August 2011

Big Plans for Newly Formed Russian Religious Liberty Association

New association has pivotal role to play, says IRLA Secretary General Dr. John Graz

The recently formed Russian chapter of the IRLA has announced plans for a series of events aimed at generating greater awareness of religious freedom issues throughout the region. Dr. John Graz, IRLA Secretary General, met July 19 with the 40-member board--a diverse group of scholars, lawyers, and religious leaders who have supported religious freedom since the end of the Communist regime. He later took part in a two-day training event, organized by IRLA Regional Secretary General Vasily Stoylar, for Russian and Central Asian religious liberty leaders. The group resolved to organize a number of forums and Festivals of Religious Freedom across the region over the coming years--including major events in Kiev and St. Petersburg.

The Russian association was organized last year after the larger IRLA Euro-Asia was dissolved in order to encourage the organization of national and local associations better suited to the needs of different countries. According to Dr. Graz, the new Association has a significant task ahead. "Russia and the Central Asia continue to play an important role in the geopolitics of the world," he said. "It's vital that both the people and their governments remember that religious freedom for everyone is a major factor in promoting peace and prosperity."

The Russian Association of Religious Liberty maintains strong ties with the IRLA. It plans to send a delegation of 40 members to participate in the 7th IRLA World Congress in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in April 2012.

IRLA Euro-Africa Leader Dies in Swimming Accident

Nowak was to attend IRLA meeting of experts in Sydney

[ANN] Karel Nowak, Secretary General of the Euro-Africa Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association, died while swimming in the ocean off the coast of Australia this morning, August 19. Nowak, 60, was snorkeling with colleagues off the coast of Cairns, Queensland. A rescue helicopter brought him to Cairns Base Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, said Corrado Cozzi, Communication director for the Euro-Africa Division, based in Berne, Switzerland.

Nowak was to attend next week's International Religious Liberty Association's 13th Meeting of Experts, held this year at the University of Sydney School of Law. It begins August 21.

"This is a loss for the religious liberty family," said John Graz, IRLA Secretary General. "Karel was excellent in his work and we looked at him as one of the best defenders of religious freedom."

Nowak was a strong and widely respected religious liberty advocate both at local and continent-wide meetings, including European Parliament in Brussels and at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in Geneva.

"I am convinced that all churches and religious communities should have the same rights and responsibilities toward the society represented by the state," Nowak told ANN in 2003 following a meeting with leaders of the Czech Republic.

Nowak was born December 10, 1951 in Velopoli, Moravia, Czech Republic. He originally trained as a tinsmith but later studied theology and graduated from Andrews University in the U.S. state of Michigan with a Master's of Divinity degree, Cozzi said.

Nowak pastored a church in the southern Moravia town of Znojmo from 1973 to 1978, and later directed the Czechoslovakia Publishing Department of the Adventist Church before serving as president of the Czecholslovakia Union from 1989 to 2004. He has elected as IRLA Euro-Africa Secretary General in 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Dana, and their three children.

IRLA Experts Gather in Australia to Address the Challenge of Secularism

Meeting generates material for next year's World Congress in Dominican Republic

[Bettina Krause/Kent Kingston/IRLA] Twenty-seven academics and legal experts from 12 countries met at the University of Sydney this week to explore freedom of religion and the rise of secularism during a three-day international think tank. The event—organised by the Adventist-sponsored International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) in partnership with the Sydney University Law School—was the 13^th IRLA Meeting of Experts, and the first to be held in the South Pacific. Previous venues have included Amman, Jordan; Madrid, Spain; and Washington DC, United States.

On the final day of the gathering, Greg Smith, Attorney-General of New South Wales, addressed the delegates along with university students and members of the public. In what University of Sydney professor, Patrick Parkinson, described as a “substantial” speech, the Attorney-General outlined the history of the Australian Constitution, in particular its provisions for religious freedom. He also discussed test cases in various states of Australia.

