State Department Releases Report On Global Anti-Semitism

Yesterday, the U.S. State Department's Office of the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism provided Congress with a report titled Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism. It is a follow-up to a similar report issued three years ago. As described by the State Department's release:

This report ... reflects the United States' deep commitment to take a strong stand against growing anti-Semitism around the world. [It] ... is dedicated to the memory of Tom Lantos.... The report is thematic in nature and ... provides a broad overview of anti-Semitic incidents, discourse and trends. [It] ... documents traditional forms of anti-Semitism ... but also discusses new manifestations ... including instances when criticism of Israel and Zionism crosses the line into anti-Semitism. The report covers anti-Semitism in both government and private media, and within the United Nations system. It concludes with a review of governmental and nongovernmental efforts to combat the problem. The report is meant to serve as a resource for increasing understanding of contemporary forms of anti-Semitism and for shaping strategies to combat this growing problem worldwide.

Columnist Says Islam Is Central In Minnesota Charter School

Columnist Katherine Kersten in last Sunday's Minneapolis Star Tribune discusses a cultural identity publicly-funded charter school operating in Minnesota's Twin Cities area. The Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA) enrolls around 300 children in grades K-8. The school has a waiting list of 1500, and last fall it opened a second campus. Most enrollees are children of Muslim immigrant families. The school says that it focuses on "traditions, histories, civilizations and accomplishments of the eastern world (Africa, Asia and Middle East)." Kersten says, however, that "the line between religion and culture is often blurry. There are strong indications that religion plays a central role at TIZA." Its co-founders were imams. The school shares a building with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota and a mosque. After-school Islamic studies are offered in the same building. Indeed, the school was originally envisioned as a private Islamic school.

School Sued Over Denial of Space For Students To Meet To Pray and Talk

On Wednesday, the Alliance Defense Fund announced that it has filed suit in federal district court against the East Valley School District in Washington state on behalf of a Christian high school student. The student was refused permission to meet in an unoccupied room at East Valley High School during the lunch hour with a handful of other students to fast, pray and discuss various matters from a religious perspective. The refusal was based on a District policy that bars religious services, programs or assemblies during school hours. The complaint in A.L. v. East Valley School District No. 361, alleges that this policy violates the free speech free exercise, equal protection and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

Map Discloses State Free Exercise Tests

Prof. Eugene Volokh has posted on his website his religious accommodation regime map of the United States (from the upcoming new edition of The First Amendment: Law, Cases, Problems, and Policy Arguments ). The useful map focuses on whether each state's law requires strict scrutiny of alleged free exercise infringements. It divides states into seven different categories.

Violent Demonstrations By Tibetan Monks Seek More Religious Freedom

The London Times reports today on serious violence in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa as monks seeking greater religious freedom attempted to stage a demonstration. Police tried to keep the monks from the ancient Ramoche monastery from entering the streets. The monks, opposed to Chinese rule in Tibet, have engaged in demonstrations for a week. They have gained particular attention because of the upcoming Olympic games. Today's Wall Street Journal reports that protesters plan to use the high profile Olympic torch relay to call further attention to their cause.

German Schools Will Offer Course In Islam As Alternative

In German schools, students are required to take classes in religion. Currently they have a choice of courses in Roman Catholicism, Protestantism or Judaism, and in many schools an alternative course in ethics. According to yesterday's International Herald Tribune, Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has decided that schools should also offer a course in Islam as an alternative. An agreement will need to be worked out with leaders of Germany's Muslim community to effectuate the change. Most Muslims in Germany are Turks. Schäuble says the course in Islam must be offered in German.

Wisconsin's Governor Signs Bill On Aid To Sexual Assault Victims

Wisconsin's Governor Jim Doyle yesterday signed AB 377 that requires all hospitals to provide emergency contraception to any victim of sexual assault who requests it. Madison's Capital Times reports however that Pro-Life Wisconsin says the new law is unconstitutional, arguing that it violates the "right of conscience" clause of Wisconsin's Constitution and the Free Exercise clause of the First Amendment. The organization's press release refers to the bill as the Chemical Abortion Hospital Mandate.

