The spooky comedy franchise may seem an unlikely place to find an ethnicity and faith adviser, but productions are increasingly aware of a duty to make sure communities are truthfully represented The “sensitivity reader” is a well-established, if controversial, figure in the publishing world, offering advice on whether a book’s content might cause offence. The film and TV industry has also been forced to confront similar issues, with “intimacy coordinators” now widely employed to ensure that filmed sex scenes neither harm the actors nor outrage audiences. Perhaps less well-known, but now gaini ..read more

Kirklees residents are likely to punish both the Tories and Labour for their stance on Gaza in the 2 May local elections Of all the issues being discussed and debated among voters in the lead-up to local elections, there is one that has taken precedence for some residents of the West Yorkshire borough of Kirklees: the conflict in Gaza. This week’s votes are predicted to bring damaging results for Rishi Sunak – whose personal ratings have reached a record low ..read more

My father, Roger Boase, who has died aged 77, was a scholar of Spanish 15th- century cancionero poetry and history. Roger’s magnum opus, published in 2017, was Secrets of Pinar’s Game, analysing across two volumes a single Iberian poem from 1496 and all the literary, historical, botanical and heraldic references therein ..read more

Muslim organisations say they were not consulted before counter-terrorism raids that resulted in arrests relating to a church stabbing in Sydney Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Representatives of the Australian Muslim community have called out what they called “questionable law enforcement tactics” after seven minors were arrested and six of them charged with counter-terrorism-related offences this week. Three major bodies, the Australian National Imams Council, the Alliance of Australian Muslims ..read more

Video evidence shows multiple arrests after regime launched new draconian campaign against women and girls Harrowing first-hand accounts of women being dragged from the streets of Iran and detained by security services have emerged as human rights groups say country’s hijab rules have been brutally enforced since the country’s drone strikes on Israel on 13 April. A new campaign, called Noor (“light” in Persian), was announced the same day the Iranian regime launched drone attacks against Israel, to crack down on “violations” of the country’s draconian hijab rules, which dictate that all women ..read more

Readers respond to a news report and an article by Nadeine Asbali on a prayer ban at Michaela community school in London I was disappointed by the court ruling on Michaela community school’s prayer ban (High court upholds top London school’s ban on prayer rituals, 16 April), and shocked to see the jubilant reaction from several prominent politicians. Children praying in school is not disruptive or threatening, and for Kemi Badenoch to suggest that these pupils are attempting to “impose their views on an entire school community” screams of xenophobia. With this ruling, it’s the other way around ..read more

Policing at a pro-Palestine marchSolving the climate crisisGreatness in baldnessPaint coloursThe best guitarists It is appalling that a police officer used the phrase “openly Jewish” when trying to move Gideon Falter away from a pro-Palestine march (Met apologises for calling antisemitism campaigner ‘openly Jewish’, 19 April). But it’s also ludicrous to suggest that being Jewish would be provocative. There have always been lots of “openly Jewish” people at the marches calling for a ceasefire, carrying signs such as “Jews say ceasefire now”, “Jews against Israeli militarism”, “Jews for justice ..read more

Statement says it made clear to Michaela community school that ‘in winter it would not be possible to pray later’ One of the UK’s most prominent mosques has denied providing advice to the Michaela community school that all afternoon prayers could be deferred, disputing claims heard in court. Katharine Birbalsingh, who runs the non-faith state school in Wembley and is often called “Britain’s strictest headteacher”, defeated a high court challenge this week to her policy of stopping pupils praying at lunchtime ..read more

The authorities declared the senseless act of violence in Wakeley a terrorist act within 18 hours – why the rush? As I reflect on the tragic events involving the stabbing of the Assyrian Orthodox bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel while presenting a sermon in his church in south-western Sydney, I am filled with a profound sense of sorrow and concern for the state of our society. This senseless act of violence, labelled as an act of terrorism by authorities, raises questions about radicalisation and the vulnerability of young people within our communities ..read more

Muslim pupil loses case against Michaela community school, run by former government social mobility tsar Katharine Birbalsingh A high court decision to uphold a prayer ban at one of the highest performing state schools in England has been welcomed by Rishi Sunak and Kemi Badenoch, who described it as a “victory against activists trying to subvert our public institutions”. The case against Michaela community school in Brent, north-west London, which is famous for its strict discipline code, was brought by a Muslim pupil, known only as TTT in court proceedings, who claimed the ban was discrimina ..read more