The Meeting of Experts focused particularly on the global growth of secularism and how it may erode religious freedom – the “first freedom,” which many see as a cornerstone of the human rights discourse.

“I wouldn’t say that right now in Australia the secular perspective is privileged,” said Ken Vogel, IRLA secretary general for the South Pacific region, “but the secular perspective is being very loudly voiced and there is a chance that that voice could actually gain so much ground that the religious voice is not only not heard but actually rejected.”

According to Dr John Graz, secretary general of the IRLA, these annual forums bring together some of the world’s foremost scholars and practitioners in the field of religious freedom to track legal and sociological trends. “Over the years, IRLA Meetings of Experts have built up a significant body of academic and practical resources,” he says. “This year, we’re delighted to partner with Sydney University Law School. It was a stimulating and productive few days.”

Presenters included Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, former Spanish Justice Department official and currently Associate Professor, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Patrick Parkinson, Professor, Sydney University Law School; David Little, Professor Emeritus, Harvard Divinity School; Paul Taylor, barrister-at-law and author; Nicholas Miller, director of the US-based International Religious Liberty Institute; and Blandine Chelini-Pont, Professor of History, Law and Religion, Université Paul Cézanne.

The gathering was tinged with sadness for some who had been friends and associates of Karel Nowak, IRLA secretary general for the Euro-Africa region.  Nowak was in Australia, intending to participate in the meetings, when he died August 19 while snorkelling near Cairns, Queensland.

Established in 1893, the IRLA has its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, and is the world’s oldest religious freedom advocacy organisation. It has 13 regional chapters worldwide and national associations in more than 80 countries. Along with the annual Meeting of Experts, the IRLA sponsors regional religious freedom festivals and forums, and every five years organises a world congress, which attracts an international mix of scholars, legal practitioners, government officials and human rights advocates.

Dr. Graz says the Sydney Meeting of Experts was especially important as the material it generated will provide a springboard for next year’s 7^th IRLA World Congress, to be held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, April 24-26.

Troubling Signs that the "Religious Freedom Divide" is Growing

Study also tracks jump in "social harrassment"of religious minorities

[Bettina Krause/IRLA]  The global religious freedom "forecast" looks grim for the 2.2 billion people around the world who suffer discrimination or persecution because of their faith, according to the results of a recent study by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The study, released earlier this month, analyzed masses of reports and data from 2006 to 2009 and identified recent trends in the level of religious repression and protection in different countries. It found, in part, that there's no immediate relief in sight for those suffering for their faith. In fact, the situation seems to be worsening in many countries that already have high levels of religious restrictions.

John Graz, Secretary General of the IRLA, said the results of the study are troubling but not particularly surprising. "There's an old saying that 'The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.' Well, this study suggests that, globally, the 'free' are enjoying even stronger legal protections, while those who already suffer religious persecution are facing ever-more stringent restrictions on their freedom."

China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Egypt topped the list of countries with the highest levels of government restrictions on religious freedom. The study also looked at "social harassment" of religious minorities. It cited China, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Russia and Sweden as among those countries with the largest recent upswing in the number of malicious acts or violence motivated by religious hatred.

Graz said these trends are borne out in the day-to-day work of the IRLA office in Silver Spring, Maryland, tracks and responds to religious liberty concerns.

"Just in the past few months we've seen the de-registration of many religious organizations in Hungary, the destruction of Christian churches in Ethiopia, the assassination of religious freedom advocates in Pakistan, and continuing legal persecution and social violence against religious minorities in some countries of the Middle East," Graz said.

Dwayne Leslie, Deputy Secretary General of the IRLA, says it's hard for those in the West, who can freely practice their faith, to understand just how vulnerable church members are in countries without strong traditions of religious freedom.

"Protection of religion becomes politicized," Leslie said. "Rights become dependent on political whims or changes in governments rather than established legal principles."

This reality often generates work for the IRLA team that falls into the "under-the-radar" category. "Often we're dealing with situations that are too sensitive to publicize," Leslie said.

