6^th IRLA

World Congress

Combating Religious Hatred through Freedom to Believe

Cape Town International Convention Centre

Cape Town, South Africa

February 27-March 1, 2007

Special Thanks

On behalf of the IRLA, I hope that this Congress will provide a forum for highlighting the importance of religious liberty in our world and in the life of our countries and communities. There is no better answer to religious hatred than love and respect for others, and this is the principle on which religious freedom is based.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank you who have honored us by coming together in this time of widespread religious hatred to focus on the truth that religious liberty is still the fundamental human right underlying all other rights.

John Graz, Secretary General

International Religious Liberty Association

Sponsors

International Religious Liberty Association, in cooperation with:

· Liberty Magazine

· The Martin Selak Foundation

· American Religious Town Hall Meeting

· General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

· IRLA South African Region

· IRLA Inter-American Region

New IRLA National Partners

Georgia

Guyana

Recognition of Partner Associations

Caribbean Religious Liberty Association (CARLA)

IRLA Euro-Asia Region

IRLA West-Central Africa

Associacao Brasileira de Liberdade Religiosa e Cidadania (ABLIRC)

IRLA Northern Asia-Pacific Region

Chilean Association for Religious liberty (CARL)

Message from Ms Asma Jahangir

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Let me first congratulate the organizers of the 6^th World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association to have chosen the issue of “Combating Religious Hatred through Freedom to Believe” as the theme of this IRLA World Congress. This topic area is timely and deserves particular public attention from a human rights perspective. I would like to emphasize the importance of honest debate and of an advocacy approach for promoting tolerance in general.

I was very pleased an honored to receive your invitation to come to the IRLA World Congress in my function as Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief. At the same time, I am very disappointed that I am now not able to join you in Cape Town because the responsibility of my mandate has come in the way as I am currently conducting a country visit.

Concerning your main topic I would like to refer to the recent report on incitement to racial and religious hatred I prepared for the Human Rights Council session in September 2006 together with Doudou Diène, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, zenophobia and related intolerance. It is my firm belief that religious hatred can best be combated by sound policies and by building strong public opinion against it. However, taking disproportionately harsh action could be counterproductive and degenerate into witch-hunting.

The rigorous protection of religions as such may create an atmosphere of intolerance and can give rise to fear and may even provoke the chances of a backlash. My mandate has received numerous examples of persecution of religious minorities as a result of excessive legislation on religious offences or overzealous application of laws that are fairly neutral. As a limit to freedom of expression and information, it can also limit scholarship on religious issues and may asphyxiate honest debate or research.

As such, the right to freedom of religion or belief does not include the right to have a religion or belief that is free from criticism or from all adverse comment. At the same time the right to freedom of expression can legitimately be restricted for advocacy that incites to acts of violence or discrimination against individuals on the basis of their religion. Freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression are interdependent and interrelated. Balancing the various aspects of human rights is an extremely delicate exercise which requires impartial implementation by independent and non-arbitrary bodies. In order to achieve peaceful co-existence it is important to protect all aspects of freedom of religion or belief and to ensure that its manifestation does not impinge upon the fundamental human rights of others.

Finally, I would like to wish your meetings a great success. The various lectures, workshops, and discussions will provide many opportunities for a fruitful exchange of minds between ambassadors, church leaders and laypersons from many faiths. Of course, I would be every interested to be kept informed of any conclusions of your World Congress. Thank you very much for your attention.

Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Introduction from the President of the

International Religious Liberty Association

The world has changed since the last International Religious Liberty Congress met in Manila five years ago. The question of terrorism and the “clash of civilizations” has been elevated to such a degree that men and women worldwide have been polarized into defending religious positions which, very often, they would have previously seen as being unjust. The significance of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) is that we work together as men and women of faith from very different religious traditions, recognizing that each of us requires religious freedom for the execution and celebration of our faith.

