Media Team now in Cape Town:
For direct access please call:
Jonathan Gallagher (Media Spokesperson) 0823700636
Debby Knott (Media Coordinator) 0828582332
Kristina Malarek (Media Assistant) 0828520429
Lynne Odendaal (Afrikaanse woordvoerder) 0828580534
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jonathan Gallagher
International Religious Liberty Association
Local Phone: 0823700636
Phone: +301.680.6686
Fax: +301.680.6695
E-mail: worldcongress2007@yahoo.com
Web: www.irla.org
"Combat Religious Intolerance!" The World Congress Begins
The IRLA World Congress began today, examining the dramatic theme "Combating Religious Hatred through Freedom to Believe." With a positive and substantive welcome from Paul Ratsara, southern Africa IRLA president, the congress commenced with a clear commitment to highlighting the challenges.
"This is not a business-as-usual congress," comments IRLA spokesman Jonathan Gallagher. "We are combating the very real scourge of religious hatred and developing some practical responses and solutions. A strong sense of realism and action is gripping the delegates, wanting to see some definite changes. The hardest thing in the world is to change minds and the way we think, but that is essential if we are to see true religious freedom grow and develop."
In his introduction IRLA secretary-general John Graz made it clear that such congresses were essential. "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."
He went on to explain that coming to Cape Town, the first World Congress to be held in Africa, was a deliberate act-to speak to the issues in Africa and beyond.
"Our coming to Cape Town will not change the world in one day, but it will show the world that religious discrimination and persecution are not inevitable," Graz continued. "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."
In the keynote address, IRLA President Denton Lotz identified the primary outcome, in that "this Congress will contribute to religious freedom and peaceful harmony among nations and religions. Our goal is more than just co-existing together on planet earth, but rather our goal should be pro-existence, living together faithfully for a righteous and just society of all people, especially the poor, the persecuted and downtrodden. At this Congress, if our search for and defense of religious freedom issues in such a pro-existence life-style, then we will combat religious hatred wherever we are."
The World Congress continues until March 1 at the Cape Town International Conference Centre in South Africa. All reports and speeches provided in electronic format are available at www.irla.org/congress/docindex.html [Kristina Malarek]
Combating Religious Hatred
Silver Spring, MD , USA , February 7, 2007…The World Congress on Religious
Freedom will convene in Cape Town , South Africa February 27 – March
1, reports Dr. John Graz, Secretary General of the International Religious
Liberty Association.
“Religious-inspired violence is on the increase, with extremism and
intolerance becoming the norm. We believe this congress will provide the
opportunity for people of many faiths to interact, and to work together
on solutions to the various religious freedom and human rights issues around
the globe,” asserts Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, IRLA Deputy Secretary General
and press officer. "Most persecutions happen in secret. By having a
congress like this, we are turning a blazing searchlight on places where
religious intolerance exists so people can see that this is unacceptable.”
The congress will bring together diplomats, experts, and religious leaders
to examine the theme “Combating Religious Hatred through Freedom to
Believe.” High-level speakers from international organizations, governments
and academia will focus on finding solutions to the pressing problems of
religious intolerance and conflict.
At the recent All-Africa Congress in Accra , President John A. Kufuor of
Ghana declared, “Unfortunately, much of our world today is suffering
because of many conflicts and misunderstandings over religion. If we as
individuals express ourselves and understand each other, then religious
extremism will be done away with and this will make for happier times and
a more peaceful world.”
“We believe that religious freedom is the best answer to religious
fanaticism and anti-religious ideologies. It is possible to have strong
religious convictions yet still live together, respecting each other,”
says Graz .
Speakers include:
Ambassador Robert Seiple, former US Ambassador for International Religious
Freedom.
Prof. Rik Torfs, Catholic University of Leuven – Canon law professor
and member of the European Consortium for State-Church Research.
Prof. Rosa Maria Martinez de Codes, University of Madrid – and former
Associate Director of the Religious Rights section of Spain ’s Ministry
of Justice.
Prof. Anatoly Krasikov, Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia – Director,
Center of Social and Religious Studies at the Institute of Europe, and Galina
Starovoitova Fellow on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at the Kennan
Institute.
Prof. James Cochrane, University of Cape Town – Core Leader of the
African Religious Health Assets Programme and professor of Religious Studies.
Combating religious hatred through freedom to believe has been the IRLA’s
mission since it was chartered in 1893. Its scope is universal and non-sectarian
as they seek to address religious freedom concerns from all faith communities.
The current president is Dr. Denton Lotz, General Secretary of the Baptist
World Alliance. The IRLA has no paid staff, and officers and directors serve
voluntarily. Funding for IRLA operations comes from organizations supportive
of the association’s purpose.
The meeting in Cape Town is the IRLA’s sixth World Congress. Previous
congresses were held in Manila , Rome , Amsterdam , London and Rio de Janeiro
. In its first World Congress on African soil, the IRLA seeks to get the
message out 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.
Christianity and Islam are both growing rapidly in Africa , and religious
tensions can erupt into religious wars if religious freedom is not defended
with vigilance.
The event will take place at the Cape Town Convention Centre. More information
on the upcoming Congress can be found at: www.irla.org or by calling the
IRLA Media Information Office at 0823700636. E-mail: worldcongress2007@yahoo.com
###
"The world congress is held every five years, so this is our premier event," comments Graz, who adds that "more than ever religious freedom and the need to develop tolerance are the key issues in today's society. We believe that religious freedom is the best answer to religious fanaticism and anti-religious ideologies."
The congress will bring together diplomats, experts, and religious leaders to examine "Combating Religious Hatred through Freedom to Believe." High-level speakers from international organizations, governments and academia will focus on solutions to the pressing problems on religious intolerance and conflict. Speakers include:
The meeting in Cape Town is the IRLA's sixth world congress. Previous congresses were held in Manila, Rome, Amsterdam, London and Rio de Janeiro.
Chartered in 1893, the IRLA has promoted and defended religious freedom ever since. Various religious traditions are represented on the Board of Directors, while the presidency rotates annually among a panel of vice presidents. The current president is Dr. Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. The IRLA has no paid staff and officers and directors serve voluntarily. Funding for IRLA operations comes from organizations supportive of the association's purpose.
The event will take place at Cape Town Convention Center. More information on the upcoming congress can be found at www.irla.org or by calling the IRLA Media Information Office at +1-301-680-6686. [Jonathan Gallagher]
Press email: worldcongress2007@yahoo.com