{"id":16080,"date":"2025-06-05T01:25:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T23:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/janfigel.com\/?p=16080"},"modified":"2025-11-30T16:53:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T15:53:27","slug":"foref-europe-welcomes-dr-jan-figel-as-its-new-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/janfigel.com\/sk\/2025\/06\/05\/foref-europe-welcomes-dr-jan-figel-as-its-new-president\/","title":{"rendered":"FOREF Europe Welcomes Dr. J\u00e1n Fige\u013e as Its New President"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Proven Defender of Human Dignity: Dr. J\u00e1n Fige\u013e Strengthens FOREF\u2019s Global Voice<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Vienna, June 1st  2025 \u2013 FOREF Europe is pleased to announce that Dr. J\u00e1n Fige\u013e has officially accepted the position of President of FOREF Europe. This marks an important milestone in FOREF\u2019s journey to promote and defend freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) across Europe and beyond.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Fige\u013e<\/strong> brings to FOREF a wealth of experience and a lifelong commitment to human rights. As a former European Commissioner<\/strong> (2004\u20132009), founder of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology<\/strong> in 2008, and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia<\/strong> (2010\u20132012), he has consistently championed democratic values and social responsibility. In 2016, he became the EU\u2019s first Special Envoy for the promotion of FoRB<\/strong> outside the EU, a pioneering role that set a precedent for several EU member states to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Fige\u013e has been a staunch advocate for interreligious dialogue, religious literacy, and social responsibility. He has played a key role in securing the release of FoRB prisoners in countries such as Cuba<\/strong>, Iran,<\/strong> Pakistan<\/strong>, and Sudan<\/strong>. Currently, he serves on the International Council of Experts of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Fige\u013e\u2019s dedication to religious liberty is grounded in his belief in the universal right to human dignity<\/strong>\u2014a principle he has championed through initiatives like the Punta del Este Declaration<\/strong> on Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere. One of his deep concerns is the global persecution of Christians<\/strong>, now recognized as the most persecuted faith community worldwide, with over 300 million Christians facing various forms of discrimination, violence, and oppression. He has consistently emphasized the urgent need to address this crisis while upholding the rights of all faiths and beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What drew Dr. Fige\u013e to FOREF was its principled, independent, and non-partisan approach to human rights advocacy, as well as its emphasis on public service. FOREF has consistently defended religious liberty for all faiths and beliefs, guided by the conviction that everyone, everywhere, deserves freedom of conscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reflecting on his new role, Dr. Fige\u013e expressed his deep respect for FOREF\u2019s work and its commitment to principled advocacy. \u201cFreedom of religion or belief is inseparable from human dignity,\u201d<\/em> he emphasized. \u201cFOREF is a proven leader in defending this fundamental right.\u201d<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As we welcome Dr. Fige\u013e, we also honor the exceptional leadership of our two previous presidents:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n