We are grateful to John Graz and the team of the International Religious Liberty Association for the great work they have done between the last Congress and this Congress which is being held in Cape Town, South Africa. During the past five years the IRLA has been very actively involved in defending the religious freedom and human rights of men and women of different traditions all over the world. Unfortunately, the fall of Communism did not bring a new world order, but rather nationalism and ethnocentrism. This has further contributed to alienation between men and women of different countries and different religions. The challenge before us is whether or not the 21^st century will be one of religious conflict or harmony. Will we be able to work in peace, or will we be raising the sword?

As we come together in this Congress in South Africa, we come to a country which itself has experienced a dramatic change from the evils of apartheid to a new freedom for all people. Religious freedom is celebrated in this country and, thus, men and women of different traditions are able to fight together for the common concerns for all people of good will. This is a model for all of us worldwide that even though we are of different religions, together we can advocate for peace, justice, human rights, and concern for the poor and those who are suffering from diseases such and HIV and AIDS. We in the IRLA feel very strongly that when one religion is attacked, all are attacked, and therefore we must stand with one another in confronting the various challenges of our day.

We want to thank the government of South Africa, the Congress Planning Committee, the staff of IRLA, and the many volunteers for all the work they have done to make this Congress a successful defense and celebration of religious freedom for all people worldwide. May the God of grace and joy, who brings us together, fill our hearts and minds as this week we labor for the good of humanity. Thanks be to God!

Denton Lotz, IRLA President

Picture

Message from the Secretary General of the

International Religious Liberty Association

Do we need a Sixth IRLA World Congress? A Sixth World Congress means that we have already had five World Congresses. The IRLA was chartered in 1893, but the first World Congress was organized in Amsterdam in 1977. Then we had one in Rome in 1984, and five years later we met in London. I have had the privilege of coordinating the last three World Congresses and, as Secretary General, I made sure they were held every five years on a different continent. This time it was my privilege to work with our Congress Manager, Donald E Robinson, my Assistant, Carol Rasmussen, and our excellent team in Silver Springs, Maryland, and here in South Africa.

Every year the IRLA organizes symposiums, international congresses, and meetings of experts. Our team of experts is probably one of the best in the whole world. In addition, we hold, in cooperation with Liberty magazine, the annual Liberty Dinner in Washington DC. We produce a TV program called Global Faith and Freedom, and we publish a journal on religious freedom titled Fides et Libertas. But of all these activities, the World Congress is a unique gathering of those who are not afraid to travel around the world to promote religious freedom for all people everywhere.

Religious freedom is for all, not only for Europeans or Americans, but for the whole world.

Distinguished guests, dear participants, why should people be forced to have a religion or belief which is contrary to their wishes or against their conscience? Why have some countries made it a crime for a person to change religions? I cannot accept injustice, oppression, or discrimination based on race. In the same way, I cannot accept discrimination or persecution based on religion or belief.

Religious freedom is the best answer to religious hatred. Hatred cannot push away hatred. Do we need a Sixth Congress? Oh yes, we do! The world needs to hear our voice. We need a Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth World Congress on Religious Freedom. As long as the right to choose one’s religion is not respected, as long as innocent people are discriminated against, persecuted, and deprived of their basic rights just because of their beliefs, we need to have congresses on religious freedom, congresses like this one.

Our Congress will not change the world in one day, but it will show the world that religious discrimination and persecution are not inevitable. There are people from all over the world, people from different faiths and traditions, who want to demonstrate that there is another way to deal with differences. There are people who have chosen to come to this Congress in Cape Town because they are determined to promote peace and justice through religious freedom for all people everywhere.

picture

John Graz, Secretary General

International Religious Liberty Association

What You Need to Know about the Congress Venue

On behalf of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), welcome to the 6^th World Congress. The Congress takes place in the beautiful city of Cape Town, which is known as the mother city of South Africa, and is hosted by the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

In searching for the best place to hold the 2007 World Congress, five cities were considered. Cape Town was chosen for a number of reasons. The Convention Centre is a beautiful facility which is well suited to meet the needs of the Congress and its attendees. Accommodations are available in the city from low cost, basic service to five-star hotels. The city offers a wide range of amenities for those attending the Congress, including transportation, shopping, medical services, and a host of scenic attractions. Cape Town is endowed with incredible natural beauty. Representatives of the city of Cape Town said “Come!” IRLA directors and officers in Africa also sent a message—“We want to host the next World Congress in Africa. Please, it is time to come to Africa.” The continent is so vast, so varied, and so rich in its wildlife, its peoples, and its history that there are innumerable things to see and to do on this great continent. It is hoped that as many of the attendees as possible can find some time to enjoy the uniqueness, variety, and beauty of Africa.

