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Fri, 21 Sep 2018
Ofsted head says inspectors treat faith and non-faith schools the same
The chief inspector of schools in England, Amanda Spielman, has said faith schools are "an intrinsic part of our system" in an interview with LBC. She added that Ofsted inspectors treat faith and non-faith schools "in exactly the same way".
Jewish News
Ukip proposes harsh anti-Muslim measures including Muslim-only prisons
Ukip has proposed Muslim-only prisons, special security screening for Muslim would-be immigrants and a repeal of equalities laws before its annual conference.
The Guardian
Anti-abuse activists pan US Catholic bishops' new proposals
Lawyers and advocates for victims of clerical sexual abuse are assailing as inadequate some new steps announced by U.S. Catholic bishops to curtail the abuse scandals that have deeply shaken the church this year.
ABC News
Danish mayors say they’ll ignore plan to make citizenship dependent on handshakes
Some mayors in Denmark have said they will defy a plan from the ruling coalition to deny citizenship to immigrants who refuse to shake hands.
The Guardian
Paid-for FGM video seen 30,000 times on Twitter
A video defending female circumcision as "healthy" and harmless has been viewed more than 30,000 times online after Twitter allowed a campaign group to pay for it to be promoted.
The Times (£)
Texas Republican group apologises over elephant ad featuring Hindu deity
Republicans in Texas have apologised for a political advertisement which asked Hindu voters: "Would you worship a donkey or an elephant? The choice is yours."
Independent
Thu, 20 Sep 2018
Belfast court to hear landmark challenge over abortion rights
A woman is challenging a decision to prosecute her for obtaining abortion pills for her pregnant underage daughter in a potential landmark case for abortion rights in Northern Ireland.
The Guardian
Westminster attacker’s mother 'feared he would kill', inquest hears
The Westminster attacker's mother feared he would become a killer when he was just a teenager, an inquest into his victims' deaths has heard. The inquest also heard that Khalid Masood converted to Islam in prison.
The Independent
Row over bus company’s uniform policy as Rastafarian wants to wear headscarf
A Rastafarian London bus driver has criticised the company Metroline's uniform policy after she was told she could not wear a colourful headscarf to work. The union Unite has backed her, alleging discrimination.
Metro
Same-sex couple say Home Office won’t recognise their marriage
A gay couple who legally married four years ago have been forbidden to stay together both in the UK and in the US.
MK Citizen
Council set to give go-ahead for Proud Ness parade in Highlands
Highland Council has said objections to a Pride parade are "not sufficient reason for the council to refuse permission" for it to go ahead. A home mission worker with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) has been trying to rally opinion against the parade.
Inverness Courier
Irish govt rules out change to three-day waiting period for abortions
Ireland's government will not accept amendments to the forthcoming abortion legislation which would shorten or abolish the proposed three-day waiting period for access to a termination of pregnancy, the minister for health has said. A senior gynaecologist has described the waiting period as "demeaning".
The Irish Times
India criminalises Islamic ‘instant divorce’
India is one step closer to a total ban on the Islamic custom of so-called 'instant divorce' (triple talaq) after the government issued an executive order making the practice a criminal offence.
Time
‘Macron is quick to take on nationalism. What about Islamism?’
Gavin Mortimer says the French president faces a significant challenge in taking on separatist sentiment among French Muslims.
The Spectator
Burkina Faso arrests dozens for FGM in biggest crackdown yet
Burkina Faso police have arrested at least 28 people for female genital mutilation, the biggest crackdown to date, after 50 girls were hospitalised, government officials said on Wednesday.
Reuters
Catholic Church urges Singapore to keep anti-gay law
The head of Singapore's powerful Catholic Church said the city-state should not repeal Section 377A, which criminalizes sex between men.
Gay Star News
TV presenter Noel Edmonds calls Justin Welby a “hypocrite”
Noel Edmonds has branded the archbishop of Canterbury a "reincarnation of evil" for failing to meet HBOS fraud victims and investing in Lloyds Banking Group.
Sky News
Far fewer people attended pope’s rally in Dublin than were expected to, official figures say
The Office of Public Works in Ireland has released official figures suggesting just under 152,000 people attended the pope's recent rally in Dublin. The figure is more than 300,000 less than the 485,000 who were expected.
Irish Mirror
Wed, 19 Sep 2018
Two hurt as car hits people near mosque in north London
Two people have been hurt when a car struck several people outside a north London mosque. Eyewitnesses described hearing the driver "shouting anti-Islamic taunts". The police have said the incident is not being treated as terrorist-related.
BBC
Police force reveals uniform designed to conform to Muslim modesty codes
West Yorkshire Police has revealed a new looser uniform for officers which "is designed not to show the female form".
Yorkshire Post
Ofsted head ‘concerned’ about faith-based home education
Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector at Ofsted, has expressed concerns over "a growing religious strand of people who want to protect their children's faith and make sure that everything about the child's education experience happens within the faith".
The Observer
Tory London mayor candidate condemns Zac Goldsmith's 2016 campaign
One of the three Conservative London mayoral candidates has broken ranks to criticise Zac Goldsmith's 2016 campaign in response to a request from the Muslim Council of Britain.
The Guardian
Four-month suspension for Belfast councillor who promoted Britain First
A Belfast councillor has been suspended after she facilitated Britain First's deputy leader sending a video message from the lord mayor's chair. Complaints were also directed against her over public comments she made about Islam.
The Irish News
Hindu leader in Leicester jailed for sexual assaults
A self-proclaimed Hindu guru has been jailed for three and a half years for sexual assault. He told women he attacked that his advances were "spiritual tests".
