2001 News Archives

Romanian Campaigner Makes Religious Freedom Relevant

Posted August 20, 2009

February 26, 2001. Silver Spring, MD, USA [IRLA News] On a visit to the US, Romanian religious freedom campaigner Viorel Dima highlighted a major new initiative to promote the issue in his country. Director of the National Association for the Defense of Conscience and Liberty (an organization associated with the IRLA), Dima said that this traveling program was essential to counter opposition to religious freedom in Romania.

RLA Arranges Meeting With Indonesian Journalists on Religious Freedom and the Media

Posted August 20, 2009

February 14, 2001. Silver Spring, MD, USA . [IRLA News] The International Religious Liberty Association facilitated a meeting of two visiting Indonesian newspaper editors with religious freedom experts at its International Office in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

Top Cuban Diplomat Says Religious Freedom Improving in Cuba

Posted August 20, 2009

March 12, 2001. Silver Spring, Maryland, USA [IRLA News] The highest-ranking Cuban diplomat in the United States, Dr. Fernando Remirez, pointed to improvements in religious freedom in Cuba during a visit today to the headquarters of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

UN Ambassador to Visit Bermuda for Religious Freedom Conference

Posted August 20, 2009

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA . [IRLA News] United Nations Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed will visit Bermuda March 14-15 to participate in a major religious freedom conference organized by the International Religious Liberty Association.

Major Religious Freedom Conference to Convene in Bermuda

Posted August 20, 2009

Silver Spring, MD, USA . [IRLA News] A major religious freedom conference will convene in Bermuda March 14-16, reports John Graz, secretary general of the International Religious Liberty Association. "This significant conference will bring together diplomats, experts, and religious leaders to look at the whole subject of religious freedom and tolerance in the 21st century," says Graz. "As we see religious freedom under threat in different areas around the world, this is certainly a hot issue. We hope to be able to make a constructive contribution to the fundamental human right of religious liberty and freedom of conscience through this event and through the use of materials developed in Bermuda."

IRLA Appeals for Religious Freedom in Turkmenistan

Posted August 20, 2009

April 10, 2001 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan .... [Jonathan Gallagher/IRLA News] Victor Krushenitsky, IRLA secretary-general for the Euro-Asia region, has issued an appeal to the Turkmenistan government to respect religious freedom after a wave of violations targeting minority churches.

Experts and Academics Debate Opposition to Evangelism

Posted August 20, 2009

May 30, 2001. Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA. [IRLA News] Dr. Niels-Erik Andreasen (R), president of Andrews University, welcomes conference participants Religious freedom experts meeting in the academic setting of Andrews University debated the increasing opposition to evangelism around the world. Under the title "Proselytism and Religious Freedom," the group examined the restriction of religious liberty by those who rejected activities by other religious groups.

IRLA Experts Develop Religious Education Strategy

Posted August 20, 2009

May 21, 2001. Caceres, Spain [IRLA News] The International Religious Liberty Association board of experts meeting in Spain May 17-21 developed a strategy for freedom of religion in education in preparation for the UN-sponsored Conference to be held in Madrid, Spain in November 2001.

IRLA-International Hosts Indonesian Visitors for Religious Freedom Briefing

Posted August 20, 2009

May 3, 2001. Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. [IRLA News] Two visitors from Indonesia attended a religious freedom briefing at IRLA-International headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, as part of the International Visitor Project arranged by the US Department of State.

Portugal Votes New Religious Freedom Law

Posted August 20, 2009

May 3, 2001. Lisbon, Portugal. [IRLA News] The Portuguese parliament voted a new law on April 26 that guarantees religious freedom and seeks to set all churches on an equal level before the state. Other provisions include rights to conscientious objection (against military service) and the safeguarding of days of worship.

New Spirit of Tolerance Needed in Indonesia, Says Leader

Posted August 20, 2009

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [Bettina Krause/ANN] Deadly religious conflicts in Indonesia can only be avoided by "building bridges of understanding" between the country's different religious and ethnic groups, says Ulil Abshar Abdalla, senior officer of the Indonesian Commission on Religion and Peace. Abdalla says it is vital to resist the current trend in Indonesian society for different groups to become "islands unto themselves."

IRLA Delegation Meets Serbian Minister of Religions

Posted August 20, 2009

Belgrade, Serbia. August 29, 2001. IRLA Secretary General Dr. John Graz led a delegation to meet with Prof. Vojislav Milovanovic of the Ministry of Religions for the Republic of Serbia. The minister thanked IRLA for its commitment to religious freedom and provided information on the new law on religion in public schools. He also insisted on the fact that the government will do its best to implement freedom of religion for all.

IRLA Interviewed by Channel 1 on Afghanistan Situation

Posted August 20, 2009

Silver Spring, USA. August 27, 2001. Channel 1 TV interviewed IRLA Deputy Secretary General Jonathan Gallagher regarding the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and its implications for religious freedom.

Peru: Politicians Support Concept of Religious Freedom as a Tool for Peace

Posted August 20, 2009

November 28, 2001. Lima, Peru. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the International Congress of Religious Liberty in Lima, two Peruvian congressmen spoke strongly in favor of the vital importance of religious freedom, particularly as a way to promote peace and to avoid religious violence.

Secretary General Addresses UN Conference on Religious Freedom in Education

Posted August 20, 2009

November 25, 2001. Madrid, Spain. IRLA Secretary General Dr. John Graz spoke during the The International Consultative Conference on School Education in Relation with Freedom of Religion and Belief, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, held in Madrid, Spain November 23-25.

Coalition Builds for Religious Freedom

Posted August 20, 2009

November 15, 2001. Silver Spring, Maryland, USA . Former Ambassador of the United States for Religious Freedom Dr. Robert A. Seiple chaired a top-level meeting of religious liberty advocates at the headquarters of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) on November 15.

Russian Commissioner on Human Rights Visits IRLA International Office

Posted August 20, 2009

Silver Spring, Maryland. At the invitation of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) Russian Chapter, Oleg Mironov, Commissioner on Human Rights for the Russian Federation visited the IRLA international office on November 9, 2001. Addressing the IRLA delegation, Mironov shared an extensive report of the work of the Commission since his appointment on May 22, 1998. The Federal Constitutional Law that was adopted by the State Duma in 1996, and approved by the Federation Council in 1997, was the first step in Russia's effort toward improving the quality of life for its citizens.

Venezuela: Launch of National Religious Liberty Association

Posted August 20, 2009

November 3, 2001. Barquisimeto, Venezuela... Venezuela's first national association dedicated to the promotion and defense of religious liberty launched on November 3. The Venezuela Religious Liberty Association was constituted at the Chamber of Commerce hall in Barquisimeto with over a hundred founder members present.