Cape Town is one of three capital cities of South Africa. Pretoria is the administrative capital and the principle government departments and services are located there. The Supreme Court serves from the city of Bloemfontein, making it the judicial capital. Parliament meets in Cape Town, and thus it is the legislative capital of the country.

Another major factor that brought this Congress to Cape Town is the cosmopolitan composition of the city. Its people come from every continent, contributing to a rich tapestry of humanity. Hundreds of religions flourish in Cape Town, protected by the constitution of South Africa which provides freedom in matters of religion, allowing every man, woman, and child to worship, or not to worship, according to the dictates of their individual consciences. South Africa stands as a beacon of light on the continent of Africa and in the world, demonstrating the blessings and benefits that flow from a firm commitment to the principles of religious freedom.

So, while in Cape Town please enjoy the Congress and, if possible, take time to visit some of the sites that bring tourists from around the world. Ascend Table Mountain, take a boat ride to Robben Island, gaze at the Atlantic and Indian Oceans where they meet at Cape Point, watch the penguins waddle ashore after a day of fishing at sea, stroll through the beautiful, world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, marvel at the wind surfers off Blauberg Strand, and ponder the history of this place as you tour the Cape Town Castle and city museums. Finally, take a quiet moment to thank God for this beautiful place and pray for His help in promoting the principles of religious liberty around the world.

Donald E Robinson

IRLA Treasurer and Congress Manager

Picture

What is the International Religious Liberty Association?

· Chartered in 1893

· Mission: To defend, protect, and promote religious liberty for all people everywhere

· Affiliate and Partner Associations in 80 Countries.

· The IRLA is the oldest association defending religious freedom for all. Its primary focus is to organize congresses, symposiums, conferences, and seminars, and to work with legislators, governments, and religious leaders to promote and defend religious freedom and to assist victims of religious intolerance.

· The IRLA received NGO consultative status at the United Nations beginning in 2000.

World Congresses

• Amsterdam 1977
• Rome 1984
• London 1989
• Rio De Janeiro 1997
• Manila 2002

During the years 1995 to 2005, 18 International Congresses and Symposiums were held. These took place in locations such as Lima, Bermuda, Belgrade, Taipei, Santiago de Chili, Sao Paulo, Moscow, Kiev, Bucharest, Almati, Baku, and Budapest.

Meeting of Experts - Think Tank on Religious Freedom

El Escorial, Spain 1999; Magalia, Spain, 2000; Cáceres, Spain 2001; Washington DC, USA 2002; Leuven, Belgium, Catholic University 2003; Klingenthal, France, Goethe Institute, 2004; Fuenza, Spain, University Alcala, 2005; Aix en Provence School of Law, Aix-Marseille University, France, 2006; Council for America’s First Freedom Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA, 2007; Moscow 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.

The IRLA is also involved in the promotion of Festivals of Religious Freedom organized by churches and religious associations. The Festivals gather several thousand people together to celebrate religious freedom and commemorate those who have suffered because of religious intolerance.

IRLA Declaration of Principles

We believe that religious liberty is a God-given right.

We believe that legislation and other governmental acts which unite church and state are contrary to the best interest of both institutions and are potentially prejudicial to human rights, and hold that it is best exercised where separation is maintained between church and state.

We believe that government is divinely ordained to support and protect citizens in their enjoyment of natural rights, and to rule in civil affairs; and that in so doing, government warrants respectful obedience and willing support.