Leicester Mercury
Ireland’s blasphemy referendum likely to be on 26 October
A referendum on the repeal of Ireland's blasphemy law is set to take place on 26 October after an unopposed vote in the lower house of parliament. The upper house is set to confirm the date tomorrow.
Irish Mirror
Abortion services should be free for women but will require investment, say Irish doctors
Doctors' groups will address Ireland's parliament today about the development of clinical guidelines over abortion. The groups will say the services should be free and raise concerns about the investment required to fund them. Some will also say they would prefer being allowed to work on an 'opt-in' basis.
The Irish Times
‘Australia doesn’t need laws protecting religious freedom’
Brian Morris says Australia has already been described as a 'soft theocracy', and the initial signs suggest new prime minister Scott Morrison is trying to subvert the country's secular values.
Herald Sun
Romania sets date for referendum to block gay marriage
Romania will hold a referendum to change the constitutional definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman on 6-7 October. The vote is aimed at preventing same sex partnerships from ever being legal in one of the few EU states to still ban them.
NBC News
Campaigners demand anti-FGM law as girls bleed to death in Somalia
A spate of deaths of young girls from female genital mutilation has renewed calls for Somalia to outlaw the tradition. Somalia is one of six FGM-practising nations in Africa yet to criminalise it.
Reuters
Abortion rights groups see protests paying off as Kavanaugh confirmation hits snag
A claim of sexual assault has put the confirmation of US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in doubt, but abortion rights activists say they laid the groundwork.
Time
Tue, 18 Sep 2018
C of E appoints first independent chair of safeguarding
The Church of England has appointed a former government minister as its first independent chair of safeguarding.
The Guardian
Inner north London coroner reveals new protocol on prioritising deaths
Mary Hassell, the senior coroner in inner north London, has revealed the new policy that will dictate how her office decides which deaths to deal with first. Hassell was at the centre of a legal case earlier this year after she refused to prioritise her work on religious grounds.
Islington Gazette
May speaks out on anti-semitism at Jewish group dinner
Theresa May has said reports that 40% of British Jews would consider leaving the country if Jeremy Corbyn became prime minister "sicken" her.
The JC
MPs to address ‘community consultation’ aiming to ‘define Islamophobia’
The All Party-Parliamentary Group on British Muslims will hold a 'community consultation' in east London tonight as it works to find a definition of 'Islamophobia'.
East London & West Essex Guardian
Violence erupts at rally against Muslim grooming gangs
A Democratic Football Lads Alliance protest in Sunderland against Muslim grooming gangs has turned violent.
Sky News
Labour calls for ban on early foetus sex test
Labour is calling for a ban on parents-to-be being told the sex of their baby after early blood tests, amid fears it may lead to abortions of girls.
BBC
‘Why can’t England and Wales have humanist weddings, as Scotland has?’
Joan Bakewell says humanist marriages should be recognised in England and Wales.
The Guardian
Tim Farron hijacked Lib Dems with his beliefs, book claims
A book about last year's general election will suggest senior Liberal Democrats became exasperated with their leader Tim Farron over his handling of questions about homosexuality and abortion.
The Guardian
Anti-abortion charity banned from Warwick freshers fair
Warwick Students' Union has refused to let an anti-abortion charity have a stand at its freshers fair.
Coventry Live
FGM leaves 50 girls in hospital in Burkina Faso
Around 50 girls are being treated in hospital in Burkina Faso after their genitals were mutilated, a minister says.
BBC
Pennsylvania Catholic Church sued for names of priests in abuse report
People claiming they were sexually abused by priests filed a class action lawsuit on Monday against eight dioceses in Pennsylvania seeking to compel them to divulge the names of priests accused of such actions over the past 70 years.
US News & World Report
Trinidad and Tobago’s government challenges the decriminalisation of gay sex
The government of Trinidad and Tobago will begin a legal case in the UK this week in an attempt to keep laws against gay sex.
Gay Times
Mon, 17 Sep 2018
Lib Dem peer calls for labelling of non-stun halal and kosher meat
Meat taken from animals that are slaughtered without pre-stunning "should be labelled in shops", a Lib Dem peer has said as the party's conference opened in Brighton.
Blackpool Gazette
Church of England defends its investment in ‘evil’ tech firms
The Church of England has defended its investment in tech companies. It has said it has no plans to sell its shares in Amazon, despite the archbishop of Canterbury's criticism of the company.
iNews
Use school mosque visits to tackle anti-Muslim sentiment, says faith minister
Schools should take pupils on trips to mosques in an attempt to tackle anti-Muslim sentiment among parents, the faith minister has said. Lord Bourne added that all churches, mosques, synagogues and temples should be twinned with places of worship from other faiths.
The Times (£)
Commons to vote on relaxing abortion law in Northern Ireland next month
MPs will vote on whether to decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland next month. Labour MP Diana Johnson will introduce a 10-minute rule bill that will seek to decriminalise abortion and pave the way to allow women here to have a termination.
Belfast Telegraph
Survey highlights public attitudes to multiculturalism and Islam
A large minority of people in the UK believe multiculturalism has undermined British culture and migrants do not properly integrate, according to research. In particular panel discussions regularly revealed negative views about Islam.
The Guardian
Decades of sex abuse uncovered at Christian-run children's home
Decades of physical cruelty and child sexual abuse allegations at a children's home in Argyll have been uncovered by a BBC investigation.
BBC
Academy trust plans to create Leicester's first Sikh faith secondary school
An academy trust is applying to create a Sikh secondary school in Leicester under the government's free schools programme.
Leicester Mercury
Aberdeen City Council paid Catholic holy order more than £12m for school buildings
Council chiefs in Aberdeen paid a Roman Catholic holy order more than £12 million to buy a school and the bishop's residence in the leafy west end of the city.
Press and Journal
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