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.
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Tue, 14 May 2024
More than two in three leaders do not support collective worship law in schools – NSS quoted
The Government must recognise the 'divisive and deeply unpopular' law in schools and repeal it, the National Secular Society has said.
The Standard
Isle of Man parliament to debate assisted-dying plans
The right for terminally ill people on the Isle of Man to be helped to die could be a step closer after crucial votes in its parliament on Tuesday.
BBC
‘The case for secularism (or, the church’s new clothes)’
"The right to hold religious beliefs and not to be persecuted or discriminated against is paramount, but sometimes the invocation of 'religious freedom' is used as cover by the religious to make special claims and demand special platforms for themselves", writes Neil Barber.
The Freethinker
King to honour archbishop Justin Welby
The King has chosen Most Rev Justin Welby as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) to thank him for his role in his coronation.
Premier Christian News
How faith drives bidder for Telegraph who wields growing influence on Tories
Marshall worships at Holy Trinity, Brompton – which recently pushed back against plans for the Church of England to bless same-sex relationships.
The Guardian
Nigeria: Appeal Court slashes atheist, Mubarak Bala’s 24-year blasphemy sentence
A Kano State High Court had in 2022 sentenced Bala to 24 years imprisonment for committing blasphemy against Allah and Prophet Muhammad.
Daily Post
Modi files candidacy for India election in Hindu holy city
Modi remains roundly popular in India, in large part due to his cultivated image as an aggressive champion of the country's majority faith.
RFI
Grief gives way to anger as Kenyan starvation cult leader faces trial
Observers worry little has been done to curtail dangerous Christian sects as they continue to draw in followers.
Financial Times*
Mon, 13 May 2024
Islamist compares women without hijabs to ‘unwrapped sweets’ – NSS quoted
A newly registered Islamic charity has compared women who do not cover their heads to "unwrapped sweets", in comments condemned as misogynistic and offensive.
The Telegraph via MSN
Man who called Jihadi John ‘beautiful’ praying at university protests
A director of an Islamist group who described the Islamic State executioner known as Jihadi John as "a beautiful young man" has been giving advice and support at pro-Palestine encampments at British universities.
The Times*
Child abuse inquiry chair calls new ‘duty to report’ law deeply disappointing
Measures unveiled by the UK government to protect children from sexual abuse have been described as deeply disappointing by the chair of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse and "worse than useless" by abuse survivors.
The Guardian
‘Faith groups want more say in secular Britain. Labour should tell them to go to hell’
Most Britons don't identify as religious, and would prefer to keep worship out of schools.
The Guardian
Law comes into force to end religious discrimination in NI teaching workforce
The teaching profession in Northern Ireland will no longer be able to discriminate on religious grounds when a new law comes into force this week.
Belfast Telegraph
Lack of integrated post-primary school places 'frustrating'
Every parent in Northern Ireland should get the chance to vote to change their child's school to an integrated one.
BBC
Lib Dems accused of deselecting candidate ‘because he is a Christian’
The Liberal Democrats have been accused of breaking equality laws after an Anglican candidate was allegedly deselected "based on his Christian faith".
The Times*
Green Party councillors face allegations of antisemitism
Further questions have emerged about the Green Party's vetting processes after it was revealed that more of its local councillors had shared "disturbing" material online.
The Times*
Fri, 10 May 2024
Complaints of antisemitism among doctors have soared since October 7
Complaints of antisemitic abuse among doctors have surged since the October 7 attacks and the start of the Israel-Gaza war, the General Medical Council has said.
The Times*
Belfast Church 'regrets distress caused by' film event after accusations of 'sacrilege'
A Belfast catholic church has said it "regrets the distress caused" by the screening of Young Frankenstein for a City Centre festival following accusations of "sacrilege".
Belfast Live
'Restore our faith in Labour by all means - but let's keep religion out of it'
Mirror columnist Paul Routledge on last week's local elections, and the so-called 'Gaza factor' where dozens of pro-Palestinian activists were elected.
The Mirror
‘France is waking up to the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood. Is Britain?’
"The Muslim Brotherhood's strategy is to adapt Europe to Islam; not through Donald Trump's understanding of jihad, but by a passive political struggle. France has identified the threat, and so have other European countries, but Britain remains cut off from the continent in its complacency."
The Spectator*
‘It wasn’t a big deal’: secret deposition reveals how a child molester priest was shielded by his church
Lawrence Hecker pleaded the fifth 117 times as he detailed how the Catholic church protected him for more than two decades after he admitted to molesting children
The Guardian
‘We were encouraged to be with younger boys’: breaking down a child molester priest’s secret testimony
In unearthed deposition, Lawrence Hecker pleaded the fifth 117 times, but still provided damning details of decades-long predatory behaviour.
The Guardian
Catholic church is stonewalling sex abuse investigation, Washington attorney general says
The Catholic church is refusing to cooperate with a Washington state investigation into whether it unlawfully used charitable trust funds to cover up sexual abuse by priests, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Thursday, asking a court to force the Seattle Archdiocese to turn over decades of records.
Associated Press
Hindu Council of Australia calls for removal of prayer rooms around country
The Hindu Council of Australia has called for the removal of prayer rooms from public schools because of fears they could be used to promote "radical ideologies".
The West Australian
'Toomaj Salehi’s cause is for everyone who believes in freedom'
"I have no hesitation in supporting the Iranian rapper who faces execution for standing up to the regime. It is as pure a case as it is possible to imagine of right against wrong."
