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    The Worldโ€™s Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society

    A new survey report looks at attitudes among Muslims in 39 countries on a wide range of topics, from science to sharia, polygamy to popular culture. The survey finds that overwhelming percentages of Muslims in many countries want Islamic law to be the official law of their land, but there is also widespread support for democracy and religious freedom.

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    Applying Godโ€™s Law: Religious Courts and Mediation in the U.S.

    Across the U.S., religious courts operate on a routine, everyday basis. How do some of the country’s major Christian traditions and other religions – including Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism – decide internal matters and apply their religious laws?

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    State Legislation Restricting Use of Foreign or Religious Law

    On Monday, the Oklahoma Senate passed a bill intended to prevent the use of foreign law in state courts. The bill contains language from model legislation designed to limit the use of sharia, or Islamic law. A new interactive map details similar bills introduced or enacted in 32 states between 2010 and 2012.

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    The Contraception Mandate and Religious Liberty

    On Feb. 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new rules for how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate applies to religious nonprofits, including houses of worship, schools and hospitals. Church-state law scholars Ira C. Lupu and Robert Tuttle explain the new rules and the legal arguments that religious groups might make.

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    The Tahrir Square Legacy: Egyptians Want Democracy, a Better Economy, and a Major Role for Islam

    Two years after Egyptians first poured into Cairoโ€™s Tahrir Square chanting โ€œDown with Mubarakโ€ the legacy of the Arab Spring remains uncertain. Polling since the uprising shows that Egyptians want democratic rights and institutions, a major role for Islam in political life, and an improved economy โ€“ a challenging set of demands for the new cadre of Egyptian leaders.