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Wed, 27 Mar 2019
Ofsted inspectors warn faith primary school which refused to acknowledge LGBT issues
An orthodox Jewish primary school in Gateshead in Tyne and Wear has come under fire from Ofsted for refusing to acknowledge LGBT individuals.
Chronicle Live
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation urges UN to declare ‘Islamophobia’ a form of racism
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has urged the UN to declare 'Islamophobia' as a form of racism and to assign a special rapporteur for monitoring and combating it in the West.
The Express Tribune
Second vandal attack on Islamic school in Newcastle
An Islamic education centre has been vandalised for the second time in as many months.
BBC
Multi-faith anti-sex education campaign launched to defend ‘traditional family groups’
A new multi-faith campaign to promote the views of "traditional family groups" in education was formally launched at a parliamentary meeting on Monday.
The JC
Hotel opposite Newcastle mosque has alcohol licence restricted over hate crime fears
A hotel opposite a Newcastle mosque will be allowed to sell alcohol, but has compromised on its licensing hours amid a backlash from local Muslim groups.
Chronicle Live
BBC criticised for questioning if LGBT rights should 'be taught in schools’
The BBC has come under fire for giving "credibility" to the belief that not everyone should be taught about their rights.
The National
US expands anti-abortion policies with new overseas funding rules
The Trump administration will withhold funding from foreign nongovernmental organisations that give money to foreign groups that perform abortions, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.
The New York Times
Tue, 26 Mar 2019
Staff in Birmingham diversity lessons row are 'distraught'
The head of a school trust embroiled in a row over classes about LGBT rights says staff have been left "distraught". Meanwhile the former head of Ofsted Sir Michael Wilshaw has said the classes should be reinstated.
BBC
Activist warning of 'war on morality' wades into LGBT lessons row
Kate Godfrey-Faussett, who describes herself as a chartered psychologist and Muslim academic, is the latest voice entering the tinderbox row over LGBT lessons in Birmingham schools.
The Guardian
‘Free speech is under threat over Islamophobia’
Peter Tatchell says the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims has produced a well-intentioned but worrisome definition of Islamophobia, and major politicians are failing to critique it.
The Times (£)
‘The word “Islamophobia” and its definition are not fit for purpose’
Maajid Nawaz says this misnomer fails to distinguish between racist hatred of Muslims and fairly criticising grotesque Islamic doctrine.
Jewish News
Treat male circumcision seriously, campaigners urge
Campaigners have called for male circumcision to be taken as seriously as female genital mutilation following the death of a five-month-year-old boy in Italy as a result of the procedure.
talkRADIO
Birmingham mosque attacks not far-right or terror-related, say police
The Birmingham mosque attacks are not being treated as acts of far-right extremism or terrorism, police have said. A man has been detained under the Mental Health Act over the vandalism of six mosques.
The Guardian
Professor had Cambridge fellowship withdrawn after posing next to a man in an 'I'm a proud Islamophobe' t-shirt
Canadian academic Jordan Peterson had his Cambridge fellowship withdrawn after posing next to a man in an 'I'm a proud Islamophobe' t-shirt.
Mail Online
Event on extremism at Bristol University cancelled amid pressure from Islamic Society
The University of Bristol's free speech society has been forced by the university and the students' union to cancel a talk entitled "Extreme Speakers vs Free Speech" under pressure from the university's Islamic Society.
The Tab
‘The Catholic Church’s abuse crisis is reshaping its relationship with state authorities’
Christopher Lamb says the Catholic Church's abuse crisis is stripping away any free passes it might have had in the past from the state.
The Tablet
Target vulnerable for donations, Church of England's new fundraising chief says
The Church of England's new fundraising chief has a history of urging charities to make money from people's "forgetfulness" and by targeting "vulnerable" elderly women.
The Telegraph (£)
Northern Ireland fans' 'we hate Catholics' song condemned by IFA
The Irish Football Association has condemned a video containing Northern Ireland fans singing "we hate Catholics".
Belfast Telegraph
Many US Catholic hospitals fail to disclose religious affiliation and restrictions online
Patients should know if the hospital they choose will restrict their care for religious reasons, but among nearly 650 Catholic hospitals in the US, a new study finds that one in five don't explicitly disclose this information on their websites.
Reuters
Mon, 25 Mar 2019
Supporters of Birmingham primary school’s diversity lessons warned they will ‘burn in hell’
A teacher at the centre of protests over what children learn about relationships has called on the education secretary to make it "crystal clear" that schools are only trying to follow the law.
The Sunday Times (£)
Tory with anti-gay voting record tipped to replace PM
David Lidington, an Anglican who has been tipped as a potential replacement for Theresa May, has a history of voting against LGBT+ rights.
Pink News
‘Silencing critics of Islam is as futile a response as banning the Koran’
Kenan Malik says much of the reaction to the Christchurch terror attack has wrongly sought to censor far-right hatred.
The Observer
Second Iranian Christian had asylum application rejected by the Home Office on theological grounds
The Home Office is facing claims it rejected an Iranian woman's application to move to Britain by telling her "your belief in Jesus is half-hearted". This follows another case where theology was used to justify a refusal which emerged last week.
Mail Online
One‑man Sharia courts ‘discriminate against women’
Women face discrimination as a growing number of "one-man" Sharia councils pop up, an Islamic scholar has warned.
