Daily media briefing
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Wed, 31 Jul 2024
The absurd plot to turn a tiny Scottish island into an Islamic state
London-based preacher Sheikh Yasser al-Habib wanted to create a "homeland" for his followers – but his intentions were met with anger
The Telegraph*
Tue, 30 Jul 2024
Regulator looks into charities that hosted preacher who ‘condones sexual slavery’ – NSS quoted
The National Secular Society has raised concerns about the charities with the Charity Commission.
Third Sector*
Follow the Prophet and vote for a ‘just’ man like me, urged new MP
Iqbal Mohamed, who has been newly elected as an independent in Dewsbury & Batley, may have breached a law protecting voters from improper religious influence.
The Times*
Owner of tiny Scottish island makes statement on firebrand Muslim cleric ownership bid
The owner of a small west coast Scottish island up for sale that has drawn interest from a firebrand cleric said the location would not be sold to anyone unsuitable for the local community, reports have claimed.
The Scotsman
An Afghan mother forced her daughter into marriage. Six weeks later the 21-year-old was dead
An Afghan mother has become the first person jailed under Australia's forced marriage law for coercing her daughter into a marriage that led to the 21-year-old's murder.
The Independent*
Pakistan arrests top leader of radical party on charge of ordering the killing of the chief justice
Pakistan's police on Monday arrested the deputy chief at a radical Islamist party on the charge of ordering the killing of the chief justice over his alleged support to the minority Ahmadi community, officials said.
Associated Press
Israelis storm military bases over inquiry into soldiers’ alleged abuse of detainees
Israeli protesters spurred by hardline politicians stormed two military bases to protest against an investigation into soldiers abusing Palestinian detainees.
The Times*
Ten years on, many Yazidis uprooted by Islamic State onslaught struggle to find stable homes
"A decade after the IS assault, members of the Yazidi community have been trickling back to their homes in Sinjar. But despite their homeland's deep emotional and religious significance, many see no future there."
Associated Press
Mon, 29 Jul 2024
Mosques which hosted Islamist extremist preacher investigated by charity watchdog – NSS quoted
Four mosques are being assessed by the Charity Commission after hosting an Islamist extremist preacher.
The Telegraph via Yahoo News
Independent MP recorded telling Muslim male voters they had ‘duty’ to vote for him
A newly elected Muslim independent MP has been recorded telling people to "follow the teachings of the Prophet" and vote for him, days before the general election.
Jewish News
How security services crushed Anjem Choudary’s radical preachers
Counterterrorism officers employed little-known tactics to neutralise the threat of the extremist group al-Muhajiroun.
The Times*
Radical Islamists raise £3m to buy Scottish island for new 'homeland'
A religious group has raised more than £3 million to buy an entire Scottish island, with the aim to create a closed community which practices sharia law.
The National*
Fears Rochdale could ‘boil over’ as outsiders stir division over Manchester airport video
Family of a man seen being kicked by police call for 'time to heal' as far-right groups and others try to exploit the fallout.
The Guardian
Streeting: Time for assisted dying debate has come, as Bill introduced in Lords
An Assisted Dying Bill has officially been introduced in the House of Lords as the Health Secretary said it is "a debate whose time has come".
The Independent*
Pope praised bishop who covered up for sexually abusive priest
A Catholic bishop covered up for a sexually abusive priest, a court in Sicily has ruled, creating embarrassment for Pope Francis who recently praised the bishop and claimed he was being "persecuted".
The Times*
Paris 2024 apologises over ‘Last Supper’ parody at Olympics opening ceremony
The Paris 2024 organisers have apologised to Catholics and other Christian groups angered after a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous The Last Supper painting during the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night.
The Independent*
US: Kevin Roberts, architect of Project 2025, has close ties to radical Catholic group Opus Dei
Heritage Foundation leader has long received spiritual guidance from group and his policy goals align with its teachings
The Guardian
Fri, 26 Jul 2024
Assisted dying bill to be introduced into House of Lords
Keir Starmer under pressure to allow vote as private member's bill to be introduced in upper chamber.
The Guardian
Ireland: Appeal against conviction for ‘exorcism’ beatings on child rejected by Supreme Court
The court heard the parents believed their daughter was possessed by a devil or "jinn" and took steps to attempt to exorcise her.
Irish Times
US: A Jewish couple were rejected as foster parents because of their religion. This is the future Project 2025 envisions
The conservative blueprint envisions 'a biblically based' definition of marriage and wants to protect adoption agencies that only work with Christians.
The Guardian
Texas woman's lawsuit after being jailed on murder charge over abortion can proceed, judge rules
Texas has one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bans and outlaws the procedure with limited exceptions.
MSN / The Independent
Australia: Stopping girl's insulin 'just a trial' to test faith
A religious leader accused of murdering an eight-year-old girl told her parents their daughter's worsening health was "just a little trial" to prove their faith, a judge has heard.
Canberra Times
French athlete may swap hijab for a cap to avoid Olympic opening ceremony ban
A French sprinter is expected to swap her headscarf for a cap in order to participate in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.
The Guardian
Thu, 25 Jul 2024
An upcoming secularist conference on the safeguarding of liberal values in a time of crisis – NSS opinion
NSS chief exec Stephen Evans highlights the myriad threats to secular liberalism and sets out what's needed to preserve it ahead of the National Secular Society's upcoming conference on protecting liberal values.