He cites a recent example, where a church leader from an African country appealed for assistance following notice that some church property was about to be seized by the government based on a spurious legal claim.

The IRLA team, which also includes Dr. Ganoune Diop, director of United Nations relations, responded with a multi-faceted approach. They consulted with the U.S. State Department, reached out to the African country's Washington embassy, and extended counsel to the local church leaders as they worked through what quickly became a complex and sensitive situation.

"This incident ultimately had a happy outcome and the church property was saved," Graz said. "But far too often, the opposite is true."

The results of this new study paint a sobering picture for the immediate future of religious freedom around the world.

What does this mean for the IRLA team? "I expect we will be kept increasingly busy," Graz said.

See the results of the Pew Forum study at: pewforum.org/Government/Rising-Restrictions-on-Religion

Karel Nowak: One Man's Legacy Lives On

"He has defended his last case before the parliaments of Europe – but his legacy continues."

By Attorney Barry Bussey, former United Nations Relations director for the Seventh-day Adventist world church

It is a message we never want to hear. We dread it. A message that a friend or a family member has passed away. Especially is this so when it is the result of a tragedy. Karel Nowak was a close friend of mine who tragically drowned August 19. He was on his way to attend the Meeting of Experts of the International Religious Liberty Association in Sydney, Australia. Before the meetings were to take place he had planned on taking a few days of well deserved vacation in Cairns in the northern part of Australia.

I have only gotten to know Karel over the last two and a half years while I worked for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department. Karel represented the Church in the various capitals of Europe – particularly Bern, Brussels, Strasbourg, and Geneva. He was the editor of the well respected journal Conscience et Liberte and Secretary General of the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty.

I remember going over to Geneva as part of my duties and was really thinking that this work of representing the matter of religious freedom was a huge task. “How was I going to do it,” I thought. “There is simply too much. Where do I start?” It was daunting. I called up Karel and asked if we could meet.

In no time he drove down from Bern and met me at the Palais de Nations and took me to dinner across the street from the train station. We talked, and talked about the work of representing the church in Geneva. I was humbled. I soon realized that the Lord had His man in Geneva already – Karel. As I sat and listened to Karel’s story – I could not but admire the Lord’s leading. The work of religious freedom, was never going to be dependent upon one man, it was not about me or anyone else – it is the Lord’s work – and the Lord had prepared Karel and was using him for the work in Geneva for years.

Over my short time of knowing Karel we got to travel together – we were in Beirut, Bucharest, Geneva and Washington, D.C.. We spent many hours talking about our respective families – our children. He loved his wife and children. His girls were very precious to him. He was the proud father of three daughters all accomplished in their fields of study and work. He told me of his heart wrenching experience of one daughter who nearly died in a car accident as she was on her way to school some years before He spent many weeks in prayer as he shepherded the family through that crisis. He praised the Lord for His goodness in delivering his daughter. As he shared that story I was swept away by his tenderness and humanity. In short his honesty.

Karel, was a great churchman. He loved his Church. He was a strong and effective advocate of religious freedom. I knew that I could learn from this man. I asked him what sparked his interest in the work of religious freedom. Here is what he told me,

My first contact with PARL Department was in the early ’70s when Pierre Lanares was the PARL Director for our Division. I was a young worker at that time and one of the few who spoke French. When Lenaress came to our Cechesolvakia Union, he visited often, I was asked to drive him to places and in some instances even to translate for him. I heard him talking about religious freedom and activity of the PARL. I was just 25, 26, I never dreamt at the time that I would be involved, I was a ministerial intern and happy about it and that was about it. He would show pictures how he visited the prime minister of this country, and minister of that country and king of this country. In the car driving him back to the hotel in the evening after the whole Sabbath meetings I asked him a question, “Elder Lanares, listening to you today, I just wondered, if I was tomorrow invited to meet the president of our country, I would not know what to talk with him about – what should I tell him? What’s the secret? What are you talking about when you are visiting these ministers?”

