Manchester synagogue attacker friend jailed for terrorism plot
Mohammad Bashir, 31, who planned an attack on a military base with the Manchester synagogue attacker has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years, after pleading guilty to one count of preparing an act of terrorism. Bashir and his friend, the Heaton Park synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie, went on a 10-hour round trip to check out the UK’s Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, in August last year. Bashir, from Cheetham Hill, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of preparing an act of terrorism. The judge said he had become a “firmly committed jihadist”.
Catholic and Jewish schools project to tackle antisemitism
Secondary school teachers in the Archdiocese of Birmingham are to deliver lessons to help pupils recognise and challenge antisemitism, as part of a government-funded project including the Board of Deputies and the Catholic Education Service. Pupils will participate in focus groups to discover their exposure to antisemitic misinformation and conspiracies on social media and gaming websites, and be taught how to recognise content as antisemitic in nature.
Catholics appeal to Prime Minister not to approve Rosebank oil field
More than 50 Catholic leaders and organisations, including CAFOD, SCIAF, Laudato Si’ Movement and Caritas Social Action Network, have signed a letter calling on new Prime Minister Andy Burnham not to approve the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea. They say that approving the project “would risk locking the UK into decades of continued fossil fuel production just as we need to accelerate the transition to cleaner sources of energy”.
Report on why young adults are joining church for the first time
A report commissioned by the Church of England has found that social media, personal relationships and communities are the key reasons for young adults to join a church for the first time. The report found they were attracted by the “authenticity” and “seriousness” of worship, and valued “confidence, consistency and depth”.
Delays funding security measures in mosques
The British Muslim Trust says mosques across the UK are facing significant delays in receiving promised government security funding, with some waiting “for months” despite a surge in anti-Muslim hatred incidents, a leading organisation has warned. Independent story here
Chinese underground church pastor freed
Chinese pastor Ezra Jin Mingri has given an interview to the Mail about his sudden release from jail after US president Donald Trump intervened on his behalf. He founded the Zion Church in 2007, but it was not officially registered and he was detained in October over allegations of illegal business activity and fraud. He was released on 3 July and flown to the US to meet his family there.
Appeal for release of 95 year old Shincheonji Church leader in Korea
The European Academy of Religion, based in Italy, is appealing to the South Korean government to release Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old Chairman of Shincheonji Church, who was detained on 24 June after allegations that he orchestrated the mass registration of church members into a political party. The church gained international attention in 2020 when a large Covid-19 outbreak in South Korea was linked to one of its congregations.