We believe in the natural and inalienable right of freedom of conscience – to have or not have a religion; to adopt the religion or belief of one’s choice; to change religious belief according to conscience; to manifest one’s religion individually or in community with others, in worship, observance, practice, promulgation, and teaching—subject only to respect for the equivalent rights of others.

We believe that religious liberty also includes the freedom to establish and operate appropriate charitable or educational institutions, to solicit or receive voluntary financial contributions, to observe days of rest and celebrate holidays in accordance with the precepts of one’s religion, and to maintain communication with fellow believers at national and international levels.

We believe that religious liberty and the elimination of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief are essential to promote understanding, peace, and friendship among peoples.

We believe that citizens should use lawful and honorable means to prevent the reduction of religious liberty, so that all may enjoy its inestimable blessing.

We believe that the spirit of true religious liberty is epitomized in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

Who’s Who at the Congress

Maulvi A Wahb Adam is Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana, and Commissioner of the National Reconciliation Commission in Ghana since May 2002.

Seyed Mohammed Ali Abtati was Chief Secretary of President Khatimi’s office in 1996, Vice President in Parliamentary Legal Affairs for Iran in 2000, and advisor of President Khatami in 2004. He has published articles and books on religious tolerance and inter-religious dialogue. He often travels from his home in Iran to give lectures around the world on the subject of dialogue between religions.

Dr Bert B Beach is the Secretary General Emeritus of the International Religious Liberty Association and one of its current Vice Presidents. In additional to his religious liberty work, he has been involved in education and interchurch relations and has been a prolific writer and frequent speaker worldwide. He continues to be active in his retirement.

Professor Jose Camilo Cardoso is the Director General of the National Register of Religion in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Worship in the Republic of Argentina. He has a Doctorate in Law, and he is the Titular Professor of Administrative Process and Penal Law at the Buenos Aires University. He was also General Director of Comparative Religions at the Barhilan Hebrew University in Buenos Aires. Professor Cardoso is currently Professor of Religious and Criminal Law at the School of Law of the University of Buenos Aires.

Professor James R Cochrane is the Director of the Research Institute on Christianity and Society in Africa (RICSA) at the University of Cape Town. He served as editor of New South Africa Outlook until 2005 and has written numerous articles and essays in books dealing with religion and society.

Attorney Alcides Coimbra is Secretary General of the Associacao Brasileira de Liberdade Religiosa e Cidadama (ABLIRC).

Professor Jaime Contreras has been Vice Rector of the University of Alcala since 2002 and Asesor Académico of the International Centre of Financial Studies since 2006. He has been Vice President of the Association Hispano-Italiana of Modern History since 1999 and is recognized as one of the best experts on the history of the Inquisition and intolerance in Europe. A Doctor in Modern History, Professor Contreras was honored with the Academic Palma of the French Republic, January 11, 1999.

Pastor Raymond Coombe has been Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association for the South Pacific Region. He organized symposiums in the South Pacific Islands and has been involved in interchurch relations for many years.

Pastor Rajmund Dabrowski is an International Religious Liberty Association Vice President. He has been the Director of the Communication Department for the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since 1995.

Professor Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes is Vice Director of Religious Affairs in Spain’s Ministry of Justice. She is a specialist in Latin American history and, since 1980, has been a Professor on the Faculty of History of the Complutense University in Madrid. She serves on various international boards dealing with religious liberty issues and has written about church-state relations.

Pastor Clive Dottin has been active in promoting religious liberty for over two decades. He is the Secretary General of the Caribbean Religious Liberty Association.

Professor W Cole Durham Jr is Director of the Brigham Young University International Center for Law and Religious Studies at the J Reuben Clark Law School. Professor Durham has been especially active in issues of religious liberty and church-state relations. He is a member of the board of the International Religious Liberty Association and the International Academy for Freedom of Religion and Belief.

Pastor Laurie Evans is President of the International Religious Liberty Association in the South Pacific Region.

Professor Aslam Fataar is a professor on the Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape. He has been a university teacher since 1995, and has published articles in newspapers, participated in numerous radio programs and two TV programs, runs many workshops and seminars, and gives lectures around the world. Professor Fataar was granted the Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship at Illinois University, September 2005 to May 2006.

