Alliance Defending Freedom and partner organizations submitted a report to the United Nations regarding Nicaragua's 47th Universal Periodic Review. The joint submission alleges systematic harassment of the Catholic Church and its members by state and non-state actors. The groups cite arbitrary arrests, detentions, expulsions, and citizenship revocations targeting clergy and religious figures. This documentation aims to highlight these human rights concerns during the international review process. The report underscores the ongoing pressure faced by religious institutions in Nicaragua.
Alliance Defending Freedom submitted a report during the 47th Universal Periodic Review of Norway. The faith-based legal group acknowledged progress in reducing the number of children placed in alternative care. However, it expressed serious concern over the country's continued practice of separating children from their parents. The organization states this process hinders family reunification efforts and disproportionately affects migrant families. The report highlights these issues as part of the ongoing human rights review process for the Scandinavian nation.
Alliance Defending Freedom submitted a report to the United Nations regarding Singapore's 52nd Universal Periodic Review session. The organization argues that Singapore's legal frameworks, including the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and POFMA, restrict freedom of religion and expression. ADF International claims these provisions conflict with the country's human rights obligations. The submission highlights specific concerns about how these laws impact religious liberty and speech within Singapore. This review is part of the UN's regular assessment of member states' human rights records. The group urges attention to these legal inconsistencies during the international review process.
A Coptic Christian researcher and content creator in Egypt has been sentenced to five years of hard labor under the nation's blasphemy statutes. The court convicted him after he published videos on his YouTube channel explaining Christian beliefs to more than 100,000 subscribers. Authorities arrested him in October 2025 for speech deemed insulting to Islam. His legal team has filed an appeal to overturn the conviction. Alliance Defending Freedom is providing legal support for the case. Advocates argue the sentence suppresses peaceful religious expression and highlights the need for stronger protections for minorities in Egypt. The outcome of the appeal will determine if he serves the full term.
A young Christian male in Punjab province remains under threat from fabricated blasphemy charges despite his recent release. An advocacy group states he was detained for twenty months without credible evidence after extremists pressured police to name him. The group warns he faces ongoing risks of mob violence and extrajudicial killing. Data from the National Commission for Human Rights shows hundreds of people are currently accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. The European Union has warned Pakistan about potential trade repercussions due to these human rights concerns, highlighting the severe persecution faced by believers in the region.
A faith-based legal advocacy group submitted a report to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review for Ethiopia. The organization argues that the country must repeal its blasphemy laws to protect freedom of religion and expression. It also calls for an end to religiously motivated persecution and violence. This includes protecting followers of Orthodox Christianity, Protestantism, Islam, and indigenous religions from attacks. The report emphasizes the need to safeguard human rights for all religious groups in the country, urging the government to ensure safety for believers across the nation.
Alliance Defending Freedom International submitted a legal brief to the Polish Parliament opposing Government Bill No. 876, which amends the Criminal Code regarding hate speech. The organization argues that the proposed legislation violates international standards for freedom of expression. According to the brief, the bill extends restrictions beyond universally accepted limits on this right. The submission aims to challenge the enforcement mechanisms of the new hate speech provisions within Poland. This legal intervention highlights concerns about the potential impact on free speech protections in the country.
Kristen Waggoner serves as CEO, President, and Chief Counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal organization promoting religious liberty and free speech. Based in the United States with global offices, the group has contributed to nearly 80 U.S. Supreme Court victories under her leadership. Waggoner personally argued major cases, including Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative. The organization also operates internationally through Alliance Defending Freedom International, which has secured the release of over 2,000 imprisoned Christians and reopened more than 1,000 churches. Waggoner previously clerked for the Washington Supreme Court and practiced law in Seattle before joining the group. The outlet highlights her role in defending human life and parental rights worldwide.
ADF International reports that euthanasia legalization in Belgium and Canada has led to unexpected increases in requests for death, often due to insufficient social and medical support. The outlet argues this trend devalues life and erodes trust in healthcare. In Canada, safeguards have been loosened, leading to reports of vulnerable individuals being offered medical aid in dying. Advocates like Amanda Achtman are countering this through cultural engagement and storytelling. Meanwhile, legal interventions by Alliance Defending Freedom have successfully defended the right to life in European court rulings against assisted suicide claims.
