News July 2003 | International Religious Liberty Association

Top-level Conference Calls for Respect of Religious Freedom in Fight Against Terrorism

Vienna, Austria… Main speakers at the international conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief stressed the importance of respecting religious freedom while fighting terrorism.

“We should not use excuses to limit these freedoms,” commented Ambassador Christian Strohal, director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the organizers of the conference. “The threat of terrorism must not be used as an excuse to infringe on the right of individuals and groups to freely choose and manifest their religion or belief.”

“The fight against terrorism and extremism cannot justify just any action,” added keynote speaker Professor Abdelfattah Amor, addressing the representatives of the 55 European and Central Asian states that make up the OSCE. “Today it seems that everything is placed under question, especially freedom of religion or belief. I am concerned that we may be currently be witnessing a return to the past, and that the progress that has been made over the past decades in ensuring the right to freedom of belief is under threat.” Amor is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

“We are highly concerned at recent developments in many nations that have reduced religious freedom in the name of national security,” comments Dr Jonathan Gallagher, deputy secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association, conference participant. “The rise in religious intolerance and discrimination must be combated, for the risk of destabilization and inter-religious violence is grave when the religious beliefs of faith communities are disregarded. The imposition of the prejudices of majority faiths on religious minorities is the cause of much persecution and suffering, and we are committed to defend those who endure such mistreatment.”

The 200-plus delegate OSCE Conference in its three sessions July 17 to 18 examined limitations to religious freedom, promoting religious tolerance, and the role of media in freedom of religion or belief.

Azerbaijani Religious Liberty Advocate Addresses OSCE Conference

Vienna, Austria… The representative of the Religious Liberty Association of Azerbaijan spoke out at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Freedom of Religion or Belief Conference, giving six recommendations for implementation by governments and international organizations.

Ilgar Allahverdiyev, speaking for the Association in Russian, said “there should be no pressure on any religion by the state, that religious education should not be obligatory, and that the state should encourage religious pluralism.” Going further, he recommended that schools and universities should work for a culture of peace, that there must be no interference in the beliefs and convictions of any peoples, and that religious freedom should only be limited by the values of a democratic society.

Allahverdiyev explained that the Azerbaijan RLA provided a forum for a wide range of faith communities, including Muslims, Orthodox, Catholics, Jews and Adventists. “As these different confessions get together and have dialogue, we are able to remove the obstacles to developing mutual respect,” he said, adding that a wide range of issues had already been addressed by the Association.

“We have tackled such problems as the refusal of the government to give passports to Muslim women who do not remove their headscarves for passport photos, the continuing government censorship of religious publications, and we call on the government to keep to its international obligations,” Allahverdiyev concluded.

Rafiq Aliyev, representative of government of Azerbaijan, commented that religious freedom was improving in his country, and that the registration of the Association which has so far not been approved by the State Committee for the Work of Religious Associations would be considered.

The Azerbaijan RLA operates as a separate but affiliated organization to the International Religious Liberty Association, headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, along with some sixty similar national and regional religious liberty associations around the world. [Jonathan Gallagher]

Bulgarian Ambassador Affirms Religious Freedom at IRLA Headquarters

Silver Spring, MD, USA… The Bulgarian Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Elena Borislava Poptodorova, affirmed the importance of religious freedom at the headquarters of the International Religious Liberty Association.

Referring to the changes in her country since 1990, Poptodorova spoke of “the different kind of effort to gain freedom” which in contrast to fighting for independence was “more complicated; a peaceful persuasion rather than fighting.”

Though at first there had been “a defensive attitude to other religious groups,” the country’s constitution and legislation guaranteed “freedom of all religions,” she said, adding that she personally “firmly believed in free choice.”

Questioned over the recent law on religion, Poptodorova noted objections to two aspects, and stated her “expectation and hope that even these partial inadequacies of this legislation will be taken care of.”

As for local instances of religious discrimination by members of the majority faith, Poptodorova commented that this was more of a reactive instinct to preserve rather than reasoned action. “Educating in the rule of law takes time,” she concluded, “however the very fact that we are open to international exchanges and different visions indicate how much we value tolerance and understanding.”

IRLA leaders participated in a recent conference on religious freedom held in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, noted secretary general John Graz. “We appreciate the developments in religious freedom in Bulgaria, and trust these positive trends will continue to develop and progress,” he said.

