China has accused the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of “slanders and smears” after his recent report on global Islamophobia.

Church leaders are hailing a “crucial moment for the freedom of the church in Scotland” as they face the Scottish Government in court over the criminalisation of communal worship during lockdown.

The blanket ban placed Scottish worshippers in a difficult situation. Many want to take all efforts to care for the vulnerable. Yet, authorities in England, Northern Ireland, Wales – in fact, across most of Europe – have all managed to find solutions which protect freedom of religion and uphold public health.

Religious and cultural groups have raised concerns about its impact on free expression.

The bill replaces the government ordinance promulgated in January to check religious conversions through any fraudulent means.

Hundreds of young Christian, Hindu and Sikh women and children are estimated to be “forced to convert to Islam and made to marry her kidnapper” in Pakistan each year.

The leading U.N. expert on freedom of religion on Monday criticized the Swiss referendum in favor of a “burqa ban,” saying that the “cloak of democracy” does a poor job hiding bigotry.