He laughed and he told me, “you know, it is very easy. Try to find always something to thank the person for but be genuine. Don’t make it up.” And he told me “When I am going to see a minister or a prime minister these politicians expect that when you want to talk to them they expect you to ask for something. Because people visit them only when they need something so they receive you with that mindset “what is this person going to ask from me?” When you come you tell them, “I came not because I want to ask from you something but I just came to thank you. Thank you for what you did in your country for this and this.” It helps and it opens the doors.”

As a pastor I used this approach even on the very local level and I learnt that it works. It works in a wonderful way if you just came to a person and say, “Well I came not because I want to ask something I came because I want to tell you we appreciate what you do and what you did for us.” So that was my first exposure.

It was always in my mind afterwards and when the situation opened the door more for me to be more engaged in religious liberty I would grasp the opportunity.

I am thankful that Karel did in fact take the opportunity when he did. I had hoped that I would have an opportunity to learn more from Karel. I saw him as a mentor. I did not know how long the Lord would have me in the religious liberty field working for the Church. It is, and remains, a strong burning passion of mine. Karel was humble – unassuming – more than willing to share what all he knew about religious freedom and the work that he did in Europe for the Church.

Whenever an issue arose in Europe – whether the ban of the religious headgear or Sunday closing discussions – it was Karel who was the point guy. He was the person in the know. If he did not have an immediate answer he would find it right away and be back with an answer. His service will be deeply missed.

As he walked the halls of power in Europe he soon discovered that on many issues the politicians were puzzled as to what to do on the issues of religious freedom. He told me, “Even in the circles like UN when I am meeting from time to time with ambassadors or other personnel from the missions some of them say, “Can you help us could you tell us what to do?””

Karel was not one to suppose that he had all of the answers but like Daniel of old, Karel did know Someone who did know. In his daily walk with the Lord, Karel sought His Lord and Saviour for the wisdom of the ages to share with the people of power and influence as he walked the marble.

Shortly before I left the work at the GC office I had an opportunity to sit down with Karel and asked him what he would say to the person who would replace him. What words of wisdom would he give. He had shared with me that he planned to retire when his current term of office had come to an end. I had no idea that this question would prove to be such an important question. To think that in only a few months this dear friend would not be with us was simply unfathomable. But here is what he told me,

… the most important thing is self perception. I need to be persuaded about the thing that I am doing – what I am doing, why am I doing it? For me and my understanding the service I am trying to provide to the church is, in a way, similar to the service provided by ADRA in a humanitarian area. I think that the church needs certain type of services…. which is provided by the PARL department.

Primarily, the church needs to be constantly reminded of the principles and importance of religious freedom.

Then church needs to be known in the society as a community that promotes and protects religious freedom.

Third …. the church needs to get reliable, correct information about the situation in every country, or given country where the church works – following the legal development, [and] the social development.

In my opinion it is very important for the work of the leadership of the church. They need this information. …. Now we can develop any of these points but basically the PARL Department provides services for the church.

Then as for the activities … I would suggest to my successor to concentrate on effective promotion of the PARL Department of religious ideas primarily with the church leadership at all levels and then with the church membership to have them as a support group not to be seen as someone who runs his own little business or more likely his hobby horse and that the church somehow graciously suffers it.

The PARL department has two primary functions, according to Karel, first it is to provide information about the legal and social issues of religious freedom in the given country; and second, it is to be involved in creating a positive image of the Church to the community.

As he spoke to me he was filled with passion – he was in his element as he shared about what he learnt from Dr. Nussbaum, the founder of the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty, who told, “…everybody that he’s promoting principle not interests.” While many in the Church were keen on promoting the interests of the Church “we need to go beyond that to have the larger picture to promote principles. If the principles are respected our interests are included. But if we concentrate only on our interests we are not credible and very easily lose the ground for our work.”

