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Politics Religious Freedom

Government, Opposition close to deal on hate speech laws

Labor and the Coalition are within sight of a deal to pass new laws against violent hate speech when federal Parliament resumes in February, as both major parties vow to act on antisemitism. Source: The Age.

Religious Freedom

Christian leaders call for end to anti-Semitic attacks

Sydney’s Christian leaders have declared Israel’s military response to Hamas cannot be used to justify the explosion in anti-Semitism in Australia, and the ceasefire must put an end to a recent wave of anti-Jewish hate crimes. Source: The Australian.

Religious Freedom Ukraine

Ukraine accuses Russia of  killing clergy and banning religions in occupied areas

Russian forces have killed almost 70 clergy and destroyed more than 630 places of worship in Ukraine since the start of its 2022 invasion, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Source: OSV News.

Politics Religious Freedom

Jewish MP calls for mandatory sentences for anti-Semitic attacks

One of Australia’s most prominent Jewish MPs has called for National Cabinet to convene this week and bring in mandatory sentences for criminals who attack synagogues, as multiple incidents of hate are referred to counter-terrorism police. Source: The Australian.

Politics Religious Freedom

Senator wants hate speech bill expanded to protect places of worship

Liberal senator Paul Scarr has called for Labor’s hate speech bill to be expanded to create an offence of “urging or threatening” an attack on a place of worship, amid a surge in anti-Semitism. Source: The Australian.

Religious Freedom

Albanese’s emotional plea for national unity to end ‘evil’ of anti-Semitism

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an emotional plea for national unity to end the “evil” of anti-Semitism after a fresh hate crime in Sydney. Source: The Australian.

Religious Freedom Religious Orders

Catholic Religious Australia condemns arson attack on synagogue

Catholic Religious Australia says there is “no place in Australia for attacks on places of worship” as it condemned the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday.

Places of worship Religious Freedom

Governments move to protect places of worship from protests

Australia’s three largest states are poised to introduce laws protecting places of worship from intimidatory protests as both levels of government scrambled to react to Friday’s terrorist attack on a Melbourne synagogue. Source: The Australian.

Religious Freedom

Melbourne Archdiocese condemns firebomb attack on synagogue

The Melbourne Archdiocese has condemned the firebomb attack on a synagogue in the inner southeast suburb of Ripponlea on Friday. Source: Melbourne Catholic.