Secularism in the media

Assisted dying could be legalised in the UK within four years, leading MP predicts

Andrew Mitchell believes there is growing support among MPs for a change in the law that would give choice to people who are nearing the end of their lives.

Yorkshire Coast Radio

British Islamic State twin sister alive with young son in Syrian detention camp

A woman from Manchester who joined Islamic State as a teenager alongside her twin sister is alive and being held with her young son in a controversial camp run by Syrian Kurdish forces, sources in north-east Syria have confirmed.

The Telegraph

Muslim group appeals after council refused plans to expand mosque in semi-detached house

The Boulevard Community has lodged an appeal after expansion plans were knocked back because of the impact they could have on local residents due to noise and parking issues.

Lancashire Post

'A confusing question in census'

The census will ask "What is your religion?" This is clearly open to misinterpretation, says Paul Kaufman.

Barking and Dagenham Post

Australia: New push to scrap scripture lessons from public schools because they 'interrupt learning'

The New South Wales Teachers Federation is leading a campaign to scrap the weekly 30 to 60 minute studies, particularly throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Mail Online

Rohingya politicians excluded from Myanmar election

Rasheed is among at least a dozen Myanmar citizens from the Rohingya Muslim minority who have applied to be candidates in the Nov. 8 general election. Six of them have been rejected after officials said they failed to prove their parents were citizens at the time of their birth, a requirement under the election law.

Reuters

Kanye West slammed for 'making a mockery' of Islam for naming trainers after Islamic angels

Social media users have called them 'insulting' and demanded an apology.

Mail Online

'Joe Biden’s acceptance speech caps off an unusually faith-filled Democratic National Convention'

'While Biden's faith mentions were uncharacteristically minimal, the convention itself was unusually spiritual.'

Religion News Service

'Kano’s theocracy stands against constitutional democracy'

Being a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the recognition of blasphemy as a crime in Nigeria contradicts the articles of that declaration, as well as sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression, thought and religion.

Punch

'Hindu nationalism and rising violence against India’s Christians'

Hindu Nationalism, Hindutva, is rising in India. The PM is a member of extremist organisation RSS, and violence against religious minorities is celebrated, says an Indian Christian writer.

Uncommon Ground Media

secularism.org.uk

Challenging Religious Privilege

Your daily media briefing - Tuesday 25 August