I could not agree with Karel and Dr. Nussbaum more. Karel applied this view in his work. While at the UN library in Geneva I looked up the term “religious freedom”. I was pleasantly surprised to see article after article from the journal “Conscience et Liberte” referenced. Karel continued on the work of Dr. Nussbaum in editing that journal – it obviously has a prominent place in the field at the UN. One day while in the office of UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief the official I was meeting spoke very highly of Karel’s work with the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty. As I walked down the marble steps I could not but be thankful for having men like Karel holding the banner of religious freedom at the UN.

Karel continued with his counsel to his successor:

First, “promote these ideas and we need to repeat them all the time because the church leaders change and church members forget. We need to repeat that to remind them to get their support.

Secondly I think that our church introduced years, years, back the idea of Religious Liberty Sabbath and Religious Liberty Offering which is not respected in many of our fields. Although it is voted by the General Conference Executive Committee our Divisions, Unions, local fields feel very much to be free to choose from the list of special days and offerings what they regard as important and what doesn’t really fit in their vision or their strategic plan they leave alone. The wise use of the opportunity once a year to have access to the churches have institutionalized occasion to promote religious liberty ideas in our church seems to me very, very important.

Third point, I would very much encourage our PARL leaders, at all levels, to look around them and to try to find key personalities in the governments, all levels of the state governments, in the judiciary, and especially among the law experts, sociologists, or other people that would be very likely consulted by the authorities in case of crisis. That seems to me to be really crucial to identify these people and try to contact them before we need them to develop friendship, to develop personal contact. Try to be helpful for them and then in case of need just try to use their influence and their expertise to help the Church to defend the principle of religious freedom.

Then I would suggest that the PARL leader would need to think about increasing visibility of the PARL or the Church engagement in the area of religious liberty. It can be done in many ways, usually by organizing some sort of events. It could be a very very large array of programs, conferences, round tables, discussions, festivals or whatever. Just create occasions where the ideas of religious freedoms will be upheld and will be promoted.

Then another point would be try to create networks with other NGOs, with other churches, with other agencies that are somehow engaged in human rights and especially religious freedom – to support them, to help them to attend their events and also try to work with them in case we would need them and their support that they would help us as well.

This then is Karel’s advice to the person who is to take his place. Neither he nor I had any idea that his successor would come in only a few months from the time he gave me that interview. I will forever remember our time we spent together with the utmost fondness. A Godly, Christian man, a defender of the principle of religious freedom has defended his last case before the parliaments of Europe – but his legacy continues. We now wait for that glorious day, that Blessed Hope! When our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ comes back for His people. I long for the day when I get to meet Karel again and say, “Thanks for being such a good friend, for being a mentor, for being used of God.”

See you in the morning. It won’t be long now ...

Remembering a Man of Integrity and Wisdom

Karel Nowak: "He was widely respected, greatly loved, and will be deeply missed."

 Tributes continue to flow in from around the world for Karel Nowak, Secretary General of the Association Internationale de Défense de la Liberté Religieuse, who died August 19 while taking a few days of vacation en route to an IRLA event in Sydney, Australia. See Message from IRLA Secretary General.

 The messages express shock and sadness, and together help paint a portrait of a man who was widely respected, greatly loved, and who will be deeply missed. [IRLA Staff]

“Karel was a leader who mixed his perceptive and rare insight with a practical love and caring for people. He never missed an opportunity to say a good word and do a kind deed. He was a joy wherever he went. His perceptive abilities and practical grasp of the heart and mission of his church will at once be a lasting contribution to the church and a profound loss. My greatest assurance and comfort is that I know he was at peace with God and God was with him to the end. He made earth a little heaven for so many people. Now heaven will be his in the earth made new.” --Dr. Delbert Baker, IRLA Vice President and General Vice President of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, who led out in a memorial service for Karel on the final day of the Meeting of Experts in Sydney, Australia.

