National Secular Society - Your daily media briefing

Your daily media briefing - Wednesday 27 May

In the Media is our daily collection of news and commentary related to secularism, available delivered to your inbox. You can also read the latest news and opinion and listen to our podcasts on our website.

Secularism in the media

Church of England bishops receive death threats over Dominic Cummings comments

Several British bishops have received death threats after they criticised the government on Twitter for its handling of the Dominic Cummings debacle.

The Independent

‘The established status of the church is long overdue a review’

A church treasurer calls for a review of the Church of England's status in light of bishops' interventions in the Dominic Cummings saga.

The Times (£)

Mosque's plan to broadcast call to prayer faces 18,000-strong petition

Harrow's main mosque wants to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer across town from loudspeakers on its roof, but the plan is already dividing opinions.

MyLondon

Muslim group Cage’s apocalyptic online ads are banned

A Muslim campaign group that describes coronavirus as a punishment from god has been banned from running its advertisements on Facebook.

The Times (£)

‘Police: charge or release Mubarak Bala’

Justice is not served when the Nigerian police hold Mubarak Bala – who faces possible punishment for blasphemy – incommunicado, says Leo Igwe.

Sahara Reporters

Brother-in-law of blasphemy accused Asia Bibi murdered in Pakistan

The brother-in-law of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who spent years in jail on blasphemy charges, was killed in Sheikhupura city of Punjab province in Pakistan on Monday.

NDTV

Man jailed for three years for ‘barbaric’ circumcision without anaesthetic in Ireland

A 55-year-old man has been jailed for three years for carrying out a "barbaric" circumcision without anaesthetic on a 10-month-old boy.

The Irish Times

Father convicted of FGM of daughter to appeal his sentence in Ireland

A father convicted of allowing female genital mutilation to be carried out on his daughter, in the first case of its kind in the nation's history, is to appeal his conviction and sentence.

TheJournal.ie

Costa Rica: First same-sex weddings held despite pandemic

Predominantly Catholic Costa Rica has become the first Central American nation to make same-sex marriage legal.

Coronavirus cluster traced to German church

Places of worship in Germany opened their doors again at the start of May. But now a new Covid-19 cluster has been linked to one religious service.

Watch: from the NSS

NSS urges support for Conway Hall

The coronavirus outbreak has hit Conway Hall hard – and now it needs help to survive. Our CEO Stephen Evans explains why it's a very special venue for us, and urges our supporters to donate to its #DoorsOpen campaign.

Viewing this online?

If you're viewing this online and would like to receive the daily media briefing straight to your inbox, click subscribe.

While you're here

Please support our work so we can make the case for a fairer secular democracy for all.

Support us from just £1 a month

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.

secularism.org.uk

Challenging Religious Privilege