Religious Liberty

Venezuela has approved a historic amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners held by the Maduro regime. The legislation marks a potential turning point for the country, which has faced years of international condemnation for its detention of dissidents, journalists, and opposition leaders.

A British street evangelist has been arrested for publicly criticizing Islam and gender ideology, raising alarm about the erosion of free speech protections for religious expression in the UK. The arrest comes as religious liberty cases proliferate across the West, from Maryland's $1.5M settlement with religious parents to Louisiana's Ten Commandments ruling.

CNN is airing an hour-long documentary on 'Christian nationalism' that has drawn backlash for appearing to link the ideology to Charlie Kirk's assassination last fall and for casting suspicion on classical Christian schools. Critics say the documentary unfairly paints orthodox Christian education and conservative political engagement as dangerous extremism.

A Louisiana appeals court has given the green light for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools, a significant victory for religious liberty advocates. The ruling comes as Kansas lawmakers also overrode the governor's veto of a transgender bathroom bill and Tennessee passed legislation protecting the right to decline recognition of same-sex marriage — a trio of culture war wins for social conservatives.

Iranian students have staged the first significant anti-government protests since authorities killed over 7,000 demonstrators in a crackdown last month. The student protesters honored those killed in the mass protests that began in December, signaling that the resistance movement has not been extinguished despite brutal government suppression. At least 19 Iranian Christians have been confirmed dead amid the unrest, with reports of believers being targeted and scapegoated during the political upheaval.

A confrontational interview between Tucker Carlson and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee at Ben Gurion airport revealed a widening rift in the Republican Party over Israel. Carlson's Christian nationalist wing views the U.S.-Israel alliance with growing suspicion, while Huckabee represents an older Christian conservative establishment that sees the relationship — rooted in biblical covenant — as sacrosanct. The exchange illuminates a theological and political fault line among evangelicals.

As ICE enforcement operations intensify, churches in upstate New York have emerged as unlikely champions of due process for detained immigrants. The story of Manuel Mayllazhungo — shackled and transferred from New York to Louisiana — illustrates how faith communities are grappling with the tension between law enforcement and mercy.

In a keynote speech laden with biblical references and patriotic fervor, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the National Religious Broadcasters' Freedom 250 Celebration, drawing a direct line from the Bible to the founding of the United States and declaring war on what he called the 'godless left.'

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Louisiana's law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools can proceed, finding the legal challenge was not yet ripe for a decision. The ruling hands a significant victory to religious liberty advocates who have long pushed for the measure.

A joint annual report on rights violations in Iran warns that 254 Christians were arrested in the country last year for their faith, with believers increasingly used as scapegoats amid political tensions. The crackdown comes as international attention focuses on Iran's nuclear program, with Christian communities bearing the brunt of internal instability and ideological enforcement.

A Muslim man in Uganda stabbed his son to death with a long knife after the young man accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. The killing underscores the extreme risks faced by Christian converts in regions where leaving Islam can carry violent consequences, and highlights the ongoing persecution of believers in East Africa.

Montgomery County, Maryland will pay $1.5 million to a group of religious parents who sued the school board over a policy that blocked them from opting their children out of instruction using books promoting transgender ideology. In addition to damages, the board must now inform parents whenever gender identity materials will be used and allow opt-outs, marking a significant legal victory for parental rights in education.

The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church faces criminal charges and a travel ban as part of an escalating government crackdown. The situation raises serious religious liberty concerns in the historically Christian nation.

The World Council of Churches has publicly condemned the ongoing military strikes on civilians in Myanmar, following the bombing of a predominantly Mennonite village in western Myanmar earlier this month. The ruling junta frequently targets ethnoreligious minority communities in a conflict that has raged for decades.

A street evangelist in the United Kingdom has been arrested for publicly criticizing Islam and gender ideology, reigniting the debate over free speech and religious liberty in Britain. The case highlights growing tensions between speech protections and expanding hate-speech laws across Europe.

