A report in the The Economist, based on data from the European Social Survey (ESS), suggests that a third of Europeans who consider themselves Christian say they attend services only once a month. Across Europe some 190m people go to church regularly from a nominal Christian population of 585m (see map). The survey polled 55,000 Europeans across 29…
Interfax Religion reports that about $3.6m has been allotted to Orthodox organizations in Russia in several years. The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the main receivers of presidential grants, the Center for Economic and Political Reforms says in its report posted on its website. According to its information, at least 63 grants were allotted…
Freedom of Religion or Belief: An International Law Commentary is the first commentary to look comprehensively at the international provisions for the protection of freedom of religion or belief, considering how they are interpreted by various United Nations Special Procedures and Treaty Bodies. Structured around the thematic categories of the United Nations Special Rapporteur’s framework for…
In a case brought by the KNB secret police, Seventh-day Adventist Yklas Kabduakasov was today (9 November) sentenced to seven years’ restricted freedom by a court in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana. He was found guilty of spreading “religious discord” by discussing his faith with a group of students who invited him to a flat rented by…
The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday rejected claims by a French comedian that his right to speak freely was denied when he was convicted and fined in France for insulting Jews. The court said Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, a provocative performer who has been repeatedly accused of hate speech and anti-Semitism, could not claim…
The Muslim Council of Britain took out an advert in the national press to underscore the united condemnation Muslims have of terrorism, especially after the Paris attacks last Friday. Dr Shuja Shafi, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said “The advert aims to highlight how Muslims everywhere have consistently and without reservation spoken…
The All Faiths Network is pleased to announce our new membership of the UK Inter Faith Network. The Inter Faith Network for the UK works to promote understanding, cooperation and good relations between organisations and persons of different faiths in the UK. We hope that our common purpose will lead to much future cooperation and success….
The Sakhalin Regional Court has granted an appeal by Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov, revoking a lower court’s ruling that labelled a book containing quotes and commentary on verses from the Quran as extremist. A judge of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk declared the book “Plea (Dua) to God: Its Role and Place in Islam” to be…
Dutch politician Geert Wilders has appeared in Australia to help launch an anti-Islam political party based on Wilders’s right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands. Protesters threatened to drown out the Dutch politician’s speech at an event in Perth for a new Australian political party, the Australian Liberty Alliance (ALA). Wilders’ headline message was: “Let us…
A Motion resolving to “study and identify cases where member States do not respect the rights of parents to educate children according to their own religious and philosophical convictions, especially with regard to minorities” has been published in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. The Motion, signed by 21 representatives, states that: “Derogatory labeling of…
