Blog — Faith and Freedom Summit

Chief Rabbi of Brussels Albert Guigui talks about the rise of antisemitism in Europe and how to fight it.

This is exactly what this is about: work together. When we share common projects and face challenges together, then the other reveals itself to me as he is, as a partner who helps me find a solution to my problem. I stop fearing him and, on the contrary, we grow nearer. It is what Emmanuel Levinas calls “the epiphany of the other,” the revelation of the other. I think that if we want to combat radicalisation, we do need common projects involving all layers of society. Our whole society should take part in this discussion.

Faith and Freedom Summit23 April 2019religious freedom, freedom of religion, antisemitismComment

The EU’s Special Envoy for Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU talks about the freedoms he’s been fighting to protect.

We need to show consistency in our intra-EU policies if we want to achieve higher credibility outside. Here like in all human rights agenda, double standards in policy is counterproductive. But the internal promotion of FoRB is obviously different, having in mind not only constitutional instruments in all EU Member States but also our Treaty with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Luxembourg European Court of Justice and also the European Convention on Human Rights and the Strasbourg ECHR.

Faith and Freedom Summit23 April 2019

FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF WITHIN THE EU WHY DO WE NEED THIS?

After the successful conclusion of the Faith and Freedom Summit, held in the European Parliament and attended by both the EU’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Religion outside the EU, Jan Figel and the OSCE’s Senior Advisor on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Kishan Manocha – both key speakers, the Summit has launched for a very promising year to come.

The key focus of the summit, a coalition of 18 NGOs (and growing), is the promotion and protection of freedom of religion and belief within the European Union. So it is vital to understand why such an orientation.

op-edsMartin Weigthman5 April 2019freedom of belief, freedom of religion, faith and freedom summitComment

The European Faith & Freedom NGO Coalition condemns the attack to the people of New Zealand

Whilst on the opposite side of the world the Christchurch murders of 50 members of Islam in their place of worship is a shocking reminder that some in the Western world are so far out of line with basic human values and human rights. We send our heartfelt condolences to all involved.

Article in New Europe

The weekly Brussels based newspaper New Europe, which audience includes European Institutions, policymakers, politicians, governments, NGO’s , business stakeholders and other subscribers in more than 150 countries around the globe, announced the Faith and Freedom Summit pledge in an article that you can find online: NGOs coalition calls on EU politicians to pledge for freedom of religion or belief

Faith and Freedom Summit17 January 2019

Practicing what we preach

We live in the world in general and in Europe in particular, in times of uncertainty that need messages and moral responses that do not have to coincide with what the majority decides, because truth and beauty shine by themselves. Without wishing to be exhaustive, among the challenges posed to Europe that are on the table we can mention three: dignity, community challenge and equality.

Join the Faith and Freedom Summit campaign

Now we need to ensure freedom of religion or belief in the EU member states, in and emanating from European Union institutions. We need to uphold and defend the freedom of conscience and religion of all individuals by rejecting and speaking out against bigotry, discrimination, harassment and violence. This is the reason for the Faith and Freedom Summit campaign.

Violations of Freedom of Religion in the European Union Recognized by the ECHR

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which binds the 47 member-states of the Council of Europe including the 28 members of the European Union ("the EU"). It is only in the last twenty years that the European Court of Human Rights ("the ECHR") has been seized of applications alleging a violation of Article 9, taken alone or in combination with other articles of the Convention or its additional protocols. Most are declared inadmissible for various reasons.

The Union as an Instrument for Freedom or Repression. Which way will it go?

We sometimes forget that first and foremost in our community of people living together we should be protecting the spirituality of individuals (from a religious perspective) or the individual’s utmost integrity (from a non-religious view) above and beyond the dictates of the state and other individuals who have throughout history risen to positions of power within a state and used such structures to restrict and enslave one’s fellows.

How much emphasis should there be on Religious Freedom in Europe?

It is important for all EU nations to realize how serious the many cases are within their own boundaries. Not one EU nation complies with all FoRB laws and agreements. The ECHR in Strasbourg is understaffed in its ability to handle the myriad of cases. At the same time EU nations find it much easier to point the finger at non-EU nations. And while we are glad these fingers are pointed, there is a special need amongst EU nations to work together and support each other on the road to complete Religious Freedom, tolerance of believer and non-believer, and even respectfully disagree with others.

op-edsHans Noot5 November 2018freedom of belief, freedom of religion, religious freedom, hans nootComment

Religious Freedom in Europe: Trouble in Paradise

Another profound problem is that the freedom of religion, as well as other basic rights, is subject to numerous conditions and derogations in European human rights treaties. This tendency has led to a debasement of fundamental freedoms. The European Convention on Human Rights, set up as a bulwark against totalitarianism, confirmed that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” But the Convention says this freedom can be limited in the interests of "public safety...the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."

Freedom of belief is the key to freedom

Freedom of religion or belief is a crucial right, and its respect reveals a great deal about the attitude of a country toward freedom in general. This is because what people believe is their most ultimate freedom. Their link to God, or to the ultimate sense of life, and the expression of these inner beliefs are the most profound richness of a human being. This is what gives a sense to our life, whether we are religious or non-religious, and what allows us to deal with all other freedoms in the frame of what we choose to believe, or not to believe.

op-edsEric Roux29 October 2018freedom of belief, freedom of religion, religious freedom, European Union, eric rouxComment

Weave Freedom of Religion and Belief into the DNA of the European Union

In today’s Europe, there are still too many people who want to make use of FoRB for their own religious or world view community and enjoy that, but do not seek and defend it for others. It is a noble task for any member of the European Parliament to help to spread the idea, that FoRB for others is the best way to protect one’s own FoRB and that FoRB for all is a road to a peaceful society.

Europe has a moral and legal duty to protect freedom of religion or belief

Human rights are Alpha and Omega for any democratic land to function but if we want to give lessons to countries outside EU on religious freedom, its own record at home needs to be beyond reproach. In today’s cosmopolitan and interconnected world, Europe cannot and must not have double standards when it comes to religious freedom and rights of those who do not subscribe to majority norms by peacefully practicing their own faiths.