Kansas lawmakers have overridden Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's veto of a bill prohibiting biological males who identify as women from entering restrooms and locker rooms designated for women and girls. The Alliance Defending Freedom praised the override as prioritizing 'privacy and safety over ideology,' while the ACLU has vowed to challenge the law in court.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited controversial Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson to deliver a sermon at the Pentagon as part of a monthly worship series Hegseth established at the Department of Defense. Wilson, who has argued that women should be denied the right to vote, delivered a 15-minute sermon to military personnel, intensifying debate over the intersection of faith and government under the Trump administration.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic Senate candidate, claimed in an interview that the Bible has nothing to say about abortion or gay marriage, and that Jesus taught salvation is obtained by treating people well and 'welcoming the stranger.' His claims have drawn sharp criticism from theologians and conservative commentators.

A federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration's policy of conducting immigration enforcement raids at certain churches, calling the practice 'profoundly troubling.' The ruling adds another dimension to the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and religious communities.

A Nashville charter school issued a 'Final Warning' to a Christian first-grade teacher after he refused to read a book featuring same-sex marriage to his class. Eric Rivera, who teaches at KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary, has sought legal representation from a religious liberty advocacy group.

President Trump addressed the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, the largest Christian media event worldwide, emphasizing his administration's efforts to combat anti-Christian bias. The speech comes as debates over religious liberty, Christian nationalism, and the role of faith in public life dominate the cultural landscape.

Christian communities in the Philippines' Bangsamoro Autonomous Region are sounding the alarm over deepening political marginalization amid an electoral crisis that threatens to further erode their representation and rights in the Muslim-majority area.

When refugees in Minnesota began disappearing after ICE raids, local churches mobilized with both prayer and legal aid—a story of faith communities stepping into the gap between government enforcement and the vulnerable people in their congregations.

The BBC reports harrowing accounts from women of Syria's Alawite minority who describe being kidnapped and assaulted in attacks that appear to target the sect of former President Assad, raising urgent concerns about sectarian violence in post-civil-war Syria.

At least 20 Yemeni Christians have been arrested in recent months for the crime of following Christ. Taken from their homes or detained on the streets, these believers face persecution not for violence or dissent, but for faith alone. Yet the very arrests point to something authorities fear: a growing underground church in one of the world's most hostile environments for Christianity.

Syria's first International Damascus Book Fair since the fall of Bashar Assad's government marked a dramatic shift toward freedom of expression, drawing massive crowds and featuring books and languages banned for decades under authoritarian rule.

The report centers on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk is described as a "prominent Christian nationalist" and notes that his death served as a major "rallying call" for his followers. Taylor argues that a large segment of American Christians is being "radicalized" by the belief that they are persecuted victims who must fight for their rights. The report frames this belief system as a dangerous cultural shift rather than a response to actual targeting.

When protesters disrupted a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul in January, it became the latest example of growing hostility against American churches. The Family Research Council tracked 415 incidents impacting 383 churches in 2024 — the most recent year with complete data — highlighting an alarming trend of aggression against places of worship.

Prosecutors in Armenia — the world's first Christian nation — have brought criminal charges against the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest Christian bodies in the world. The charges have drawn concern from rights groups amid worsening tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and church leaders.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee over allegations that its policies discriminate against Jewish students. The probe signals the administration's continued focus on combating antisemitism in educational institutions and follows a broader pattern of federal enforcement actions against religious discrimination on college campuses.

India's Supreme Court has set the stage for a constitutional review of anti-conversion laws across 12 states, as Christian bodies mount parallel legal challenges to legislation they say has been systematically weaponized against religious minorities. The laws, ostensibly designed to prevent 'forced conversions,' have been used to harass pastors, disrupt worship services, and imprison believers for sharing their faith. The landmark case could determine the future of religious freedom for India's estimated 30 million Christians.

About 100 U.S. military personnel have arrived in Nigeria as Washington scales up a noncombat operation to help the West African nation counter Islamist insurgents and militant groups. The deployment, part of a reportedly 200-person mission, includes ammunition and equipment in response to a Nigerian government request. President Trump has accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants in the northwest, while Nigeria denies religious discrimination, saying its security forces target all armed groups regardless of religious motivation.

