News Archives

Pakistani Christians escape death sentence

The Lahore High Court has overturned a death sentence for a Catholic Pakistani couple. A session court had sentenced Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel to death by hanging in 2014 over blasphemy charges.

30,000+ call on Inter-American Court to affirm religious freedom and parental rights

Most people live in environments with significant restrictions on freedom of religion.

parental rights Religious freedom Robert Clarke Tomás Henríquez

“Christians should not face discrimination”

Are people of faith barred from being elected to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights? A coalition of human rights experts and religious freedom advocates voiced their concern this week. The coalition published an open letter to member states of the Organization of American States calling for a fair election process for Commissioners.

Interamerican Court of Human Rights Latin America Tomás Henríquez

Edinburgh Council apologises for discriminating against Christian ministry

The City of Edinburgh Council has admitted that they were wrong to cancel a Christian event on the basis of the beliefs of the keynote speaker.

freedom of speech Jeremiah Igunnubole Scotland

German court upholds ban on prayer vigil near abortion organization

 Prohibitions on silent prayer gatherings in the proximity of an abortion organization may remain – so indicates a German court’s ruling on 12 May, which dismissed the challenge of the leader of a prayer initiative to have restrictions on their prayer vigils lifted.

Abortion Felix Böllmann freedom of speech Germany Pavica Right to life

“4 out of 5 five people live in countries with high or severe restrictions on religious freedom”

Most people live in environments with significant restrictions on freedom of religion.

Kelsey Zorzi Religious freedom Report US

Church autonomy and parental rights challenged at top human rights court of the Americas

Will the decisions of parents be respected when it comes to the religious education of their children? The Inter-American Court of Human Rights will soon answer this question for 35 American countries in the landmark case of Pavez v. Chile.

Chile Church Autonomy Interamerican Court of Human Rights parental rights Pavez Tomás Henríquez

Irish people of faith call for government commitment to religious freedom

People of faith are signing an open letter, addressed to the Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin TD, demanding a commitment never to ban church worship in Ireland again.

ireland let us worship Religious freedom

Belgium’s euthanasia law criticized at UN Human Rights Council

Belgium has been challenged on the human rights implications of its euthanasia law at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland this week. Undergoing a “Universal Periodic Review”, during which states are scrutinized on their human rights record and called to consider reforms, various states urged the government to improve treatment of the elderly and of persons with disabilities.

Belgium Euthanasia Human Rights Council Robert Clarke Tom Mortier