The Times (£)
Italy home circumcision kills child
A five-month-old boy has died after parents performed a circumcision at their home in Italy, officials say.
BBC
Sixth mosque vandalised in Birmingham just two days after others had windows smashed
Another Birmingham mosque has been targeted by vandals, days after five others in the city had their windows smashed.
Evening Standard
Christian mother complains to education secretary over school’s LGBT lessons
A Christian parent has reportedly complained to the education secretary over a south London primary school's LGBT+ inclusive education.
Pink News
Glasgow Council's abortion protest buffer zone report overdue
A pledge to look at how to implement 'buffer zones' outside abortion clinics at Glasgow hospitals has missed its deadline.
BBC
More US states pass draconian restrictions on abortion
The senate in the US state of Georgia has passed a bill banning almost all abortions after a foetal heartbeat can be detected. Republican lawmakers in Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and Ohio are pursuing similar legislation, while governors in Mississippi and Kentucky have recently signed heartbeat abortion bans.
Time
Pakistan PM orders probe into forced conversion and marriages of two teenage Hindu girls
Two teenage girls have reportedly been abducted, forced to convert to Islam and married underage in Pakistan's Sindh province.
The Times of India
Montreal to remove crucifix from council chamber and place it in museum
The City of Montreal has said it will take down the crucifix that has hung in its council chamber for more than 80 years and move it to a new home.
The Star (Canada)
Fri, 22 Mar 2019
Anti-LGBT protests resume at school in Birmingham
Protests over a primary school's teaching of LGBT rights have resumed despite the school's decision to suspend its programme of diversity lessons.
BBC
Parents 'warned they'll go to hell unless they sign LGBT protest petition' at Birmingham school
A councillor claims parents have been warned they will 'go to hell' unless they sign a petition against teaching which acknowledges LGBT people's existence at a Birmingham school.
Birmingham Live
‘Parkfield School and No Outsiders: We must learn from Trojan Horse history in Birmingham’
Colin Diamond says the No Outsiders programme, and in particular the teaching of LGBT issues, must continue if we want to protect the values that are enshrined in British law.
Schools Week
Birmingham mosque attacks probed by terrorism officers
Five mosques in Birmingham were targeted in a string of violent attacks on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
BBC
Royal College of Physicians drops opposition to assisted dying
A group representing hospital doctors has dropped its opposition to assisted dying amid fierce debate over the issue.
The Independent
Home Office cites Bible to deny asylum – NSS quoted
The Home Office refused asylum to an Iranian who converted from Islam to Christianity because, it said, Christianity was not a peaceful religion.
The Times (£)
London mosque warned over 'kill Ahmadis' leaflets
A mosque has received an official warning after leaflets calling for the killing of a sect of Muslims were found on display.
BBC
‘We need an effective definition of Islamophobia’
David Toube argues that the all party parliamentary group on British Muslims's definition is fundamentally flawed.
The JC
Ofsted warns Jewish school over lack of LGBT awareness
An independent Jewish school has been warned by Ofsted that it is unlikely to meet required school standards because it does not give pupils an understanding of different sexual orientations.
Tes
‘A week after shootings, New Zealand joins Muslims in Friday prayers’
Tens of thousands of New Zealanders stood behind rows of worshippers in a show of solidarity in the first Friday prayers since last week's mosque attacks.
The Washington Post
Canadian university cancels speech by ex-Muslim atheist in light of New Zealand terror attack
An ex-Muslim who is now an atheist and secular activist says Mount Royal University is overreacting by cancelling his talk that was planned on campus for Thursday.
CBC News (Canada)
West Virginia attorney general sues Catholic diocese, saying paedophile priests were knowingly hired
The attorney general in the US state of West Virginia has filed a lawsuit against a retired Catholic bishop and a diocese alleging that they knowingly employing paedophile priests and failed to conduct adequate background checks.
USA Today
Thu, 21 Mar 2019
‘The charitable status of religions is up for debate’ – NSS report cited
A new report from the NSS suggests the advancement of religion should no longer be a charitable purpose.
The Economist (£)
Call for urgent inquiry into schools admissions system – NSS mentioned
Campaigners led by the NSS and Comprehensive Future have called for an urgent inquiry into the schools admissions system.
Tes
Home Office refuses Christian convert asylum by quoting Bible passages that 'prove Christianity is not peaceful' – NSS quoted
The Home Office has refused asylum to a Christian convert by quoting Bible passages and claiming they prove Christianity is not a peaceful religion. NSS chief executive Stephen Evans has called the letter "wholly inappropriate".
The Independent
Labour formally adopts definition of Islamophobia
The Labour party has formally adopted a definition of Islamophobia produced by the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims.
The Guardian
US anti-LGBT group dramatically increases UK spending
An American anti-LGBT 'hate group' with close ties to the Trump administration has spent more than £410,000 in the UK since 2017.
openDemocracy
Andrea Leadsom says parents should choose when children are “exposed” to information about LGBT people
Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, waded into the row over teaching LGBQ issues when she said parents should have the right to choose if their children "are exposed to that kind of information".
LBC
Pakistani student murdered professor over proposed party which would include women, say police
A student stabbed a college professor to death in eastern Pakistan on Wednesday. According to police he did it because he felt that a planned party that would involve women would be un-Islamic.
Reuters
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