International Center for Law and Religion Studies

J. Reuben Clark Law School

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Keynote Address 1
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Albie Sachs Emeritus Justice, Constitutional Court of South Africa

Keynote Address 2
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Moegeng wa Moegeng Chief Justice, Constitutional Court of South Africa

First Plenary Session: Philosophy, Law and Religion & Islam and Law
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Danie Strauss – Philosophical approaches to the theme of law and religion Professor, School of Philosphy, North-West University
Abiodun Akeem Oladiti – Justice in the threshold of culture: a comparative study of Yoruba and Islamic legal systems Department of General Studies, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Philosophy, Law and Religion
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Digby Koyana – Seeking the common good in pluralistic societies Professor, Fort Hare University
Shaun de Freitas Professor, University of the Free State
Jaco Dreyer – Religious fundamentalism, Ubuntu and the quest for a culture of human rights in Africa Professor, University of South Africa
Adelbert Scholtz – The quest for the common good in pluralistic societies - a philosophical perspective Dr., University of Western Cape

Islam and Law
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Salim Bashir Magashi – Pluralism in the Nigerian legal system: a panacea for comprehensive and inclusive national development Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University, Department of Public Law
Ahmed Salisu Garba – Regulation of religious preaching in a democratic: analysis of Islamic preaching board laws in Sharia states of Northern Nigeria, 1960-2013 Professor of Law, Bauchi State University
Muhammed Haron – South(ern) Africa's Dar ul-'Ulums: Shari'ah agents between society and the state Professor, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana

Second Plenary Session: Theology and Law & African Traditional Religion
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Francois Muller – Between extremes - the sound application of article 36 of the Belgic Confession in pluralist African societies Faculty of Theology, North-West University
Thomas Bennett – Traditional African Religions: culture or religion? Professor, Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town

Theology and Law
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Peter B. Langerman Reverend, Durbanville Presbyterian Church
Magriet de Villiers – 'The right to have rights': engaging theologically with Hannah Arendt in a pluralist society Doctoral Candidate, Stellenbosch University
Godfrey Msiska – Protection of Africa Traditional law and African Traditional Religion: legal and theological perspective Rev., Centre for Christian Mission Seminary, Kitwe, Zambia/PhD student University of Pretoria

African Traditional Religion
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John Paul Ongeso – The embedding of customary law in South Africa's public polictical liberalism and the idea of public reason revisited School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand
Nokuzola Mndende Dr., Icamagu Institute
Abamfo Ofori Atiemo – Religion and custom are not the same: sacred traditional states and religious human rights in contemporary Ghana Senior Lecturer and Department Head, Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana

Tradition, Law and Marriage
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Robert T. Smith – Judicial mandates for same sex marriage in the USA and religious freedom Managing Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School
Kizito Kabengele – A legal perspective of ministers of religion as authorized marriage officer Research Associate and LLD Candidate, Faculty of Law, Department of Public Law
Devina N. Perumal – Keeping women in their place: a scio-legal examination of the judicial treatment of Hindu religious marriages in South African law School of Law, University of Kwazulu Natal

Third Plenary Session: Theology and Law & African Traditional Religion
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Adriaan Overbeeke Dr., Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/ Universiteit Antwerpen
Jean-Baptiste Sourou – The roles of women in African Traditional Religion and in the Catholic Church Professor of Communications, Saint Augustine University of Tanzania

Conference Reception
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W. Cole Durham, Jr. – Address Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law and Director

Fourth Plenary Session: Religion, State and Society & Religious Intolerance / Persecution
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Iain T. Benson Extraordinary Professor, Department of Constitutional Law and Philosophy of Law, Faculty of Law, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Kofi Quashigah – State sanctioned religious discrimination in Africa: nature and implications of the obvious and implicit Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana
Hildegard Warnink – Human rights and human dignity: discussion regarding the refusal to ordain women in the Roman Catholic Church Facult of Canon Law