A court in São Paulo, Brazil, has sentenced Adauto and Ieda Denardi to 50 days in prison for homeschooling their two daughters. The judge convicted the couple of intellectual neglect, ruling their curriculum lacked gender education and specific cultural content like trap music. This marks the first criminal conviction for homeschooling in Brazil, despite a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that the practice is constitutional. Prosecutors recommended acquittal, citing the girls' strong academic and social development. The family is appealing the decision to the State Court of Justice, with legal support from Alliance Defending Freedom. The case highlights ongoing legal uncertainty for the estimated 70,000 homeschooled children in the country.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Brahim Guedich on UnsplashPersecuted church
A judge in Glasgow, Scotland, dismissed criminal charges against Rose Docherty, a 75-year-old woman arrested for standing in a hospital buffer zone. Docherty was charged under a 2024 law prohibiting activities that influence abortion decisions. She held a sign offering consensual conversation outside Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The court ruled in April 2026 that the charges violated her free speech rights because prosecutors failed to prove she influenced another person. Alliance Defending Freedom supported her defense. The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the arrest, calling it a suppression of free expression. This marks the first free speech victory under such laws in the UK.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Etienne Dayer on UnsplashPersecuted church
Avon and Somerset Police in the United Kingdom investigated Pastor Dia Moodley for over four months following a peaceful street preaching incident in Bristol. The investigation concluded in April 2026 with no further action taken. The case highlights concerns from Alliance Defending Freedom regarding the treatment of the pastor, who has faced previous arrests and bail restrictions for expressing Christian views. The group argues that police have failed to protect him from threats by members of the public while criminalizing his lawful speech. This pattern has raised alarms about free speech protections and policing standards in the region.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in March 2025 that the case of Breccia di Roma, an Evangelical church in Rome, Italy, is inadmissible. The court upheld an Italian Supreme Court decision denying the congregation a tax exemption because authorities classified the building as a commercial shop due to its plain architecture. Consequently, the church must pay approximately 50,000 euros in taxes and fines. The European Court cited non-exhaustion of domestic remedies, despite the church having exhausted local legal avenues. Leonardo De Chirico, the church president, stated the government has no right to dictate worship space appearance. This outcome denies the congregation the financial relief granted to other religious sites in Italy.
The German city of Essen withdrew a fine against taxi driver Jalil Mashali in December 2024. Authorities had initially penalized him for a Bible verse sticker on his rear window, labeling it unlawful religious advertising. Mashali, a Christian convert from Iran, refused to remove the decal, arguing it expressed his personal faith rather than commercial promotion. With legal support from Alliance Defending Freedom, he challenged the penalty. The city ultimately dropped the case, marking a victory for freedom of expression. Dr. Felix Böllmann stated that the government should not silence peaceful religious expressions.
Nine Borges, a Brazilian social media commentator residing in the United Kingdom, faces a second criminal investigation in Brazil for alleged transphobia and defamation. The probe stems from a 2024 Instagram video criticizing gender ideology and pro-LGBT funding. Although a prior investigation ended in March 2026, authorities now recommend prosecution for misgendering an LGBT official. Alliance Defending Freedom supports Borges, citing threats to free expression. Legal counsel Julio Pohl warns that criminalizing such speech creates a chilling effect on public debate across Brazil. (ADF International)
Adam Smith-Connor, a British Army veteran, was convicted by Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court for silently praying near an abortion facility in the UK. The conviction stems from a Public Spaces Protection Order that bans expressions of approval or disapproval regarding abortion services. Smith-Connor received a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £9,000 in costs. He argues that silent prayer is a protected religious act under the Human Rights Act. Supported by ADF UK, he is appealing the decision at Bournemouth Crown Court. The case has drawn international attention, with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance citing it as a concern for free speech during a conference in Munich. Similar cases in Birmingham resulted in acquittals.
Brazilian federal prosecutors dropped criminal charges against Pastor Douglas Baptista in February 2025. He had been investigated for publishing a book on gender from a Christian perspective. The case began after a complaint by federal deputy Érica Hilton in September 2023. Authorities initially opened an investigation in June 2024, citing potential transphobia laws. The Federal Prosecutor concluded the book expressed thoughts in a non-criminal manner. Alliance Defending Freedom provided legal support for the pastor. The dismissal affirms freedom of expression and religion in Brazil. This outcome counters a growing pattern of censorship and criminal investigations for peaceful speech in the country since 2019.
The European Court of Human Rights formally communicated cases in January 2026 involving Christians banned from entering Turkey. According to Alliance Defending Freedom, Turkish authorities use security codes to label foreign Christian workers as threats to public order, effectively preventing their reentry despite lawful residence. The group states this systematic targeting stifles missionary activity and violates religious freedom. The court's decision invites the Turkish government to respond to these allegations of discrimination against individuals living out their faith in the country.
Dr. Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired medical scientist in Bournemouth, UK, was found guilty on April 4th for holding a sign reading “Here to talk if you want” near an abortion facility. The court ruled this violated a buffer zone prohibiting acts of approval or disapproval regarding abortion services. Although she claims the interactions were consensual and peaceful, the Bournemouth Council issued a penalty notice. The Poole Magistrates Court ordered her to pay £20,000 in prosecution costs. ADF International states this conviction violates free expression rights under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, arguing that offering conversation is not a crime.
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