"Karel was efficient, wise and always kind. Working with him was a pleasure. His knowledge of the United Nations was very helpful for us and we often turned to him for advice before making public statements. But more than this, he has been, for many of us, a good friend for many years. I think of his wife Dana and his family who have to face such a loss. All the PARL family will miss Karel and his death is a tragic loss for those who defend religious freedom. The participants of the 13th IRLA Meeting of Experts express all their condolences to his wife and his family. In such a painful time when a beloved friend passes away, it is so important to remember that death will not have the final word. Our dear Karel is at rest but one day we will meet him again. It is our hope.  --Dr. John Graz, Secretary General of the IRLA, who has known Karel for more than 25 years.

 “Karel was a very warm man, who always made those who worked with him feel welcome and comfortable. He graciously showed me around the UN complex in Geneva and introduced me to many people there when I was representing the General Conference to the UN. He was very proud of his family, and often spoke with affection about his children. He also did an outstanding job monitoring developments at the European Union, and the Church community writ large relied on his insightful analysis. His loss, therefore, is keenly felt by those who worked with him both on the personal and professional level. Our hearts are with his family at this tragic time.” --Attorney James Standish, communication director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific, and formerly Deputy Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association.

“I will forever remember our time we spent together with the utmost fondness. A Godly, Christian man, a defender of the principle of religious freedom has defended his last case before the parliaments of Europe – but his legacy continues. … I long for the day when I get to meet Karel again and say, “Thanks for being such a good friend, for being a mentor, for being used of God.”  --Excerpt from article by Attorney Barry Bussey, former United Nations relations director for the Seventh-day Adventist world church. Read the full article here.

 “I am shocked at the news of Karel's passing. It seems incomprehensible. I first met Karel many years ago when he served as president of our church in the Czech Republic. He was very kind and gracious toward me, taking time to give me a tour of places of national and religious interest. His gentle manner and thoughtfulness impressed me greatly. When we met on later occasions, he was just the same--genuine and sincere. Truly, he was a servant of God whose demeanor and life reflected the compassion of Jesus. My heart goes out to his dear ones in this terrible loss. May they find comfort in the promises of the scriptures and in precious memories of this wonderful person.”  --Dr. William Johnsson, Inter-faith relations director for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church

“This is a huge loss for Public Affairs and Religious Liberty work in Europe. I am really shocked and saddened by this terrible news.  Karel in many ways has become one of my mentors in religious liberty and I will greatly miss him. --Raafat Kamal, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director in Trans-Europe region

“We have just been officially informed about the sad news about our dear Pastor Nowak.We always saw him as a good man, sincere, efficient and with an exceptional education, which made him a priceless resource in religious liberty work. We pray that his work may follow in this path, with the blessing of our Lord. May the Lord continue to give you strength and courage for your work too.” --Artur Machado and Paulo Sérgio Macedo, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department, Portugal    

“This morning I received very sad news that Karel Nowak has passed away. The Northern Asia-Pacific Division [of Seventh-day Adventists] sends our heartfelt sorrow and condolence for his grief-stricken family, especially his wife. We pray that our Comforter will give them great comfort and peace with hope of resurrection.” --Dr. HongPal Ha, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Northern Asia Pacific.

“I would like to express here my sorrow and my surprise for the loss of Karel Nowak. I come from the Euro Africa Division and I always had wonderful contact with Karel Nowak. He was a real man of God, always attentive, and very lovely man. I remember the last meetings I had with him, in November 2010 at the Winter Meeting of the Euro-Africa Division at the Adventist University of Collonges and in February 2011 in Beirut for the PARL advisory of the Trans-European Division. [At this last meeting] we were in the same taxi from the airport to the Middle East University, what a great, nice and gentleman he was! The Church has lost a great leader. I am praying for his family. What comforts me in a difficult time like this is that I am sure that we will see him again when Jesus will come back. Please give all my best thoughts and love to Dana, his wife. May our Lord protect her and their children from discouragement.” --Richard Elofer, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Israel