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Your daily media briefing - Wednesday 13 November

  

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

 

Ministers challenge ruling that English law recognises Islamic marriage

Ministers will today challenge a ruling that a couple's Islamic marriage came within the scope of English law in a case that could have wide implications for Muslims in Britain.

The Times (£)

 

Catholic cardinal Pell gets last chance to overturn Australia sex offences conviction

Catholic cardinal George Pell will have one last chance to overturn his conviction for sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys after the Australian High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the former Vatican treasurer's appeal.

Reuters

 

New C of E primary school to open in Somerset in 2020

A new primary school in Keynsham in Somerset will admit its first pupils in to reception class next September.

Somerset Live

 

Consultation on closure of Church of England school with 10 pupils

A consultation will be held next year on whether to close a North Yorkshire Church of England school which has only ten pupils.

Stray FM

 

Major consultation launched on future of Catholic education in Inverclyde in western Scotland

A council has launched a major consultation on the future of Catholic education in the Inverclyde area.

Greenock Telegraph

 

Orthodox Jewish school in north London shut down

Hackney Council has said that it has been "forced" to shut down an Orthodox Jewish faith school, citing a lack of planning permission or compliance with building regulations.

Hackney Citizen

 

Head of Oxford college tries to abolish saying grace before meals

The head of an Oxford college is facing a backlash after attempting to abolish the tradition of saying grace before meals.

The Telegraph (£)

 

Conservatives suspend members over anti-Muslim social media posts

The Conservatives have suspended a number of members over claims of anti-Muslim social media posts.

BBC

 

Kenya pledges to end FGM by 2022, but campaigners say it’s “unrealistic”

Kenya's president on Tuesday promised to end female genital mutilation by 2022, a goal women's rights campaigners said was unrealistic due to insecurity and high prevalence rates in some parts of the east African nation.

Reuters

 

School chaplain quits after saying LGBT people should remain ‘single and celibate’

A chaplain of a top UK school created by the founder of the Methodist church has stepped down after saying that LGBT+ people should stay "single and celibate."

Pink News

 

Greek government drops plan to criminalise blasphemy

Greek officials on Tuesday scrapped plans to criminalise blasphemy as a law-and-order debate intensified between the country's new conservative government and the left-wing opposition.

The Washington Post

 

Iran's contribution to human rights praised at UN

The United Nations Human Rights Council has commended Iran for its human rights record.

Arutz Sheva

  

Latest from the NSS

 

Blasphemy laws exist in 69 countries, report finds

Sixty-nine countries have blasphemy laws and penalties have hardened in parts of the world in recent years, a report has found.

  

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