the crimes of the Nazis by speakers said to be "peddling junk science".
The Times (£)
Leading Charedi Jewish figure protests at 'aggressive' Ofsted inspections
A leading figure in the Charedi Jewish community has protested to education secretary Damian Hinds at the "aggressive" attitude of Ofsted inspectors.
The JC
Independent school heads warned after Charedi parents refuse to allow inspectors to speak to their children
Heads of independent schools have been warned by the Department for Education that they could be in breach of educational standards if inspectors are unable to speak to pupils.
The JC
Postcolonial guilt hindering fight against Christian persecution, claims Hunt
Postcolonial guilt about Britain's imperial past has held the country back from addressing the deepening persecution of Christians across the world, the foreign secretary has said.
The Guardian
Northern Ireland abortion case hears traumatic experience
A court in Belfast has heard one woman's traumatic experience of seeking an abortion after receiving a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality. Sarah Ewart hopes to secure a formal declaration that Northern Ireland's abortion laws violate the European convention on human rights.
The Guardian
Designer apologises after Hindu leader takes offence at her use of goddess on swimsuits
A London fashion designer has apologised to "the Hindu community" after a cleric objected to her use of prints featuring a Hindu goddess.
Evening Standard
‘Should religion play a role in politics?’
A debate between Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Dawn Foster on the role of religion in politics.
New Internationalist
‘How the religious right gained unprecedented access to Trump’
As the US president offers a sympathetic ear to the religious right, critics see a de facto advisory committee which violates federal law.
The Guardian
‘US Christian right groups roll out their radical anti-woman campaign — overseas’
Anti-choice US groups say they don't aim to punish women or end birth control. Their work overseas tells a different story.
Salon
Islamists in Pakistan to rally against blasphemy acquittal
An Islamist party in Pakistan says it has called on its followers to hold nationwide protests over the weekend against the acquittal of Asia Bibi, who spent eight years on death row after being convicted for blasphemy.
VoA News
Modi politicises Kumbh Mela religious festival to rally faithful
India's prime minister Narendra Modi has been accused of exploiting a religious festival to engage in electioneering.
The Times (£)
Wed, 30 Jan 2019
Damian Hinds meets with faith leaders to push academisation
The education secretary has met with representatives of all major religions in a new push to encourage them to convert their schools into academies.
Schools Week
Asia Bibi blasphemy acquittal upheld by Pakistan court
Pakistan's top court has rejected a challenge to the acquittal of a Christian woman on blasphemy charges.
BBC
Birmingham councillor reported to committee over support for anti-gay parents
A councillor in Birmingham who said primary school pupils are too young to be taught about homosexuality has been accused of breaching the code of conduct for endorsing 'homophobic views'.
Birmingham Live
FGM bill due before parliament on Friday
A bill on female genital mutilation is due before parliament on Friday. A crossbench peer who is trying to amend the existing law has said the MP Christopher Chope, who previously blocked a similar bill, should not stand in its way.
Metro
C of E school’s Ofsted grade goes from ‘outstanding’ to ‘inadequate’
A Church of England school has lost its 'outstanding' Ofsted grade and is now deemed 'inadequate'.
Manchester Evening News
Northern Irish rape victim, 12, forced to travel to England under police escort for abortion
A 12-year-old rape victim in Northern Ireland has been forced to travel to England under police escort for an abortion, MPs have been told.
The Independent
BBC to shine light on Judaism in series examining faith in modern Britain
The BBC has announced it will shine a light on Judaism as part of a year-long series of programmes examining faith in modern Britain across TV, radio and online.
Jewish News
Bristol C of E school doubles in size after £2m expansion
A Church of England primary school in Bristol has doubled its number of places after undergoing a £2million expansion.
North Somerset Times
Police probe into ‘military jihad’ sermon at mosque where Manchester bomber worshipped ends
An investigation into a sermon at a mosque where the Manchester Arena bomber worshipped has found no offences were committed.
BBC
Man arrested over video showing harassment of girls wearing headscarves
Police have arrested a man after a "disturbing" racist video of young Muslim girls in east London was shared on social media.
iNews
‘Readers share their stories of Christian educations in the US’
The New York Times asked people on Twitter to share their experiences of Christian schools after the hashtag #ExposeChristianSchools went viral on social media. The responses were both positive and negative.
The New York Times
Call to end prayers in House of Commons – NSS mentioned
MPs are calling for the practice of saying prayers at the beginning of parliamentary business to be abolished.
Vision Christian Radio
Tue, 29 Jan 2019
More details released on BBC’s ‘year of beliefs’
The BBC is launching a year-long series of programmes examining faith, belief and values in modern Britain.
The Guardian
Tory peer launches fresh attempt to legalise same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland
The House of Lords is to debate an amendment to the Civil Partnerships Bill on Friday that could lead to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.
Christian Today
Just one in ten babies in England is baptised into the Church of England
Only one in ten babies is baptised into the Church of England, a national breakdown of the C of E's strength has revealed.
Daily Mail
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