This essential, universal human value is currently seriously restricted or attacked in the majority of the world’s countries and territories representing 74% of the total world population (Pew Study Center Report, 2013). The day also reminds people of the hard, long, often bloody road from serfdom, deep societal divisions, sectarian hatred, and violent oppression against efforts to form free, pluralist and tolerant societies respecting the rule of law, human rights and basic universal values. No society is the perfect role model in this, but we learn as we go. Many peoples, communities, leaders and governments in Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas, Australia and Oceania struggle to improve the quality of democracy, to embrace and care more about these principles and values. Many dictators, autocratic regimes and violent groups struggle in the opposite direction: they proclaim rule without law instead of the rule of law; the power over people instead of the service to people…
While more than 84% of people in the world can be described as “religiously affiliated” (ibid.), FoRB is more widely applied. It is a fundamental freedom relevant for all, as it also covers the rights of atheists, agnostics, and non-believers. The right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or conviction is linked to the freedom of expression, of assembly and other important civil and political rights. FoRB is a litmus test of all human rights, because when the religious freedom is missing then other civil freedoms are missing as well. More www.foref-europe.org
Restoring Religious Freedom Conference:Law, Religion, Equality, and DignityNovember 6, 2016Emory School of Law A Conversation between Ján Figel’, EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and W. Cole Durham, Founding Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies Moderator: Mark Goldfeder, Senior Lecturer, Emory University School of Law; Spruill Family Fellow in Law and Religion, Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University; Director, Restoring Religious Freedom Project Sponsored by J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Religious Freedom Project
Article written by Ján Figeľ, Special Envoy for promotion of FoRB outside the EU
International Day of Religious Freedom (October 27) is a reminder that freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is neither self-evident reality, nor broadly winning international trend. Quite opposite, tendency is negative. This essential, universal human value is currently seriously restricted or attacked in majority of world countries and territories representing 74% total population (Pew Study Center Report, 2013). The Day also reminds people of the hard, long, often bloody road from serfdom, deep societal divisions, sectarian hatred and violent oppression to free, pluralist and tolerant societies respecting the rule of law, human rights and basic universal values. None of them is the perfect role model in this, but we learn as we go. Many peoples, communities, leaders and governments in Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas, Australia and Oceania struggle to improve quality of democracy, to embrace and care more about these principles and values. Many dictators, autocratic regimes and violent groups struggle in the opposite direction: the rule without law instead of the rule of law, the rule over people instead of the service to people…
While more than 84% of people in the world can be described as “religiously affiliated” (ibid), FoRB is not just related to them. It doesn’t only concern them. It is for all, as it covers atheists, agnostics, everybody. Right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or conviction is linked to freedom of expression, of assembly and other important civil and political rights. It is a litmus test of all human rights. Because when the religious freedom is missing then other civil freedoms are missing as well. Culture of human dignity is inconceivable without FoRB. In my homeland Slovakia, then Czechoslovakia, struggle to overcome totalitarian, communist regime peaked after Bratislava Great Friday 1988 when peaceful prayer manifestation of citizens in the center of the capital city with requests for religious and civil rights was brutally attacked by police forces. Since then a trend towards “Velvet revolution” and overall political change in 1989 became unstoppable.
Brussels, 27.10.2016 (FOREF) – The annual International Day of Religious Freedom on October 27 is a reminder that freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is neither a self-evident reality, nor a broadly winning international trend. Quite the opposite is the case, since the actual tendency is negative.
This essential, universal human value is currently seriously restricted or attacked in the majority of the world’s countries and territories representing 74% of the total world population (Pew Study Center Report, 2013). The day also reminds people of the hard, long, often bloody road from serfdom, deep societal divisions, sectarian hatred, and violent oppression against efforts to form free, pluralist and tolerant societies respecting the rule of law, human rights and basic universal values. No society is the perfect role model in this, but we learn as we go. Many peoples, communities, leaders and governments in Europe, Asia, Africa, Americas, Australia and Oceania struggle to improve the quality of democracy, to embrace and care more about these principles and values. Many dictators, autocratic regimes and violent groups struggle in the opposite direction: they proclaim rule without law instead of the rule of law; the power over people instead of the service to people…
While more than 84% of people in the world can be described as “religiously affiliated” (ibid.), FoRB is more widely applied. It is a fundamental freedom relevant for all, as it also covers the rights of atheists, agnostics, and non-believers. The right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or conviction is linked to the freedom of expression, of assembly and other important civil and political rights. FoRB is a litmus test of all human rights, because when the religious freedom is missing then other civil freedoms are missing as well.