During the July 8 meeting, the Ambassador was also able to meet Dr Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to tour the Church’s headquarters building. In his comments, Paulsen said he “honored and respected the Bulgaria’s Christian heritage that gives inner strength to the nation, and for the liberty extended to religious minorities, including Adventists, to share and witness.” He concluded by expressing his pleasure that “the Church could host the IRLA, a multi-church organization that links with many to preserve religious freedom.” [Jonathan Gallagher]

Russian Delegation Visits Adventist Headquarters As Part of Study Tour

SILVER SPRING, MD, USA. As part of the Open World Program, a delegation of some 35 Russian civil and government leaders visited the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventists Church on June 25, 2003, to learn and share ideas in church-state issues.

Speaking on behalf of the Adventist Church’s Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Dr. Bert Beach gave a brief summary of the Adventist Church and its various services, such as health, education, and religious liberty. “For more than 100 years, the Adventist Church has promoted separation of church and state because we believe that a state religion does not advance the cause of religious freedom for minority religions and its citizens.”

Representing the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, deputy secretary-general, spoke of the association’s mission and purpose and its recent activities in working with civil, government and religious leaders in the promotion of religious freedom. “We believe religious freedom is key to security and tolerance around the world,” Gallagher said. “Religious freedom is an essential aspect of national security and attempts to suppress religious expression only destabilize society.”

Established in 1999, the Open World Program is sponsored by the US Congress for the purpose of forging better understanding between the US and Russia. Six hundred and eighty communities across the United States hosted more than 4,000 participants ever since the inception of this program.

“The group here today represents organizations that cooperate with various churches in Russia,” said Eugenia Leonovitch, group facilitator and interpreter. “The Open World Program focuses on young political and civic leaders from all jurisdictional levels. The 10-day tour provides an opportunity for participants to observe and experience American political, business and community life.”

Program participants have included members of the Russian Parliament and their staff, mayors, judges, journalists, NGO directors, educators and political party officials. Open World Program leaders remain engaged with their alumni once they return to Russia. The program has already sponsored 10 alumni conferences in cities across Russia.

The visit was coordinated by Dr. Cole Durham, professor of law at Brigham Young University and member of the Board of Experts for the IRLA. [Viola Hughes]

Religious Freedom a Priority for Muslim Imam

Silver Spring, MD, USA… [IRLA news]. “Either you are for religious liberty and human rights, or you are not,” said Imam Ilgar Allahverdiyev, president of the International Religious Liberty Association’s (IRLA) affiliate organization in Azerbaijan, during his visit to the IRLA headquarters office on June 24, 2003.

“When you have religious liberty, you have human rights. Democracy in any society depends on religious liberty,” he added.

Speaking to officers of the IRLA and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Imam Allahverdiyev commended the IRLA and the Adventist Church for its many efforts in promoting religious freedom around the world. He stressed the importance of finding a middle ground in a society as diverse as ours. “The middle ground is human rights and religious liberty. Those who promote religious freedom and human rights are actually promoting human dignity.”

Echoing the same theme, Denton Lotz, president of the IRLA and general secretary for the Baptist World Alliance, said “When countries use a state religion to suppress religious freedom, there can be no peace, but will have instead a clash of civilizations, which is really a clash of religions.”

Imam Allahverdiyev has been involved in a wide range of various causes including a program called Motherland Without Orphans, initiated in 2002 to help change the situation for homeless children; Struggle Against Alcoholism and Drugs, an organization working to combat citizen’s struggle with substance abuse; Dar-Ul-Hikmet, a science and research debate center focusing on issues such as “Islam, the Religion of Tolerance,” “Dialogue of Civilizations,” “Islam and Hygiene,” and many others.

The IRLA affiliate in Azerbaijan was formed on September 20, 2002, with a variety of religious groups represented in its officer group. The IRLA was first organized in the U.S. by members of the Adventist Church and chartered in 1893, but is non-sectarian and promote principles of religious freedom for all people everywhere.

Bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, Azerbaijan’s population of over 7 million consists of only about three percent claiming affiliation with a Christian church. Azerbaijan’s constitution upholds the right of all people to choose and practice their religion.

For more information about the IRLA, visit www.irla.org. [Viola Hughes]

© 2004 International Religious Liberty Association