The Times*
Afghan women struggle under male guardian rules
Since the Taliban returned to power, Afghan women have been barred from going on long trips, travelling by plane or entering government buildings unless they are accompanied by a man.
France 24
Thu, 9 May 2024
Green Party ‘ignored warnings’ about inflammatory posts by elected councillors
The Green Party has been accused of ignoring warnings over inflammatory remarks and posts by council candidates who went on to win seats at last weekend's local elections.
The Jewish Chronicle
‘New faith schools in England could soon allocate all their places on religious grounds – here’s why that’s a bad idea’
"As a researcher, I have spent years studying the impact the school system has on equality and social mobility. I think that faith – as distinct from knowledge of religion – should have no role in schools."
The Conversation
RE teacher suspended after saying Hamas ‘committed no crime’
A religious studies teacher at a Catholic school has been suspended and reported to the police after saying that Hamas had "committed no crime".
The Telegraph*
Charedi schools look forward to major boost over plans to remove entry cap
Government plans to lift admission restrictions on faith free schools could pave the way for more Charedi schools to enter the state system.
The Jewish Chronicle
NUS stops attempt by activists to force vote on breaking link with Union of Jewish Students
The National Union of Students has scuppered an attempt to force a vote on the main floor of its conference calling into question the role of the Union of Jewish Students over its support for Israel
Jewish News
Court rules North Carolina Catholic school could fire gay teacher who announced his wedding online
A Catholic school in North Carolina had the right to fire a gay teacher who announced his marriage on social media a decade ago, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, reversing a judge's earlier decision.
Associated Press
‘White Christian Nationalism is rising in America. Separation of church and state is the antidote"
"Through a well-funded shadow network of organizations, allied politicians and judges, and other political power brokers, Christian Nationalists are marshalling the power of the state to impose their beliefs on all Americans."
The Freethinker
High court decision to limit Catholic church abuse legal tactics to become law under NSW proposal
New South Wales parliament will consider a bill to further restrict churches and other institutions from using stay applications to prevent abuse survivors having their cases heard.
The Guardian
Film director jailed by Iran weeks before Cannes premiere
A dissident Iranian film director known for criticising the Islamic regime has been sentenced to eight years in prison weeks before his latest work is to be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Times*
Wed, 8 May 2024
‘Secularism isn’t optional for democracy, it’s essential’ – NSS opinion
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson on how the society's own story illustrates the fundamental importance of secularism to democracy.
Humanistically Speaking
‘Starmer should think twice before listening to ‘The Muslim Vote’’ – NSS quoted
Starmer wants to win support from Muslim voters in the run up to the general election, but it should tread very carefully on caving in to demands from organisations such as 'The Muslim Vote', so says Hardeep Singh.
The Spectator*
The UK's most chilling exorcisms – NSS quoted
Not confined to Hollywood films, exorcisms take place throughout Britain, and are still sanctioned by the Church of England.
Daily Star
NUS reaches undisclosed settlement with ‘anti-Zionist’ former president
The National Union of Students has reached a settlement with ex- president Shaima Dallali, after she admitted a tweet posted on social media in 2012, for which she apologised, was antisemitic.
Jewish News
Antisemitism complaints to GMC surge after Hamas attacks
Complaints about doctors subjecting Jewish colleagues to antisemitic abuse have surged in the months following the 7 October attacks and the subsequent Israel-Gaza war, according to General Medical Council records.
BBC
Green Party councillor who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after election says critics are Islamophobic
A Green Party councillor who shouted "Allahu Akbar" to celebrate his election has claimed that his critics are Islamophobic.
The Telegraph*
Universities face sanctions if they fail to stop ‘campus antisemitism’
Universities that allow antisemitic protests on campus face being sanctioned for the first time, under new powers to prevent the "harassment" of Jewish students.
The Times*
India election: Modi's party accused of demonising Muslims in video
Police in India have opened a case against senior leaders of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a social media post that opposition leaders say "demonises Muslims".
BBC
Tue, 7 May 2024
Muslim Vote group issues 18 demands to Starmer
A grassroots Muslim vote campaign supported by several controversial organisations has given 18 demands to Sir Keir Starmer to win back lost votes over Gaza.
The Times*
Priest’s sex crimes trial moved due to potential links to judges
The sex crimes trial of a charismatic priest who led a rave-inspired Church of England movement has been moved from Sheffield, where the alleged offences occurred, because of potential links to local judges.
The Times*
Britain’s ‘liberal imam’ says politicians should be ‘called out’ for having Jewish family members
The founder of a charity that promotes a more tolerant and modernised Islam for British Muslims has compared Zionists to Nazis and stated that politicians should be "called out" for having Jewish family members.
The Jewish Chronicle
Greens confirm probe into new councillor after shout of ‘Allahu akbar’
The Green Party has confirmed it is investigating into a newly elected councillor who described his victory as a "win for the people of Gaza".
Jewish News
Sikh blades removed by staff on Eurostar
A woman said her young son was scared the family would be arrested when "aggressive" Eurostar staff asked her to take their kirpans - religious miniature swords worn by Sikhs - out of their suitcase.
BBC
British medic due to discuss Gaza is expelled by France
A British-Palestinian surgeon has accused France of seeking to "silence" him after he was refused entry to the country to tell a parliamentary meeting of his experience in Gaza's hospitals.
The Times*
Sweden ramps up Eurovision security amid Quran burnings and protests
Malmo police call in reinforcements from Norway and Denmark as controversy swirls around Israel's participation in the song contest.
The Times*
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