Dr Jonathan Gallagher comes from England and is the International Religious Liberty Association Deputy Secretary General and IRLA Media Director. He is also an officer of the United Nations NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. He has written many articles and serves as the Director of Press Relations for the Congress.

Ms Ela Gandhi is currently the national Vice President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP) and an honorary President of WCRP International. She was a parliamentarian under the ANC government. Ms Gandhi was banned and placed under house arrest from 1975 to 1983. After the unbanning of the ANC, she joined the ANC Durban Central Branch and the Women’s League. Ms Gandhi has written many articles, she works closely with various international organizations on peace issues, and she serves on the Advisory Board of the Parliament of World Religions, Peace by Peace, the Unilever Centre for Ethics at the University of Natal, and the Ahimsa Centre at the University of California. Ms Ela Gandhi practiced as a social worker in the child welfare field for 20 years.

Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein is the fifth Chief Rabbi of South Africa. He attended the Yeshiva Gedolah of Johannesburg, and he is a lawyer. He is the first South African-born Jew to have become Chief Rabbi of South Africa.

Attorney Emerson Graham is President of the Caribbean Religious Liberty Association.

Dr John Graz has been Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association since 1995 and was the general coordinator of the IRLA World Congresses in Rio de Janeiro in 1997, in Manila in 2002, and the present Congress in Cape Town. He organized and initiated IRLA Meetings of Experts and international symposiums and congresses. John Graz has been the Secretary of the Conference of Secretaries of the Christian World Communions since 2002.

Dr Mongezi Guma is the Chairperson of the Commission for the Protection and Promotion of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Rights of Communities. Dr Guma is an Honorary Fellow of Rippon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford, UK; former Executive Director of ESSET; former Director for Development Programmes for the South African Council of Churches (1995-1997); and has been involved in government commissions and boards, including the Departments of Welfare, Education, Trade and Industry, and Home Affairs.

Pastor Jose Hayasaka is the initiator of a bill protecting conscientious objectors in Mexico. He has been involved in religious liberty issues for over a quarter of a century. He is an official advisor to the Mexican Congress and is the Director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for three Unions in Mexico. He is a former director of the Bible Society in Mexico and has been involved in working to solve the religious liberty and “customs” problems in the provinces of Chiapas, Hidalgo, and Oaxaca.

Maulana Ihsaan Hendricks is President of the Muslim Judicial Council, South Africa. He was elected as one of the 31 members serving on the executive of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.

Dr Eugene King Yi Hsu was born in Lanzhou, China, and is a Vice President of the International Religious Liberty Association. He served as a university professor in the United States (1968-1980) and later as a college president in Hong Kong and Taiwan (1980-1986). From 1986 until the present he has served in church administrative leadership.

Professor Vaughn James is Professor of Law at Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas. Dr James wrote several articles on tax exemptions in the Unites States of America. He is currently completing a book entitled Alzheimer’s Disease and the Law. He is a member of the Board of Experts of the International Religious Liberty Association.

Pastor Busi Khumalo is Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association branch in South Africa.

Ms Deborah Knott joined the International Religious Liberty Association staff in 2006 as a Specialist, and she serves as Assistant Director of Press Relations for the Congress.

Professor Anatoly Krasikov heads the Center for Social and Religious Studies at the Institute of Europe and belongs to the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was President of the Russian Chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association until 2004 when he became Honorary President. From 1992 to 1996, Professor Krasikov was the Chief of the Presidential Press Service and General Secretary of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Communities. From 1978 to 1992, he was Deputy Director of the TASS News Agency with responsibility for religious information.

Attorney Robert Kyte is General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Pastor Israel Leito is President of the International Religious Liberty Association in the Inter-American region.

The Reverend Doctor Denton Lotz is the current President of the International Religious Liberty Association and has served, since 1988, as the General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. Prior to his present responsibilities, he served as a seminary professor and was involved in interchurch aid and religious liberty promotion in Eastern Europe during the Communist period. As an international speaker and author, Dr Lotz is recognized for his strong commitment to racial reconciliation and religious liberty.