British Town Council Concerned With Propriety of Opening Prayer

Contention over opening city council meetings with sectarian prayer has now made its way to Britain. This Is London reported yesterday that the National Association of Local Councils has advised the town council in Bideford, North Devon that its 400 year old tradition of opening meetings with a prayer may run afoul of Britain's Race Discrimination Act and its Human Rights Act. It may also violate Art. 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Town clerk George McLauchlan had asked the NALC for advice after one member of council proposed eliminating the prayer.

European Court Finds Greece Violated Religious Rights of Bar Applicant

Spero News today reports on a freedom of religion decision handed down last month by the European Court of Human Rights-- Alexandridis v. Greece (application number 19516/2006, ECHR, Feb. 21, 2008). The full text is available in French [word doc]. The Court held that Greece violated Art. 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights when it insisted that Theodoros Alexandridis, being sworn in as a member of the bar, sign a document indicating that he is not an Orthodox Christian before he was permitted to make a solemn declaration instead of taking a religious oath. The demand violated his right "not to have to manifest his religious beliefs". Alexandridis was awarded damages of 2000 Euros.

Bangladesh Backs Off Equal Property Rigths For Women After Clerics Protest

In Bangladesh last week, the interim government of Fakhruddin Ahmed announced a National Women Development Policy that included enactment of laws entitling women to equal property rights. (BBC). The proposal would have eliminated the disparity that now exists under which a daughter inherits only half as much as her brother. However, according to an AFP report yesterday, the government has changed course after objections from Islamic clerics and scholars. They say that the new proposal would be inconsistent with Islamic sharia law. Sharia governs inheritance and marriage for the 90% of the country's population who are Muslims. After threats of nationwide protests, law minister Hasan Arif said the government "does not have any plan to enact any laws that goes against the Koran and the traditions of Prophet Mohammad."

Israel's Supreme Court Finds Kibbutz Exception To Sabbath Closing Law

A three-judge panel of Israel's Supreme Court earlier this month overruled the decision of a regional Labor Court and held that the Hours of Work and Rest Law does not apply to stores owned by a kibbutz and operated by kibbutz members. March 7 Haaretz reported that the decision permits kibbutz businesses to remain open on Saturdays. [Thanks to Religion and State in Israel for the lead.]

Suit Claims NY State Kosher Inspectors Are Exceeding Their Authority

Yesterday's New York Jewish Week reports that a lawsuit has been filed in federal district court in New York by three kosher butchers who are seeking to require state inspectors to comply with a 2005 law that changed the way in which the state attempts to make sure that consumers are not misled when purchasing kosher meat. After the Second Circuit upheld a district court's determination that the state's prior kosher fraud law violated the Establishment Clause, the legislature passed a law creating an Internet database in which sellers of kosher food are required to submit specified information, particularly the name of the organization or individual that certifies their products as kosher. (Background). In the new lawsuit, butchers Brian, Jeffrey and Evelyn Yarmeisch claim that state inspectors are illegally second-guessing kosher supervisors' interpretation of Jewish law.

Second Muslim Elected To Congress

In Indiana on Tuesday, voters elected Andre Carson to Congress, making him the second Muslim ever to serve. Carson won a special election to fill out the House term of his grandmother. AP yesterday reported that Carson, a Democrat, had received 54% of the vote. Carson, raised as a Methodist, converted to Islam more than ten years ago. His district covers most of Indianapolis. (See prior related posting.) [Thanks to Melissa Rogers for the lead.]

Senate Committee Seeks Information Again From Prosperity Gospel Ministries

In developments being closely followed by Melissa Rogers blog, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, joined by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, has written four major prosperity gospel ministries for a second time seeking information about their financial affairs. (Full text of letters.) The Des Moines Register and the Tampa Tribune reported yesterday on developments. Grassley originally wrote six tele-evangelist asking for information about alleged misuse of donations. (See prior posting.) Two have adequately complied with the request. (See prior posting.) The Senate Finance Committee exercises oversight of the Internal Revenue Service, and of enforcement of tax laws relating to non-profit organizations.