Iran's security forces killed at least 19 Christians during a sweeping crackdown on anti-government protests, according to a monitoring group. The confirmed death toll rose after two more Christian converts were killed by gunfire during demonstrations last month. The report comes as Iran simultaneously operates secret 'black box' detention sites where thousands are held without their families' knowledge. The persecution of Iranian Christians intensifies even as the regime enters nuclear negotiations with the United States in Geneva.

A federal judge on Presidents' Day ordered the National Park Service to restore an exhibit about nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former Philadelphia residence, which the Trump administration had removed last month. U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe invoked George Orwell's '1984,' saying the administration had slipped into 'Big Brother's domain' by attempting to erase historical displays. The ruling highlights the tension between the administration's efforts to combat what it calls 'anti-American ideology' at cultural institutions and critics who say removing slavery references amounts to whitewashing history.

A Canadian case involving a husband suffering from caregiver burnout bringing his wife to be euthanized has sparked renewed debate about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The woman had wavered about wanting euthanasia, highlighting concerns about consent and pressure. New York State legalized medical aid in dying this month, joining Canada and other jurisdictions. Christian ethicists argue there is a fundamental moral difference between killing people and allowing them to die naturally.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon is reminding teachers they are not required to pay union dues in any state, citing the 2018 Supreme Court Janus v. AFSCME ruling. The message emphasizes teachers' freedom to choose whether to financially support unions, a decision that some educators may not be aware they have the right to make.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Dallas city officials for allegedly failing to properly fund the police department as required by voter-approved Proposition U. The lawsuit argues that the city is violating the public safety measure passed by residents. Paxton, who is also running for U.S. Senate, defended his aggressive legal approach on Fox News Sunday, stating that when fighting for conservative principles, opponents come after you.

Two female Israeli soldiers were rescued by police after being chased by a mob of ultra-Orthodox men in the city of Bnei Brak. The women were forced to flee before law enforcement intervened to assist them. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between secular and ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel, particularly regarding women's presence in public spaces and military service. Bnei Brak is known as a heavily ultra-Orthodox city where religious customs are strictly observed.

Fulani Christian converts in Nigeria's Taraba State are facing increasing isolation and exile as fighting intensifies in the region. Converts report being cut off from their communities and traditional support networks after leaving Islam for Christianity. The situation highlights the ongoing persecution faced by religious minorities in Nigeria's conflict zones.

The Church of England's General Synod voted against proposals to bless same-sex marriages, bringing to a close a years-long deliberation process. The decision effectively ends plans for stand-alone blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples within the denomination. The vote reflects ongoing theological divisions within the Anglican communion over marriage and sexuality.

A Brazilian student is facing up to 10 years in prison after a federal court hearing on whether social media posts expressing views on gender identity constitute criminal transphobia. The case has drawn international attention as a test of free speech and religious expression in Brazil, where courts have increasingly treated criticism of transgender ideology as a criminal offense.

A man whose conviction for burning a Quran in London was overturned on appeal may be granted asylum in the United States, as the case has drawn attention from the Trump administration. UK prosecutors have appealed the overturned conviction, raising questions about free expression and blasphemy laws in Western democracies.

A former beauty pageant winner claims the Miss America organization stripped her crown because she refused to affirm that men can become women, saying the organization "can't even define what a woman is." Separately, 'Silence of the Lambs' actor Ted Levine publicly denounced his iconic Buffalo Bill role after 35 years, saying the character "vilified" the transgender community. The two stories reflect the ongoing cultural collision over gender identity from opposite directions.

A Reuters roundup highlights how the Trump administration has steadily eroded the traditional separation between church and state through executive orders, judicial appointments, and policy changes that favor religious institutions. From school prayer to faith-based funding, the boundaries that once kept government and organized religion at arm's length are blurring faster than at any point in modern American history. Critics warn of constitutional violations while supporters see long-overdue recognition of faith's role in public life.