The Freethinker
Manx Assisted Dying Bill passed by House of Keys
Proposed laws that would give terminally ill people on the Isle of Man the right to choose to end their lives have been passed by the House of Keys.
BBC
Charedi leaders call for day of prayer over Labour education plans
Proposal to introduce register for children taught at home or in yeshivot sends alarm bells ringing in Stamford Hill.
The Jewish Chronicle
Salman Rushdie stabbing suspect indicted on federal terrorism counts
Hadi Matar, 26, faces three new charges almost two years after writer was attacked on stage in Chautauqua, New York.
The Guardian
Lord Mann reappointed as government’s independent adviser on antisemitism
The party is also likely to appoint an independent advisor on Islamophobia, to show that it is also taking anti-Muslim racism as seriously as that directed at the Jewish community.
Jewish News
Hamburg’s ‘blue mosque’ raided over links to Iranian regime
Iran summons the German ambassador in Tehran after Germany outlawed Islamic Centre Hamburg and shut down Imam Ali mosque for promoting 'aggressive antisemitism'.
The Times*
Indian court blocks ‘anti-Muslim’ order forcing cafés to name owner
India's top court has temporarily blocked an order requiring café and restaurant owners on the route of a Hindu religious procession to display their names, so that pilgrims could shun those owned by Muslims.
The Times*
Wed, 24 Jul 2024
Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary guilty of directing terrorist organisation
The Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been found guilty of directing the terrorist group al-Muhajiroun and drumming up cross-border support for the banned organisation online.
The Guardian
Jewish school with Muslim pupils affected by ‘community tensions’ says Ofsted
A Jewish primary school which has a majority of Muslim pupils has been affected by community tensions, Ofsted has reported.
The Jewish Chronicle
Faith no reason to keep brain-damaged Muslim father on life support, judge rules
The 66-year-old former chef's daughter said that a decision by doctors to remove life support would be contrary to Islamic faith
The i
Leicester pro-Palestine MP used campaigner who defended October 7 attack
An independent pro-Palestine MP who secured a shock general election victory in Leicester was reportedly helped by a radical activist who defended the October 7 attack.
The Jewish Chronicle
Muslim charity investigated after trustee elections spark concern
The Charity Commission is investigating a London-based Muslim charity after concerns about its trustee elections.
Civil Society
Aid charity’s alleged links to ‘terrorism-promoting’ news outlet investigated
The Charity Commission is investigating an international aid charity over concerns about its links to a "terrorism-promoting" news outlet that has been sanctioned by the government.
Civil Society
Manx Assisted Dying Bill passed by House of Keys
Proposed laws that would give terminally ill people on the Isle of Man the right to choose to end their lives have been passed by the House of Keys.
BBC
Germany bans Muslim association for pursuing radical Islam
Germany's interior ministry said on Wednesday it has banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg association and its subsidiary organisations, saying it pursues radical Islamist goals.
Reuters
Minnesota school settles with professor who was fired for showing image of the Prophet Muhammad
A former adjunct professor on Monday settled a federal religious discrimination lawsuit against a private Minnesota school after she was pushed out for showing a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in class.
Associated Press
New Zealand finds that state and religious institutions failed to prevent or stop decades of abuse
New Zealand's wide-ranging independent inquiry into the abuse of children and vulnerable adults in care over the span of five decades released a blistering final report Wednesday that found the country's state agencies and churches failed to prevent, stop or admit the abuse of those they were supposed to look after — even when they knew about it.
Associated Press
Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Jury retires in trial of Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary
Choudary, who was convicted of supporting the so-called Islamic State in 2016, is accused of taking a "caretaker role" in directing Al-Muhajiroun.
Independent
Harrow GP who led banned Islamist group has work suspension overturned
The NHS has overturned the suspension of a Harrow GP who headed the UK branch of recently banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, leaving him free to resume his practice as a GP.
Jewish News
Welby tells Jamaicans of his belief in Church’s ‘corporate sin’ over slave trade
The Archbishop of Canterbury, during a trip to Jamaica last weekend, apologised for the Church of England's links with the transatlantic slave trade.
Church Times*
Ireland: Parents lose faith in mandatory religious teaching at schools
Legal advice says constitution guarantees right to attend an education without influence of the church, pressure group insists.
The Times*
Ireland: Child sexual abuse allegations against former bishop
Multiple allegations of child sexual abuse have been made against the former Bishop of Galway Eamonn Casey.
BBC
New Orleans archbishop denies knowledge of widespread child sex abuse in 1970s
Gregory Aymond blames three predecessors as memo says he socialized or lived with 48 allegedly abusive clergymen.
The Guardian
Federal judge delays posting of Ten Commandments in Louisiana public schools
Judge pushed enactment of law to display religious code until November in response to parents' suit.
The Guardian
Australia: Murder accused faced ‘constant religious push’ to adopt belief that God could cure daughter’s diabetes, court told
Elizabeth Struhs died after her parents and 12 other members of a Toowoomba sect allegedly withheld the eight-year-old's insulin.
The Guardian
‘The Taliban tried to silence us’: the musicians who escaped to Portugal
With music now a crime in Afghanistan, Braga has become one of the few places where the practice is being preserved.
The Guardian
Mon, 22 Jul 2024
Labour 'must change MP oath' as part of 'gradual' shift away from monarchy
NSS founder Charles Bradlaugh's struggle for the right of MPs to affirm referenced as campaigners urge the Government to change the wording of the oath taken by MPs.
The National*
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