California Home School Decision Provokes Strong Reaction

Last month's decision by a California appellate court that parents have no constitutional right to home school their children is drawing increasing protest around the state. (See prior posting.) On Monday, Yahoo News reported that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will seek legislative changes if the decision is not reversed. A commentary published yesterday by the Acton Institute makes the case against the decision. Meanwhile the Home School Legal Defense Association plans to file a petition with the California Supreme Court asking it to depublish the court of appeals decision, thereby depriving it of precedential effect in other California courts. HSLDA is circulating a petition online which it hopes to use in its request for depublication.

Parents who are homeschooling their children will likely not see any change in current state policies. According to Tuesday's San Diego Union-Tribune, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has said that the state will not change current policies that allow parents to home school if they file to be a small, private school and hire a credentialed tutor. Alternatively they can enroll their children in an independent study program supervised by an established school. [Thanks to Scott Mange for a lead to some of the material.]

Court Ordered Church Election Dismisses Pastor

In Beaumont, Texas last Friday, a federal district judge announced the results of a court-ordered church election. Yesterday's Beaumont Enterprise reports on the case that began last year when members of the Sunlight Missionary Baptist Church delivered a letter of dismissal to their pastor, Curtis Jean Johnson. Members charged him with intimidating people from the pulpit and using church money and a credit card for personal expenses. Last June the chair of the church's deacon board filed for a restraining order and temporary injunction to enforce the dismissal. The court granted the request and ruled that a vote of members should take place to resolve the matter. By a vote of 84 to 59, members have now decided that Johnson should leave the pulpit.

State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Released

Yesterday the U.S. State Department released the Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2007. The report broadly surveys the human rights situation separately for each county in the world, including each country's respect for freedom of religion. An AP story today reviews highlights of the new report.

Univeristy Secular Society Revises Constitution In Hopes of Student Funding

The University of South Dakota's Student Government Association's Fiscal Guidelines exclude organizations "affiliated with or dedicated to a particular religion or religious point of view" from eligibility for funding from student activity fees. Volante Online today reports that, applying this provision, the University's Student Senate rejected general funding for the Student Secular Association-- though it can still request funds for speakers. This has led SSA to rewrite its constitution in hopes of qualifying for funding. The new draft constitution merely refers to the group as providing a community for "freethinkers", taking out references to "atheists, agnostics, humanists, [and] naturalists." It also substitutes examining "the universe and humanity" for the earlier language stating that one of its purposes was to examine "the universe and our place in it." Some senators saw no problems with the original constitution, saying that there is a difference between an organization that explores the reasons for personal belief and one that promotes religion.

Township Officials Sued For Raiding Church and Threatening Prosecution of Rock Band

On Monday, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) filed a federal lawsuit against the Waterford (Michigan) Township supervisor, prosecutor and two Waterford police officials. The suit charges that defendants infringed the freedom of speech, association and free exercise of religion of Faith Baptist Church and of a Christian rock band playing there. A release by TMLC and a long article in WorldNet Daily discuss details of the case. Apparently after a neighbor complained of the loud music from the Church's worship band, Prosecuting Attorney Walter Bedell arranged for uniformed police officers to raid the Church and threaten band members with disorderly conduct charges. Another raid ensued the following Sunday and the prosecutor personally conducted surveillance on the church from his parked car. The suit alleges that Waterford Township authorities targeted the Church because of the type of religious music it uses in its services. Meanwhile today's Detroit News reports that a separate lawsuit has been filed by a neighbor of the Church asking an Oakland County Circuit Court to limit the volume levels of the Church's music.

UPDATE: Here is the full text of the complaint in Faith Baptist Church v. Waterford Township. [Thanks to Brian D. Wassom]

Texas Education Commissioner Seeks AG's Opinion On Bible Courses

Yesterday's El Paso (TX) Times reports that Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott has asked the state's attorney general for an interpretation of a new law that provides for elective high school courses on the Bible's impact on history and literature. (See prior posting.) The opinion request (full text) asks whether schools are required to offer such courses beginning next year, or whether the new law is merely permissive. Scott says the issue is complicated by the fact that the law requires the courses be taught only by teachers who have completed special training. However no funds have been appropriated by the legislature for the development of training materials.