Pastor Geoffrey Mbwana is President of the International Religious Liberty Association in the East-Central Africa region.

Attorney Todd McFarland worked for several years in private legal practice in the St Louis, Missouri area. He is now an Associate General Counsel for the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Legal Counsel of the International Religious Liberty Association since 2006.

Pastor Hensley Moorooven is Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association in the South Africa region.

Father John Oliver was born in the UK and worked as a teacher, musician, and missionary before studying theology in Cambridge. He was ordained as a Priest in the Anglican Church in 1978 and worked in several parishes in the UK before moving to Zambia as the Archdeacon of the Southern Province. In 1991 he came to South Africa where he served as the Western Cape Coordinator of the Network of Independent Peace Monitors prior to, and during, South Africa’s first democratic elections. He was the first coordinator of Gun Free South Africa in the Western Cape. In 1995 he became the Rector of St Mark’s Anglican Church, District Six and in 2000 was the founding chairperson of the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative. Fr John also serves as the Chair of St Anne’s Homes, a faith based organization that cares for homeless and abused women with children.

Ms Daisy Orion is Associate Congress Manager and incoming Treasurer of the International Religious Liberty Association.

Attorney Benjamin Fausto Paiva is a member of the Angolan Parliament, of which he serves as Third Vice-President. He was educated in both law and theology and has for several years been active in public affairs and religious liberty matters, particularly in the arena of church-state issues.

Ms Carol E Rasmussen is Administrative Assistant to the International Religious Liberty Association Secretary General and is serving as Assistant Congress Manager. Among other Congress responsibilities, she is in charge of registration.

Pastor Paul S Ratsara is President of the International Religious Liberty Association in the South Africa Region.

The Honorable Ibrahim Rasool is the Premier of the Western Cape Province.

The Most Reverend Bishop Ricardo Ramirez is a member of the United States Commission for International Religious Liberty and is Bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1966. Bishop Ramirez serves as a member of the New Mexico Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights, has served as a member of the US State Department Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad, and serves as Administrative Secretary for the Comisión para el Estudio de la Historia la Iglesia en Latinoamerica.

Pastor Donald E Robinson is Treasurer for the International Religious Liberty Association and Manager of the IRLA World Congress. He was also Manager for the IRLA World Congresses in Rio de Janeiro in 1997 and Manila in 2002.

Ambassador Robert A Seiple is the current President of the Council for America’s First Freedom, based in Richmond, Virginia. He served for over a decade as the President of World Vision, the largest non-government relief and development agency in the world. For two years he served as the first United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and he is the former President of the Institute for Global Engagement.

Attorney Tad Stahnke joined the United States Commission for International Religious Liberty in 2000 and currently serves as the Deputy Director for Policy. From 1996 to 1998 Stahnke helped lead a program on Religion, Human Rights, and Religious Freedom at Columbia University Law School, where for several years he taught a seminar on religious freedom and international human rights law. He has many published works, including Religion and Human Rights: Basic Documents.

Attorney James Standish is Executive Director of the North American Religious Liberty Association (NARLA), the anchor of the TV program Global Faith and Freedom, and chair of the Coalition for Religious Freedom in the Workplace. He serves as Congressional Liaison for the IRLA and NARLA.

Mr Lincoln Steed is Editor of Liberty magazine, a journal supporting religious liberty issues, based in the United States with a circulation of 200,000 copies distributed every two months. Previously he was book editor for the Pacific Press and the Review and Herald Publishing Associations in the United States and Signs Publishing House in Australia.

Minister Makhenkesi A Stofile has been Minister of Sport and Recreation of the Republic of South Africa since April 29, 2004. He has been a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC since 1990. Minister Stofile studied in the Universities of Fort Hare (1979), Tubingen in Germany (1981), Princeton in the United States (1983), and Port Elizabeth, where he was awarded a PhD in 2000. Minister Stofile was Premier of the Eastern Cape (1997-2004) and has been a minister of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa since 1975.

