Rasul v. Bush establishes access to federal courts for Guantánamo detention challenges

Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court held that Baden-Württemberg lacked a sufficiently definite statutory basis to exclude a teacher for wearing a headscarf. Fereshta Ludin’s challenge contested the...

The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 entered into force in England, Scotland and Wales. They prohibited specified forms of discrimination and harassment in employment and...

Canada announced a public inquiry led by Dennis O’Connor into Canadian officials’ conduct in the deportation and detention of Maher Arar. Arar, his wife Monia Mazigh and civil-liberties supporters had...

Human Rights Watch called for rejection of France’s proposed ban on conspicuous religious symbols in state schools, arguing that it would disproportionately exclude Muslim girls and infringe religious...

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission launched the summary report of Isma—Listen in Sydney. Consultations examined prejudice, discrimination and vilification experienced by Arab and Muslim...

The UN held a seminar on confronting Islamophobia at its New York headquarters as part of its Unlearning Intolerance series. Kofi Annan addressed stereotypes, discrimination, physical insecurity and...

The European Court of Human Rights’ Grand Chamber upheld the restrictions challenged by medical student Leyla Şahin, finding no violation of the Convention rights at issue. Judge Françoise Tulkens...

The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 received royal assent, creating a statutory framework for offences of stirring up religious hatred. The legislation addressed hatred against persons and...

The House of Lords allowed Denbigh High School’s appeal in Shabina Begum’s challenge over wearing a jilbab. The school already permitted a headscarf with its approved uniform; the dispute concerned...

Dennis O’Connor released the factual findings of the inquiry into Maher Arar. The investigation found no evidence that Arar had committed an offence or posed a security threat and examined the...