Prayers for Iran after the president’s death
The Pope and World Council of Churches Secretary General Reverend Professor Jerry Pillay have offered condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the death of President Sayyid Ibrahim Raisi and members of his delegation in a helicopter crash on Sunday. In a telegram sent to the country’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who announced five days of mourning, Pope Francis said he “commissions the souls of those who died to the mercy of Almighty God, offers prayers for those who mourn their deaths, especially their families, and assures my spiritual accompaniment to your people in this difficult time.” In a letter to the same recipient, Professor Pillay wrote, “This loss is deeply felt and we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who died and to all those grieving in your country.” An investigation into the crash is underway.
Church of England development charity welcomes new patron
Five Talents, an Anglican development charity, has appointed Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit of Kenya as its new Patron. The Archbishop of Canterbury will remain the charity’s UK Patron. According to the announcement, Five Talents has a “longstanding relationship” with Archbishop Sapit, who has supported the charity’s work since his time as Bishop of Kericho. “Five Talents’ work aligns very well with our vision here in Kenya. A key part of the Anglican Church of Kenya’s 10-year strategy is to focus on individual and community empowerment, and empowerment is at the heart of the Five Talents program model,” the Archbishop said.
UN urges Nigeria to release singer on death row
The UN Special Rapporteurs Group has renewed its call on Nigerian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally” release singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu from death row. He was sentenced to death by hanging under blasphemy laws in 2020 for performing and posting songs on WhatsApp (News, October 2, 2020). In 2021, a High Court judge ordered a retrial of the case (News, January 29, 2021). In a statement last Thursday, UN human rights experts said they were “deeply concerned that although his death sentence was set aside by the Court of Appeal, there is a significant risk that Mr. Sharif-Aminu’s case will be retried under the same legal framework, the Kano State Sharia Penal Code, and that the death sentence will be confirmed.” They called on the Supreme Court to prioritize the case with human rights in mind.
Large American companies increasingly embrace religious diversity
Most of the largest U.S. companies, including American Airlines and Accenture, are committed to religious inclusion in the workplace, according to the latest Corporate Religious Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) Index and Monitor released this week by the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation. According to the REDI report, 429 Fortune 500 companies (85.8%) now mention or exemplify religion as part of their broader diversity efforts, more than double the number in 2022 (202, 40.4%). The survey also found that the number of Fortune 500 companies indicating they have a faith-based Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) has increased by 68%, from 37 in 2022 to 62 in 2024.
Rastafarians seek damages for changing hairstyle in prison
Damon Randall, an American Rastafarian serving a five-month sentence in a Louisiana prison, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking damages after a prison guard cut his dreadlocks, which he said he wore for religious reasons. Randall claims the prison violated his religious rights. Weil, Gotshal & Manges, the law firm representing Randall, said provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act were at issue. “Without damages, the law provides no real protection and leaves people of minority faiths, especially, vulnerable to serious abuse,” said Zach Tripp, a lawyer at the firm.