National Secular Society - Your daily media briefing

Secularism in the media

Faith schools contribute millions of pounds less towards own costs, figures suggest

The funding that faith schools contribute towards opening and maintaining their own buildings has fallen sharply over the past decade.

The Independent

Hindu, Sikh and Muslim voters look set to divide along religious lines at election

A pressure group claims Hindu and Sikh voters of British-Indian origin could play a decisive role in up to 40 constituencies at the upcoming general election. Meanwhile the Muslim group Mend is hoping to mobilise Muslim voters to canvass on behalf of candidates who endorse its manifesto.

The Sunday Times (£)

Minister accused of ‘whitesplaining’ after questioning Tory peer’s view on ‘Islamophobia’

Health secretary Matt Hancock has been accused of "whitesplaining" by Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi after he said others in the party took a "more balanced approach" on 'Islamophobia' than her.

BBC

Students turn against free speech amid ‘culture of conformity’

Fewer than half of students consistently support freedom of speech and two fifths favour censorship and no-platforming of controversial speakers, research from the think tank Policy Exchange has shown.

The Times (£)

Council criticised after children originally from Muslim family are fed bacon by foster carers

A judge has hit out at a council after three children from a Muslim family were given bacon sandwiches while in foster care. The foster parents argued the children had all been westernised and were not following Islam anymore.

Daily Star

‘The unbearable wrongness of William Barr: Secularism doesn't destroy society or moral order’

Phil Zuckerman says if secularism truly resulted in moral deterioration, then highly secular societies would be decaying. They're not.

Salon

Indian top court gives holy site to Hindus

The disputed holy site of Ayodhya in northern India should be given to Hindus who want a temple built there, the country's Supreme Court has ruled.

BBC

India detains users over online posts after religious site ruling

Dozens of people in India have been detained on suspicion of publishing 'inflammatory' social media posts and setting off celebratory firecrackers after the Supreme Court ruled to give a disputed religious site to Hindus.

Reuters

Payouts for Catholic Church child sex abuse victims approved by French bishops

Victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in France are set to be financially compensated for their trauma.

Metro

secularism.org.uk

Challenging Religious Privilege

Your daily media briefing - Monday 11 November