A culture of human dignity is inconceivable without FoRB. In my homeland of Slovakia, then Czechoslovakia, the struggle to overcome the totalitarian, communist regime peaked after Bratislava Good Friday 1988, when a peaceful prayer manifestation of citizens in the center of the capital city with requests for religious and civil rights was brutally attacked by police forces. Afterwards, a trend towards “Velvet revolution” and overall political change in 1989 became unstoppable.
Freedom is not purposeless and cannot survive without shared responsibility. Therefore, claims for more religious liberty are in my mind implicitly linked to active engagement of religious leaders and communities for peace, justice, human togetherness and solidarity. This is very much needed in the 21st Century. Since 1915-16, the systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, which constituted the first recognized genocide of the 20thCentury, mankind went through similar horrors on religious, racial, national or ethnic foundations in many parts of the globe – in Nazi and Soviet concentration camps, gulags and mass graves, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, etc. Unfortunately, the “Never Again” promise from the Nuremberg Tribunal of 1946 was broken repeatedly, again and again. We abandoned commitment to prevent genocide or inhumane treatment too often. In reality, people in need have been abandoned as well as those who have been persecuted for their religion, conviction, race or ethnicity.
The current systematic murder, torture, enslavement, kidnapping, raping and persecution of religious and ethnic minorities on territories dominated by the “Islamic State” constitute the very same type of the greatest crime – genocide. This position was strongly expressed by parliamentary bodies of the Council of Europe, EU, USA, UK and Australia. Thus, a very timely and alarming question arises: “Shall the century of genocides end or continue?” After Christians, Yezidis, Shia-Muslims and some other communities in Iraq and Syria, who will follow next? The answer is crucially important and commitment is decisive. I am sure with many like-minded supporters, that a better century is possible. A more human century is our moral obligation! If we want to share more peaceful and better times, we have to prevent that repetitive tendency, prevent returns of inhumanity. This means to stop persecution of innocent people and to help voiceless and defenseless victims, and to finally bring perpetrators of crimes to justice. Ignorance, indifference or fear helps fanatics and perpetrators of crimes; our silence hurts the victims.
Besides genocidal persecution there are many other forms of religious oppression – blasphemy laws, anti-conversion laws, sectarian violence, totalitarian regimes which try to eliminate religious manifestations and freedom of conscience and conviction for the sake of their ideology and uniformity. Already Marx and Lenin despised religion as “the opium of the people”. And they have created their own political religion, a new coercive and militant ideology. The major dictators of the 20th century – Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot – all have something in common: They fiercely suppressed FoRB.
Without understanding the aims, structure and effects of religions, including the abuse of religion, i. e. by Islamist terrorists, we cannot understand what is going on in our world. Subsequently we cannot find efficient solutions that help society to recover from inter-religious strife. The promotion of FoRB, an ethic of responsibility, and education for living in diversity is the principal way to tackle religious fundamentalism, violent extremism and terrorism.
When there is indifference, ignorance and fear become the allies of evil. But when we continuously cut the roots of indifference, ignorance and fear, a culture of human dignity for all and everywhere may grow and bear positive fruit in our century.
Ján Figeľ is the Special Envoy for promotion of FoRB outside the EU.
The article is available here: https://foref-europe.org/2016/10/29/a-contribution-in-commemoration-of-the-annual-international-day-of-religious-freedom/
And here: http://europeanpost.co/century-of-genocides-end-or-continuity/
Brussels, Belgium, Oct 27, 2016 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The genocide of Yazidis and Christians in the Middle East and the refugee crisis should be a priority for Europe, the EU special envoy for religious freedom has said.
Jan Figel told CNA that even though “there many other places where religious freedom is liquidated, discriminated and oppressed,” the Middle East is an unavoidable focus.
“It is evident that what it is going on the Middle East affects the rest of the world,” he said at a media symposium organized by Alliance Defending Freedom International in Brussels.
Figel, a Slovak who served as EU Commissioner for Education from 2004 to 2009, was chosen to be the union’s special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union. The position is an observer role and has a one-year term.
“I deem that the religious persecutions against Yazidis and Christians can be labeled as genocide, and this is the reason why the Middle East is a priority: there is a crime committed in the geopolitical center of the world, where three continents meet and the most important religions live together,” he explained.
Figel stressed the need to aid countries at the frontlines of conflicts that involve religious persecution and mass refugee displacement.
“Europe should provide more cooperation and assistance, as there are countries, like Jordan, that cannot sustain the flow of refugees that is coming to their lands,” Figel said. “Jordan did not close its borders, it is open to refugees from Syria and Iraq, and needs and deserves more EU support and comprehensive cooperation.”
Figel has focused on the plight of Christians in the Middle East in his own work. For his first official overseas trip, he visited Jordan Oct. 18-19, meeting with representatives of government and religious and civil society leaders.
Brussels, Belgium, Oct 27, 2016 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The genocide of Yazidis and Christians in the Middle East and the refugee crisis should be a priority for Europe, the EU special envoy for religious freedom has said.
Jan Figel told CNA that even though “there many other places where religious freedom is liquidated, discriminated and oppressed,” the Middle East is an unavoidable focus.
“It is evident that what it is going on the Middle East affects the rest of the world,” he said at a media symposium organized by Alliance Defending Freedom International in Brussels.
Figel, a Slovak who served as EU Commissioner for Education from 2004 to 2009, was chosen to be the union’s special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the European Union. The position is an observer role and has a one-year term.
“I deem that the religious persecutions against Yazidis and Christians can be labeled as genocide, and this is the reason why the Middle East is a priority: there is a crime committed in the geopolitical center of the world, where three continents meet and the most important religions live together,” he explained.
The hands of a Syrian woman living as a refugee in Jordan. Credit: Kevin Jones/CNA.
Figel stressed the need to aid countries at the frontlines of conflicts that involve religious persecution and mass refugee displacement. “Europe should provide more cooperation and assistance, as there are countries, like Jordan, that cannot sustain the flow of refugees that is coming to their lands,” Figel said. “Jordan did not close its borders, it is open to refugees from Syria and Iraq, and needs and deserves more EU support and comprehensive cooperation.”
Figel has focused on the plight of Christians in the Middle East in his own work. For his first official overseas trip, he visited Jordan Oct. 18-19, meeting with representatives of government and religious and civil society leaders. The EU envoy praised Jordanian Muslim leaders’ work against extremism.
Authorities in Jordan “are very much committed in dialogue and action against radicalization, violence and extremism,” Figel said.
This is despite “an increasing climate of tensions” following the assassination of Nahed Attam, a Christian writer killed Sept. 25 because he shared a cartoon on Islam deemed offensive. Figel praised the Jordanian commitment to fighting the Islamic State, known locally as Daesh.
“Jordan is a member of anti-Daesh coalition,” he said.
The country’s work is also cultural. It puts into action “significant initiatives to show that Islam is a moderate religion beyond any extremist interpretations.” The EU envoy praised Jordanian initiatives for dialogue like the Amman Message, which King Abdullah II of Jordan issued in 2004 as a call for tolerance and unity in the Muslim world.
The message recognized eight legal schools across various branches of Islam, rebuked sectarian attitudes like declaring other Muslims apostate, and set conditions to counter illegitimate edicts issued in the name of Islam; it drew support from 200 Islamic scholars from more than 50 countries.
Jordan also backed the 2009 letter “A Common Word Between Us and You,” a response to the controversy following Benedict XVI’s 2005 Regensburg speech that discussed Islam, religion and reason.
With Benedict XVI’s initiative, the letter grew into a forum that meets every three years. The endeavor aims to find common ground of dialogue between Catholicism and Islam. The initiative’s facilitator is Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, the king’s first cousin.
King Abdullah and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad also launched the World Interfaith Harmony Week, marked in the first week of February.
The article can be found here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/for-eus-religious-freedom-envoy-middle-east-is-key-arena-56109/
Bearing samples of drawing and messages gathered from 1.2 million Muslim and Christian children from schools in Homs, Aleppo and Damascus, Syria, an appeal for peace was brought by representatives of the three main churches in Syria to policymakers at the highest levels of the EU and UN institutions.
Organized by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the delegation visit, representing 95% of all Christians in Syria, was led by the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorius III Laham of Antioch and all the East and Alexandria and Jerusalem, Metropolitan Georgis Abou-Zakhem of the Antioch Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Homs, and Metropolitan Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Homs and Hama, Syria.
Fourteen meetings were held at the EU institutions in Brussels including discussions with Jan Figel the EU Special Representative for Freedom of Religion, Christos Stylianides the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Emergency Aid, Federica Mogherini the EU High Representative for External Relations and Security, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.
Encouraging EU policy makers to press the international community for security and stability in Syria, Patriarch Gregorios III stated: “Peace in Syria will come only if everyone does his part. The international community has to sit down again and achieve security and stability. Peace, however, cannot be imposed, it must come from inside, from the hearts of each one of us – and that has and continues to be the work of the Churches, every day”.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz stated: “The circumstances are dramatic and your timely visit allows us to underline our solidarity and our respect for your tireless efforts to seek peace. Know that your meetings have been greatly discussed by our colleagues and that it is extremely important to know the situation on the ground”.
“The role of the Christians in Syria is important not only because of the past but also for the future”, said Metropolitan Georgis Abou-Zakhem. “Christians are uniquely trusted; we are in some ways the glue in the Syrian society enabling dialogue and reconciliation in a country in which we have lived together for over 14 centuries”. Citing several examples of this Muslim-Christian dialogue of life in Homs, where he has lived since before the beginning of the conflict, Bishop Georgis demonstrated that the different communities of Muslims and the Christians know how to get along: “With security and stability, social life picks up again rapidly as we witness with the people who are coming back to Homs. We are helping both Muslims and Christians integrate back into the villages”.
This was echoed by Metropolitan Selwanos of Homs explaining how Christians living throughout the country serve as a guarantee that Syria will not be divided into sectarian provinces. “We are rebuilding schools and they are open for everyone; more than 90% of the students are Muslim because they believe in the quality of our education and like this the new generation learns to live together.”
The delegation then moved from Brussels to Geneva bringing the children’s messages to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zaaid Al-Hussain, seeking concrete ways to cooperate with their respective UN delegates inside Syria.
“The Churches are, in some areas where other international NGO’s have withdrawn due to security risks, one of the few remaining structures effective in helping the humanitarian needs,” said ACN Middle East Project Director Fr. Andrzej Halemba. The Churches are already helping families of internally displaced persons returning to their destroyed homes, for example in Qusayr, to buy construction and repair materials with which to start to rebuild. Filippo Grandi stated: “The UN needs the Churches as messengers of peace, because they speak for everyone.”
“A generation without school is a lost generation capable of joining ISIS out of despair. We are not politicians, our part is to rekindle the soul of a multicultural Syrian society”, explained Patriarch Gregorios III, “we are confident that with enough stability and security allowing children to go to school we are cementing a peaceful future for Syria.”
EndFragment
BRUSSELS / GENEVA “Without education Syrian children will be the next generation of Islamic State”- Mark Riedemann – Aid to the Church in Need (Malta)
Boris Johnson is under fire from the EU’s special envoy on religious freedom over the failure to describe ISIS atrocities against Christians and Yazidis as “genocide”, Christian Today can reveal.
In an interview in Brussels on Thursday Ján Figel, the European Union’s special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion and belief, criticised the Foreign Secretary for not acting after MPs’ unanimously described ISIS crimes as “genocide”. The term, which carries legal and moral obligations, has been adopted by the White House, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
All MPs who spoke in the debate called on the government to recognise ISIS’ crimes in the Middle East as genocide.Reuters
Figel told Christian Today he was “disappointed” with Johnson and expected him to “take it up” after the “British Parliament clearly expressed an announcement of genocide”.
In an interview in Brussels, Figel issued a direct call on the UK to act on the will of its MPs. “The United Nations needs leadership and there are certain countries who are permanent members of the UN security council [who can do that].
“I am sure the message of the US people and the UK population has given a strong mandate” to the two governments, he said. “The government should take executive action which is truly in line with the parliament.”
MPs passed a motion by 278 to 0 votes that described ISIS’ atrocities as genocide and called on the government to act in April. But ministers and their aides were ordered to abstain from the vote and no action has since been taken.
Jan Figel is a former European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth.Reuters
The International Criminal Court (ICC) can only investigate whether a genocide has occurred if it is asked to do so by the UN security council, of which the UK is a permanent member. But the foreign office has refused to bring a resolution to the council. A senior source told Christian Today there was an “institutional reluctance” among officials to declare genocide because it would require action.
The UK is a signatory to the genocide convention which, if declared, requires states to both prevent it continuing and prosecute the perpetrators. This would require a significant step up in UK military action in the Middle East and would also oblige more action to protect the refugees who have fled.
Figel issued an impassioned call to end “a century of genocide”. He told an audience of journalists and officials: “In October 1946 there was a commitment – ‘never again’. We have failed.”
There is evidence of genocide “like never before”, he said at the conference organised by the legal organisation Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). “Whether this century of genocide continues or ends depends on us. It is a question of whether indifference, ignorance and fear will prevail, or if humanity will prevail.”
Ján Figeľ Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU
The article is available here: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/eu.slams.britain.isis.is.committing.genocide.and.youre.doing.nothing/98593.htm
The Pew Research Center estimates that 77% of the world’s population lives in countries that experience a high or very high level of religious restrictions, and other studies reveal that such restrictions increase social violence and migration. Concerns about global religious freedom have prompted a variety of responses from Western democracies. For instance, the European Union has recently appointed a new special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion. Outside the European Union, Canada eliminated the post of ambassador-at-large for religious freedom. What do these and other developments mean for international religious freedom? How can governments promote tolerance and fight against religious restrictions? We bring together key scholars and leaders involved in shaping government responses to religious restrictions to discuss these questions. This is event is moderated by Professor Brett G. Scharffs, director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, at Brigham Young University School of Law, and features Ambassador David N. Saperstein, the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom for the U.S. Department of State; the Honorable Ján Figeľ, European Union’s special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion and belief outside the European Union; and Professor Thomas F. Farr is the president of the Religious Freedom Institute and director of Georgetown University’s Religious Freedom Project. This event was co-sponsored by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University (http://www.iclrs.org) and the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute (http://www.religiousfreedomcenter.org).
Jan Figel, the EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom and Belief outside the EU, met with Syrian religious leaders in Brussels, led by H.E. Patriarch Gregorios III Laham, Spiritual leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, H.E. Georges Abou Zakhem, Most Reverend Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Homs and H.E. Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh, Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Homs and Hama, who visited the European Commission this morning.
They brought a petition for peace, signed by over one million Syrian children, as well as drawings and letters from more than 2,000 Syrian schools. This appeal for peace is a joint campaign being carried out by Catholic and Orthodox Christians in Syria, Muslims and religious communities from Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and other cities.
During the meeting, H.E. Patriarch Gregorios III Laham stressed the importance of the children since “they will be the ones to build the new Syria after the war.“
“The petition signed by children means two things: a request for peace and a request for education,” H.E. Georges Abou Zakhem underlined. He also called for the EU “not to consider Christians a minority in Syria.” “We are a very strong and ancient component. Moderate muslims also recognize our ancient aspects,” the Patriarch concluded.
“We want to live in our land, we don’t want to leave,” H.E. Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh said. “There, Church is strong and it can give humanitarian aid . We need the EU to make pressure on the countries involved in the war in Syria to reach peace.”
Ján Figel highlighted that: “In the midst of the ongoing Middle East crisis and violent atrocities that are affecting the whole region, this unified message manifests a strong human appeal to act. Since the earliest days of the European integration, faith communities across our continent have illustrated how a willingness to believe and a dedication to care for others can enrich our lives and our societies. Today, it is our common responsibility to provide support and solidarity to those in need.“
EU Special Envoy for Religious Freedom Figel concluded the meeting by remembering the words of one of Europe’s founding fathers Robert Schuman about the need to have a European soul and expressing solidarity to the Syrian religious leaders.
