Secularism in the media

Illegal schools are leaving thousands of pupils 'languishing', warns Ofsted chief

Ofsted's chief inspector has issued a fresh warning about the problem of illegal schools, as new figures showed that the watchdog has investigated almost 700 unregulated institutions in the last four years.

The Telegraph

Celebrities sign letter calling for 'conversion therapy' ban - NSS mentioned

Pressure is being put on the authorities by politicians and big name show business personalities such as Sir Elton John to introduce "truly effective" legislation to stop the harmful and debunked practice of attempting to change a person's sexuality or gender identity.

The Freethinker (Patheos)

Church of England accused of turning blind eye to priests' abuse of their wives

The Church of England has been accused of dismissing or ignoring serious complaints about priests' conduct which are being made by their own wives.

The Telegraph

Terminally ill man in new call for assisted dying law

Noel Conway relies on a ventilator to breathe and wants the option of an assisted death, urging MPs to launch an investigation into the current law, which bans assisted dying.

Shropshire Star

Pressure mounts on Priti Patel over case of 11-year-old at risk of FGM

Barristers, former judges, politicians and campaigners are among 300 people who have signed an open letter to the home secretary, Priti Patel, urging her to grant asylum to an 11-year-old girl at high risk of female genital mutilation if taken abroad.

MSN

Police raid east London homes in anti-terrorist operation into ‘Islamist extremist activity’

A teenager and two men have been arrested in armed raids on addresses in east London by counter terrorism police along with a fourth arrest in the Midlands as part of a widespread investigation into "Islamist extremist activity".

East London Advertiser

Islamic State inmate who grew up in London 'killed in Syria'

A man who left London to join the Islamic State group in Syria has died while being held in prison in the country, sources say.

BBC

'The Times view on Hagia Sophia: Secular retreat'

"It is a sign of the extent to which Turkey under Mr Erdogan has embraced religious nationalism and of its disdain for the sensitivities of its allies."

The Times (£)

US: Catholic Church received $1.4B in coronavirus aid, including dioceses that paid sexual abuse settlements

The U.S. Roman Catholic Church used a special and unprecedented exemption from federal rules to amass at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid, with many millions going to dioceses that have paid huge settlements or sought bankruptcy protection because of clergy sexual abuse cover-ups.

Mail Online

Sudan bans FGM and scraps apostasy law

Sudan is to ban female genital mutilation (FGM), cancel prohibitions against religious conversion from Islam and permit non-Muslims to consume alcohol in a decisive break with almost four decades of hardline Islamist policies, its justice minister has said.

The Guardian

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Your daily media briefing - Monday 13 July