A tragic incident where a girl killed her sister over a TikTok quarrel is used by conservative clerics to call for a broad crackdown on social media.
From the World
Belarus: New Life Church No Longer Exists
After a long persecution, Pastor Vyacheslav Goncharenko’s Pentecostal community has been “liquidated” by the country’s Supreme Court.
The Ghent Saga Ends: Belgium Cassation Court Confirms that Shunning Is Lawful
On December 19, 2023, the Belgian Court of Cassation confirmed the appeal decision favorable to the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Novopashin: “Sad Followers of Navalny” and “Cultists” “Recruited by the Thousands to Spy for Ukraine”
The Russian anti-cult leader ridiculously claims that “thousands of recruited agents” report to Kyiv movements of troops and military trains. Many of them, he says, are “cultists.”
The Netherlands Also Sees “No Reason” to Criminalize Shunning
After a study by the Open University, the Minister of Justice and Safety told the House of Representatives that taking action against “social exclusion” would be both against religious liberty and unrealistic.
Update on the Buenos Aires Yoga School. 4. Where Do We Go from Here
With the decision of the Court of Appeals the case did not end. The defendants won an important battle. The “war” continues.
Update on the Buenos Aires Yoga School. 3. The Court of Appeal’s Rulings
On December 7, the elevation to trial was annulled. The case was sent back to Judge Lijo, with the dissenting opinion of one Appeal judge who would have acquitted the defendants immediately.
Update on the Buenos Aires Yoga School. 2. The Arguments of the Defense
Based inter alia on the forensic examination of the alleged “victims,” who constantly claimed they had never been victimized, the defense insisted the prosecutors had no case.
Update on the Buenos Aires Yoga School: What Really Happened
The Court of Appeals annulled the elevation to trial of the defendants and urged the investigating judge to evaluate the new evidence in dialogue with the parties.
Missouri, District Court: “Coercive Persuasion Is Not a Recognized Tort”
The court also said that negligence claims against a religious institution are (largely) barred by First Amendment.