Home Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, said a special taskforce will investigate the abduction following a report carried out by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, SUHAKAM (Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia) that concluded that his disappearance was executed by state agents.

The human rights panel in Malaysia was unanimous that Pastor Koh was a victim of an enforced disappearance.

He went missing on 13th February 2017.

In the attack, which was caught on CCTV, at least ten men in black SUVs blocked a major, bundled Raymond out of his car and into another vehicle and abducted him in under a minute. He has not been seen since.

In April 2019, it was announced at a press conference that he was probably taken by police and targeted by religious authorities.

The chair of the panel, Dato’ Mah Weng Kai said: “The direct and circumstantial evidence in Pastor Raymond Koh’s case proves, on a balance of probabilities, that he was abducted by State agents, namely, the Special Branch, Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur.”

The panel also concluded that there had been state involvement in the disappearance of activist Amri Che Mat, who is a Shia Muslim, a branch of Islam banned in Malaysia.

Henrietta Blyth, CEO of the religious freedom charity Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: “The SUHAKAM report was a very significant and bold step forward in pursuit of those who are behind Pastor Koh’s…

On Friday, vicars from around the country came to Oxford to raise awareness of the ‘Ride + Stride for Churches’ event happening in September, where people walk or cycle to raise money for historic churches. 

The clergy received lessons on how to ride the 19th century bike by world experts from the Penny Farthing Club in a school car park before many cycled through the streets of Oxford to promote the charity. 

Rev Davd Salter from St Mary’s Church in Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire said: “Hopefully, this shows that we are grateful for the support of the public and also that clergy are game for a laugh.

“It was silly and a bit scary at the same time. I will be lobbying for the organisers to hold a more sedate launch event next year.”

 Clergy who were interested were urged to sign up and wear their dog collar but “the instructors have expressed concerns about cassocks getting caught in spokes, so it is probably best to leave them at home” says the charity. 

An unexpected delight of clergy on Penny Farthings for the people of #Oxford today! pic.twitter.com/xVnRw6q43g

— National Churches Trust (@NatChurchTrust) May 31, 2019

According to the Harrogate Advertiser, Reverend Nick Morgan from Wetherby was the first vicar to sign up. 

He said: “I think it is a wonderful way of raising the profile of a fantastic event and a means of demonstrating, if it was…

Edinburgh City Council’s education committee is currently made up of eleven councillors, three religious representatives and one parent. 

Changes mean the council might scrap the religious roles and add in more parents and a pupil representative. 

The idea was proposed by the Scottish Green Party and supported by the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives and other parties agreed with the idea but wanted to wait to assess how the idea had been implemented at the councils in Perth and Kinross. 

Green education spokesperson, Cllr Mary Campbell, said: “I believe that, in making decisions which affect schools and nurseries, the council needs to hear much more from the people directly affected: that is, parents and, above all, young people. That is why I have proposed to boost the parent and pupil voice on the council’s education committee, and at the same time, ending the right of church representatives to vote on school matters.

“It is about rebalancing influence for the 21st century and taking the same step as at least three other councils. Pupils and parents need to be at the heart of education decisions.”

One Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Msgr. Anthony Duffy, wrote to the council saying the plans endanger: “the very harmonious and positive relationship which has existed for many years between the council and the…

Bosses at education authority Birmingham City Council have taken High Court action following weeks of protests outside Anderton Park Primary School.

They asked a judge to impose an injunction at a High Court hearing in London on Friday – while children were on half-term holidays.

Mrs Justice Moulder made an order barring protesters from gathering outside or near the school, from distributing leaflets and from making offensive comments about staff on social media.

The council has published her order on its website.

She made the order against three named people and “persons” unknown.

But she said protesters had been given no warning of the council’s application.

She said a judge should reconsider the injunction at a hearing in Birmingham on June 10.

Any protester could also apply to discharge the order, she said.

Council leader Ian Ward said, after Friday’s hearing, that legal action had been taken pending children’s return to school on Monday and he called on parents to “engage in constructive dialogue” if they had concerns.

“All our schools must be safe spaces and we will not tolerate the ongoing intimidation of parents, hard-working school staff and local residents,” he said.

“This interim injunction has been secured in time for the return to school on Monday and now hopefully the pupils will be able to continue their education in peace for the remainder of the…

The minister, who looks after two parishes in the Diocese of Chelmsford, resigned from the Church of England and from his role a school governor. 

In a statement, he aimed to clarify the role the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, had in his resignation. 

Rev John said: “For the last few years I have met with the Deanery and with the Bishops of the diocese to express my concerns over the Church of England embracing unbiblical approaches to matters of sexuality and gender.

“To that end I met with Bishops Stephen, Roger and Peter in March 2017 and a further meeting with Bishop Stephen in September 2018.

“Over recent years I, often together with others, have also entered into extensive and sometimes lengthy correspondence (most recently in December 2018), setting out my disquiet to Bishop Stephen.

“In a letter of September 2018, after a meeting with Bishop Stephen, I declared myself to be in broken communion with him; no response was forthcoming.”

He explained that the diocese ‘persisted’ in their approval, saying: “In my parish this culminated in the Diocese supporting unequivocally the ‘gender transition’ of a child in a Church of England primary school. As a governor of the school the welfare of that child and all the other children in the school was my responsibility and priority and I was deeply concerned.”

The former governor explained that his concerns surrounded safeguarding and the fact the Diocese were ‘complicit’ in preventing…

Birmingham City Council made the application following several weeks of protests outside Anderton Park Primary School in the city.

Citing “increasing fears for the safety and well-being of the staff, children and parents”, the council said it pursued legal action after the situation had become “too serious to tolerate”.

The interim injunction covers the streets immediately surrounding the school and prevents protesters printing or distributing leaflets, inviting others to protest and encouraging people to congregate at the entrance.

According to the order published on the council’s website, it also prohibits social media being used to make offensive or abusive comments about staff members.

Those protesting against LGBT teachings will have a chance to make their case to a judge on June 10.

Demonstrators have continued to gather outside the school in Dennis Road despite criticism from authorities including the council and police.

The head teacher announced the site would close for half term early last week over safety fears.

Leader of Birmingham City Council Councillor Ian Ward said: “I’m pleased that common sense has prevailed because children right across Birmingham should be free to attend school safely and without disruption.

“All our schools must be safe spaces and we will not tolerate the ongoing intimidation of parents, hard-working school staff and local…