Dr Halvard Thomsen is President of the North American Religious Liberty Association.

Professor Rik Torfs was Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law of the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) from 1994 to 2003; and visiting professor at the Universities of Utrecht (1987), Strasbourg (since 2000), Stellenbosch (since 2000), and Nijmegen (since 2003). He has been a member of the Commission pour le dialogue intercultural for the Belgium government since 2004. Professor Torfs has been the guest speaker of many international congresses and symposiums, and he has published articles and books on church-state relations.

Attorney Mitchell A Tyner is the former Legal Counsel to the International Religious Liberty Association. He has been actively involved in religious liberty issues, especially discrimination in the workplace based on religious observance in the USA and around the world. Attorney Tyner has many times represented the IRLA as a speaker at congresses and symposiums.

Pastor Harald Wollan is the Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association for the Trans-European region.

Mayor Helen Zille has been the Mayor of Cape Town since March 15, 2006. She began her career as a political journalist for the Rand Daily Mail, and she exposed the truth behind Steve Biko’s death. She held the position of head of Public Relations for the University of Cape Town before becoming a Member of Parliament.

Schedule

February 25, Sunday

10.00-12.00 Working Group (Hollow on the Square)

February 26, Monday

7.30-8.30 Steering Committee (Room 1.92)

Chair: Denton Lotz

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Carol E Rasmussen

10.00-13.00 Registration

14.00-15.00 Press Conference

15.00-18.00 Registration

February 27, Tuesday

07.30-08.30 Steering Committee (Room 1.92)

Chair: Denton Lotz

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Carol E Rasmussen

09:00-09:30 Session 1: Opening

Chair: Denton Lotz

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Coordinator: James Standish

Orientation: John Graz, Donald E Robinson

9.30-10.30 IRLA President Welcome: Denton Lotz

South African National Anthem: Busi Khumalo

Prayer: Israel Leito

IRLA Regional President Welcome: Paul S Ratsara

Introduction of participants and guest speakers: John Graz

Reading of messages: Jonathan Gallagher

IRLA Secretary General’s Report: John Graz

IRLA President’s Message: Denton Lotz

Republic of South Africa Presidential Message

10.30-11.00 Break

11.00-12.30 Session 2: Combating Religious Hatred

Chair: Geoffrey Mbwana

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Speakers:

Rik Torfs: Combating Religious Hatred the European Way Anatoly Krasikov: The Russian Reaction to Religious Hatred

Ricardo Ramirez: United States Government Efforts to Advance Freedom of Religion or Belief

Questions: James Standish

12.30-14.00 Lunch Break

14.00-16.00 Session 3:

Chair: Rajmund Dabrowski

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Speaker: Jonathan Gallagher: How Does the United Nations Combat Religious Hatred?

Panel: Racial and Religious Solidarity—The South African Experience

John G W Oliver – Cape Town Interfaith Initiative

Warren Goldstein – Chief Rabbi in South Africa

Mongezi Guma – Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Rights Commission

Nokuzola Mndende – African Traditional Religion

Aslam Fataar – ICAMAGU Institute, University of Western Cape

Ela Gandhi – Gandhi Trust

Questions: James Standish

16.00-16.30 Break

16.30-17.30 Session 4:

Chair: Gladys Gelderbloem

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Speakers:

Bert B Beach – Religious Freedom or Religious Fundamentalism?

W Cole Durham – Will Religious Freedom Restrictions be a Factor of Peace?

Questions: James Standish

17:30-19.00 Session 5: IRLA in Action around the World

Chair: Laurie Evans

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Coordinator: James Standish

IRLA Secretary General Reports:

East-Central Africa – Mutuku Mutinga

North America – Halvard Thomsen

South Pacific – Raymond Coombe

Europe and North Africa – Karel Novak

West-Central Africa – Japheth Agboka

South America – Edson Rosa

Northern Asia-Pacific – Glenn Mitchell

Euro-Asia – Victor Vitko

February 28, Wednesday

07.30-08.30 Steering Committee (Room 1.92)

Chair: Denton Lotz

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Carol E Rasmussen

09.00-9.30 Session 6: Does Religious Freedom Provide an Environment for Religious Hatred?