Religion, State and Society
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George Byarugaba – What has Jerusalem to do with Athens? Religion-state relations Father, University of the Western Cape
Allswell Osini Muzan Professor/Director, Peace & Conflict Studies, Royal Aspen Institite, Port Harcourt, Kogi State University, Anyigba
Asher Maoz – Religious freedom as a basic human right - the Jewish perspective Dean, Peres Academic Center Law School

Religious Intolerance / Persecution
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Christof Sauer – Understanding dimensions of religious freedom and persecution dynamicss in Sub-Saharan Africa Prof. Dr., Evangelical Theological Faculty Leuven, International Institute for Religious Freedom
Johannes L. van der Walt – The problem of religious intolerance in modern societies: Is there a way out? Faculty of Education Sciences, North-West University
Fortune Sibanda – 'Legalise it!': Re-thinking Rastafari-State relations in postcolonial Zimbabwe Lecturer, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Great Zimbabwe University
Mary Nel – Violent enforcement of traditional beliefs: witchcraft, vigilantism and the role of the state Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University

Fifth Plenary Session: Law and Religion in Africa - Governance, Social Problems, Marriage, Woman, Ch
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Johan van der Vyver – The diversity of religiously based marriages and family law within African legal systems I.T. Cohen Professor of International Law and Human Rights, Emory University School of Law
Annel M. Silungwe – Human rights and human dignity: discussion on children, disabled persons and women Honorable Chief Justice (Rtd.), Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution

Law and Religion in Africa
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E. Helena van Coller – The role and duty of religious institutions in civil society Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Rhodes University
Tadesse Melaku Asfaw – Rights of church employees and religious autonomy: the case of Ethipoia Lecturer, Hawassa University School of Law
Johannes Nicolaas Horn – Pentacostals and the human rights dispensation Professor, University of Nimibia

Law, Religion and Social Problems
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Azeez Abdulkareem – An appraisal of the role of religious leaders in the fight against corruption Lecturer, Kampala International University
Mary Anne Plaatjies van Huffel – Human rights and human dignity, drone operations and the quest for the common good in modern warfare Department of Church Law, University of Stellenbosch

Marriage, Women, Children and Education
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Nisbert Taisekwa Taringa – African Traditional Religion and womens and Children's Rights in ZImbabwe Senior Lecturer and Department Head, Department of Religious Studies, Classics and PhilosophyUniversity of Zimbabwe, Department of Religious Studies, Classics, and Philosophy
Ashraf Booley – Divorce at the request of the wife in Islam: does she have to prove fault? Lecturer, University of the Western Cape
Karin Calitz – The liability of the church for sexual assault of children by priests Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Stellenbosch

Marriage, Women, Children and Education
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Stanley Nweze – The plight of children of unidentified parents in the contemporary society: the place of the church Reverend, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Georgia A. du Plessis – The inclusion of religion in South African school education Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of the Free State
Johan van der Merwe – Religion state relation in South Africa: the church order of De Mist as a beacon in the quest for the common good Dr., University of Pretoria

Law and Religion in Africa
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Luka Ariko Ekitala Reverend, Moi University
Bonginkosi Dennis Xulu – Rule of law in post-apartheid South Africa: a people-centered and justice-focused Rainbow nation Reverend, KU Leuven
Willie Zeze – The ministry of the Presbyterian Church in Malawi during political transition and democratic dispensation 1992-2004 Rev. Dr. Nhkoma Synod of the Church of Central African Presbyterian

Conference Dinner
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Sixth Plenary Session: Law and Religion & Registration of Religions
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Danny Pieters – The relationship between security and freedom of religion Professor of Law, Institute for Social Law, KU Leuven
Mark Hill QC – Religious autonomy and judicial deference: should State Courts adjudicate upon matters of faith Honorary Professor, Centre for Law and Religion, Cardiff University, United Kingdom; Extraordinary Professor, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Registration of Religions in Africa
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Brett G. Scharffs – The uncanny similarities (and important differences) in registration laws designed to facilitate or frustrate freedom of religion and belief Francis R. Kirkham Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Research and Academic Affairs, Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School
Rosalind I.J. Hackett – Registration of religions in Africa. Historical and political vagaries Professor and Head, Department of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee