Daily media briefing
Stay informed with our daily media briefing newsletter. Every weekday morning we'll bring you the most relevant news and updates related to secularism directly to your inbox.
* = Registration may be required to read the article
Wed, 14 Feb 2024
Inquiry opened into 'death to Israel' chants at Islamic charity
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry after footage of "death to Israel" chants at an Islamic centre was revealed by the BBC.
BBC
‘Wes Streeting's election battle over Israel-Gaza is especially sad given Ilford's historic diversity’
"There's nothing odd about single-issue parties, but it is unusual to seek to depose a sitting MP because of an opinion about a conflict about which he has no specific link or influence. The plans of the Redbridge Community Action Group are something new — an expression of community exceptionalism in which religious solidarity is the dominating factor."
Evening Standard*
Pro-Palestinian protests: Paraglider badge wearers guilty of terror offences
Three women have been found guilty of terrorism offences after they displayed images of paragliders, "celebrating" the Hamas tactics.
BBC
Westminster Abbey open to returning looted Ethiopian treasure
Westminster Abbey has decided "in principle" that it should return a sacred tablet to the Ethiopian Church.
The Times*
Up to 80 anti-Israel protesters chant outside the home of Tory MP Tobias Ellwood
On Monday night a large group of anti-Israel protesters held a demonstration outside the family home of Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood, with signs accusing him of being "complicit in genocide".
The Jewish Chronicle
Labour suspends second candidate over Israel comments
Labour has been plunged into crisis after Sir Keir Starmer was forced to suspend a second parliamentary candidate in two days over renewed allegations of antisemitism in the party.
The Times*
Make church checks on asylum seekers as rigorous as school applications, say MPs
Churches must conduct checks on asylum seekers that are as rigorous as those for school applications in order to protect against scam conversions, senior MPs have said.
The Telegraph*
Mahsa Amini’s uncle sentenced to five years in jail over Iran protests, rights groups say
The uncle of Mahsa Amini, the young Iranian-Kurdish woman whose death in custody sparked months of protests, has been sentenced to more than five years in jail for his criticism of the government in 2022, rights groups have said.
The Guardian
Tue, 13 Feb 2024
Jewish chaplain at Leeds University forced into hiding after receiving death threats
A Jewish chaplain at Leeds University has been forced into hiding after he was targeted with death threats and anti-Semitic protests, prompting an open letter from 500 former students for action.
Daily Telegraph*
Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali over Israel comments
Labour has withdrawn support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali over comments he apparently made about Israel and Jewish people.
BBC
Asylum seekers dupe church leaders to avoid deportation, say judges
Judges have raised concerns that some "unquestioning" church leaders are being "duped" by insincere asylum seekers converting to Christianity to avoid deportation.
Daily Telegraph*
We may have been scammed by asylum seekers, admits Church of England
The Church of England has admitted for the first time that it may have been "scammed" by asylum seekers falsely claiming to have converted to Christianity to boost their chances of staying in the UK.
Daily Telegraph*
Catholic school to face legal action over Irish language ‘discrimination’
A Belfast secondary school is facing legal action over claims that it has discriminated against a child because she attends an Irish language primary.
The Irish News
Antisemitism claims after Israeli man told to leave Paul Currie show
A London theatre has said that it is "sorry and saddened" after a comedian ordered an Israeli man who did not stand and applaud following the unfurling of a Palestinian flag to "get the f*** out of my show".
The Times*
Iran is attempting to recruit UK Muslims to spy on Jews and regime dissidents
Iran is recruiting British Muslims on pilgrimages in the Middle East to spy on Jews and dissidents in the UK, it was claimed last night.
Daily Mail
Indian state's polygamy ban divides some Muslim women
The adoption of the Uniform Civil Code in the state of Uttarakhand has opened a chasm between women in India's largest religious minority, even among some whose lives were turned upside-down when their husbands entered multiple marriages.
Reuters
Canada: second Sikh activist’s house hit by gunfire this month
The house of a Sikh activist in Canada has been hit by gunfire, in the second such incident this month, reigniting fears of an apparent transnational campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists.
The Guardian
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Church maintenance ‘an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer’ – NSS letter
A letter from NSS chief executive Stephen Evans on proposed public funding for church building maintenance.
The Guardian
Revealed: How judges let criminals use Christianity to escape deportation
Murderers, sex offenders and drug dealers are reportedly among migrants who have escaped deportation by claiming they have converted to Christianity.
The Times*
Pastor says he baptised hundreds of asylum seekers as Christians but 'half never came back to church'
A pastor has revealed that he baptised up to 500 asylum seekers in south Wales - but more than half disappeared after their conversion.
LBC
Defence Secretary rejects Army’s Christianity-free Acts of Remembrance policy
The UK Army reportedly wants soldiers to stay away from using "religious elements" in Acts of Remembrance on Armistice Day.
Premier Christian News
Home Office invites staff to celebrate 'World Hijab Day' despite own guidance warning against religious dress codes as 'persecution'
The Home Office has invited staff to celebrate 'World Hijab Day' even though its own asylum guidance claims being forced to adhere to religious dress codes is 'persecution'.
Daily Mail
'Gay mafia' book claim priest accuses church of bullying
A priest who wrote a book accusing the Catholic Church in Scotland of being run by a "powerful gay mafia" says he has been bullied by church hierarchy.
BBC
US: Mormon church couldn't care less about sex abuse victims, claims son of pedophile bishop
Pennsylvania police have charged a local Mormon president with failing to report allegations of sex abuse made against a former bishop under his wing.