Chair: Israel Leito

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Prayer: Heather Tredoux

Introduction of Premier: John Graz

Welcome from the Honorable Ibrahim Rasool

9.30-10.30 Introduction of Speaker: John Graz

Speaker: Ambassador Robert Seiple – Religious Freedom: Supporting the Separation of Church and Hate

Questions from Experts: Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, W Cole Durham, Denton Lotz, Mutuku Mutinga, Rik Torfs

10.30-11.00 Break

11.00-12.30 Session 7: Breakout Groups

1. Plenary Room: The Religious Contribution to Freedom

Chair: Rik Torfs

Secretary: Zodwa Kunene

Panel: Israel Leito, Matthew Liebenberg, Pardon Mwansa, Ricardo Ramirez, Robert Seiple

Questions: G Edward Reid

2. Rooms 1-2: Combating Religious Hatred

Chair: Mitchell A Tyner

Secretary: Clive Dottin

Panel: Gerald Chipeur, Janet Epp-Buckingham, Emerson Graham, Anatoly Krasikov, Tad Stahnke

Questions: Donald McFarlane

3. Room 3: Religious Symbols in the Public Square

Chair: Paul S Ratsara

Secretary: Gilbert Wari

Panel: Jean-Paul Barquon, Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, Guy Roger, Christof Sauer

4. Room 4: The American Experiment with Religious Freedom

Chair: James Standish

Secretary: Barry Bussey

Panel: Gregory Hamilton, Vaughn James, Bill Knott, Nicholas Miller, Lincoln Steed

5. Room 1.92: Resolution Committee

Chair: Eugene Hsu

Secretary: Jonathan Gallagher

Members: Raymond Coombe, Luka T Daniel, G Hendrik Koning, Geoffrey Mbwana, Mutuku Mutinga, Kenneth Vogel

12.30-14.00 Lunch Break

14.00-14.30 Session 8: Special Insight

Chair: Harald Wollan

Secretary General: John Graz

Recording Secretary: Todd McFarland

Introduction of Makhenkesi A Stofile, Government Minister, Republic of South Africa: Francois Louw

Message of Makhenkesi A Stofile

14:30-16.00 Session 9: Breakout Groups

1. Plenary Room: NGO Reports on Religious Freedom

Chair: Laurie Evans

Secretary: Evodia Khumalo

Coordinators: Roberto Herrera, James Standish

Speakers:

Public Defender of Georgia – Sozar Subari

Mexican Religious Liberty Association – Jose Hayasaka

North Pacific Religious Liberty Association – Gregory Hamilton

AIDLR (France) – Jean-Paul Barquon

International Institute for Religious Freedom – Christof Sauer

Laurantian Leadership Centre – Janet Epp-Buckingham

Middle East Concern – Andrea Shugart

Andrews University International Religious Liberty Institute – Nicholas Miller

2. Room 1: Liberty Magazine Report

Chair: Halvard Thomsen

Secretary: Dionne Parker

Panel: Barry Bussey, Melissa Reid, Lincoln Steed

3. Room 2: Religious Day of Rest in Schools and Public Institutions

Chair: Patience Matandiko

Secretary: Mavis Mweemba

Panel: Mitchell A Tyner, Ambrose Waahu, John L Wani

5. Room 3: Religious Freedom in Latin America (Spanish)

Chair: Jaime Contreras

Secretary: Jose Hayasaka

Panel: Jose Camilo Cardoso, Alcides Coimbra, Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes

Questions: Jose Lizardo

6. Room 4: Religious Liberty in Africa and the Middle East: New Challenges

Chair: Paul S Ratsara

Secretary: Japheth Agboka

Panel: Paul Ananaba, Geoffrey Mbwana, Mutuku Mutinga, Andrea Shugart, Harald Wollan

16.00-16.30 Break

16