On June 15th, the North American Unitarian Association (NAUA) joined the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), marking a significant milestone that recognizes NAUA as part of the global community of liberal religious organizations. Founded in 1900, IARF is the world’s oldest interfaith organization, uniting members across five continents and over 20 countries, including Unitarians, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, and others who value open inquiry and justice. IARF engages in study, dialogue, and advocacy, holding consultative status at the United Nations to promote liberal religion and defend marginalized communities. Through this membership, NAUA members can participate in IARF programs and initiatives, with NAUA and IARF collaborating on interfaith educational programs and NAUA supporting IARF at the UN. This achievement was facilitated by NAUA’s International Alliances Committee and IARF President George Williams. Further details on collaboration will be shared via NAUA’s newsletter and website.

Unitarian Universalists (UUs) and multifaith groups have successfully challenged state laws in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas that mandated the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Federal courts in all three states have issued injunctions, ruling the laws unconstitutional as they violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which ensures separation of church and state. In Louisiana (Rev. Roake v. Brumley), a 2024 law requiring Protestant Ten Commandments was blocked, with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the injunction in June 2025, though Louisiana seeks a rehearing. Lead plaintiff Rev. Darcy Roake emphasized that religious education belongs at home. In Arkansas (Stinson v. Fayetteville School District No. 1), a June 2025 law was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, citing a religiously coercive environment. In Texas (Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District), a July lawsuit against a law effective September 1 also resulted in an injunction in August. Plaintiffs across these cases include Unitarian Universalists, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and nonreligious families, all represented by organizations like the ACLU. The issue is considered highly controversial and may eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), with numerous religious organizations and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, joined an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold Colorado’s 2019 law banning conversion therapy for minors. The brief argues the law protects LGBTQ+ children from “dangerous, ineffective” practices without violating religious freedom or free speech. UUA Executive Vice President Carey McDonald stressed religious groups’ role in protecting LGBTQ+ civil rights and affirming human dignity. The case, challenged by the Alliance Defending Freedom, could impact similar bans nationwide.

Poland’s justice ministry is proposing to eliminate prison time for blasphemy convictions to comply with a European Court of Human Rights ruling. Although the crime of “offending religious feelings” would remain, the maximum two-year jail term would be removed in favor of fines or community service. The proposal faces significant political hurdles, including potential vetoes from the conservative president and criticism from both legal scholars and religious groups.

The 1905 law on the separation of Church and State marks its 120th anniversary. This foundational text established the principle of secularism in France, particularly in schools, after years of tension. While initially contested by the Catholic Church, it remains a pillar of the Republic, ensuring that religious matters belong to the private sphere.

This comprehensive report explores the friction between religious doctrines and secular democratic values in the Dutch education system. Findings include school leaders expressing theocratic ideals, teaching materials that describe women as submissive to men, and the use of textbooks containing anti-Semitic tropes or rejecting scientific evolution. Legal experts and theologians discuss how Article 23 of the Constitution creates a space where schools can teach contradictory sets of values, leaving students to navigate complex ideological landscapes.

This report discusses the mental health impact on students in Reformed and Islamic schools where homosexual relationships are rejected. Despite teaching a general sense of respect, the practical rejection of same-sex relationships by these institutions creates a difficult environment for LGBTQ+ youth, potentially leading to psychological distress.

The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) has condemned a Pakistani court’s decision to sentence an Ahmadi Muslim, Mubarak Ahmad Saani, to life imprisonment for blasphemy. In a landmark and controversial move, the court used Saani’s memorization of the Quran and his use of the religious title “Hafiz” as evidence of “posing as a Muslim.” The IHRC describes this as a grave escalation of religious persecution that violates both the Pakistani Constitution and international law.

This article examines the criminal investigation and detention of cartoonists from the Turkish magazine Leman over a caricature featuring names associated with religious prophets. The author argues that the Turkish government’s actions constitute a clear violation of freedom of speech, as the cartoon’s context suggests a call for peace rather than a gratuitous insult to religious values, failing to meet international human rights standards for restriction.

During a legal session in Madrid, Professor Javier Martínez-Torrón discussed the uneven application of religious cooperation in Spain. He noted that while the constitution requires neutrality, the state has stalled in signing new agreements with minority religious groups, leading to disparities in funding, tax benefits, and the practical implementation of religious freedoms compared to the Catholic Church.

Far-right political parties across Europe are increasingly claiming Christmas as a symbol of Christian civilization to serve as a front line in culture wars against secularism and immigration. Leaders such as Italy’s Giorgia Meloni have integrated festive traditions into their political identity, framing holiday customs as endangered heritage. This strategy mirrors American rhetoric regarding a ‘War on Christmas’ and aims to reclaim cultural dominance from progressive and secular influences.

Human Rights Without Frontiers argues that the European Union should suspend Pakistan’s GSP+ trade privileges because the country has failed to meet the human rights benchmarks required for the agreement. The report documents numerous religious freedom violations in December 2025, including the killing of a pastor, mob violence, and the continued abuse of blasphemy laws. While some legislative progress was noted, such as a ban on child marriage in Balochistan, the organization claims overall progress remains insufficient.

The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) issued a statement condemning the vandalism of a menorah at a synagogue in Bridgeport. The organization spoke out against religious intolerance following the incident, though the article content was partially obscured by security filters.

In floor remarks delivered in December 2025, Senator Chuck Grassley challenged claims by the Russian Orthodox Church regarding religious persecution in Ukraine. He argued that while religious freedom is maintained in Ukrainian-controlled areas, it is the Russian forces who are actively persecuting Orthodox believers, Catholics, and Evangelicals in occupied territories, while the Moscow-aligned church provides propaganda for the invasion.

U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer introduced the bipartisan Sikh American Anti-Discrimination Act in December 2025 to address the rising tide of hate crimes against the Sikh community. The bill proposes a Department of Justice task force to define anti-Sikh hate, enhance educational programs, and improve reporting to better protect one of the most-targeted religious groups in the United States.