Daily Mail
Malaysia’s top court invalidates state’s Islam-based laws on incest, sodomy and other offenses
Malaysia's top court on Friday struck down Shariah-based criminal laws in an opposition-run state, saying they encroached on federal authority. Islamists denounced the decision and said it could undermine religious courts across the Muslim-majority nation.
Associated Press
Indian state passes uniform marriage legislation opposed by Muslims as a Hindu code applied to all
An Indian state has approved an unprecedented uniform code for marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance for Hindus, Muslims and other religious communities under new legislation that also requires couples that live together to register with the government or face punishment.
Associated Press
Votes erode for Pakistan's blasphemy party
The leader of an ultra-right Pakistan party infamous for sometimes bloody anti-blasphemy agitation has vowed a comeback after its vote share evaporated in elections last week.
RFI
Fri, 9 Feb 2024
Baroness Flather, Conservative local politician and first Asian woman to be a life peer – obituary
Describing herself a "Hindu atheist", Baroness Flather was a vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist group and an associate of the National Secular Society.
The Telegraph*
The rhythm of Tom Paine’s bones
On the 287th anniversary of Thomas Paine's birth, historian Eoin Carter reviews a new book on the revolutionary and freethinker.
The Freethinker
The ‘filthy’ pamphlet that caused a scandal in Victorian Britain
Annie Beasant's 1877 birth-control pamphlet sparked the trial of the century, as Michael Meyer writes in A Dirty, Filthy Book.
The Telegraph*
MP who accused Welby of asylum 'scamming' pledges to work with churches to guard against faked conversions
Tim Loughton MP says the Home Office needs to work with church denominations to establish guidance on assessing asylum seekers claiming conversion to Christianity.
Premier Christian News
Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate has helped raise millions for extremist mosque
The mosque last month hosted preacher Asrar Rashid, who told worshippers that Hamas and its allies would "boot out" the Jews from all Israel.
The Jewish Chronicle
Iran is targeting its opponents in Britain
Iran's regime sees London as both hunting ground and playground.
The Economist*
Australia: Catholic church loses high court bid to prevent father of George Pell accuser suing for damages
Father's lawyers label high court of Australia decision a 'monumental outcome' for families of clergy sexual abuse victims.
The Guardian
America is trying to peg Israel’s settlers back
More problematic are the smaller settlements deep in the West Bank that would have to be dismantled. Most of their residents are religious ideologues who comprise less than 2% of Israel's population but enjoy wide and fervent support.
The Economist*
Mehrauli: A mosque demolished, and orphans displaced in India
Critics allege that the planned demolitions unfairly focus on Muslim cultural and historical heritage.
BBC
Thu, 8 Feb 2024
What the unrest in Leicester revealed about Britain – and Modi’s India
A year and a half ago, Hindus and Muslims clashed in the streets of one of Britain's most diverse cities. What lay behind the violence?
The Guardian
Tory MP accuses Justin Welby of ‘scamming’ taxpayers amid questions on migrant conversions
A conservative MP has accused the Archbishop of Canterbury of 'scamming' taxpayers amid questions over asylum seekers converting to Christianity.
Premier Christian News
The Times view on Christian conversions and immigration: Bad Faith
The Church must not allow itself to be exploited by prospective asylum seekers.
The Times*
Christians protest at ‘rave in the nave’ in Canterbury Cathedral
Silent disco aimed at raising funds and growing a younger audience described as 'absurd'.
The Telegraph*
Masked protesters could soon face arrest, says Home Office
The changes will be added as amendments to the criminal justice bill. The bill is going through parliament and expected to become law by Easter.
The Guardian
Germany: AfD activists ‘discussed locking Jews in ghettos’
Youth members of the hard-right party allegedly said anyone with migrant ancestry should be put in ghettos and shot if they refused to comply.
The Times*
Indian state passes uniform marriage legislation opposed by Muslims as a Hindu code applied to all
Northern Uttarakhand state lawmakers passed the legislation on Wednesday and its approval by the state governor and the Indian president is seen as a formality before it becomes law in the state.
AP News
Pakistan election: Isis claims bombing that killed 29
Twin Islamic State bomb blasts have killed at least 29 people and injured dozens more in Pakistan on the eve of the delayed general election.
The Times*
Wed, 7 Feb 2024
Clapham attack suspect Abdul Ezedi ‘converted to Christianity’ with Baptist church
Baptists Together says it 'welcomes strangers fleeing war' but wouldn't answer questions about the asylum seeker who is still on the run.
The Telegraph*
‘The Michaela School and religious exceptionalism’
"A highly polarised society where differences are valued more than similarities is a breeding ground for extremists", writes Khadija Khan.
The Freethinker
British Muslim support for Labour falls drastically, according to new poll
The poll, which shows the drastic decline, has been described by senior Muslims within the party as "a crisis point" for the relationship between the British Muslim community and Labour.
ITV
C of E appoints second Theology Adviser in attempt to reconcile LLF differences
Last week, the Bishop of Newcastle, announced she had "serious concerns" about the appointment of Dr Woolford who holds a conservative view on the issue of church blessings for same sex couples.
Premier Christian News
India prepares to pass law overturning sharia in ‘Muslim crackdown’
The bill will force all Indians to abide by a universal set of laws on marriage, divorce and inheritance.
The Times*
Paul Mackenzie: Kenyan cult leader charged with 191 murders
A cult leader in Kenya has been charged with murder after more than 400 bodies were found buried in shallow graves in a remote forest in the east of the country.
BBC
Disclaimer: Links are provided to external websites for information and in the interests of free exchange. We do not accept any responsibility for the content of those sites, nor does a link indicate approval or imply endorsement of those sites.