2010 News Archive

IRLA Applauds Secretary Clinton’s Speech on Internet Freedom

Posted January 21, 2010

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a major policy speech on internet freedom in Washington today in which she warned that religious freedom is one of the casualties of a growing information curtain.

First Religious Liberty Congress and Festival in Guatemala

Posted April 2, 2010

Guatemala held its First Religious Liberty Congress along with other related activities on March 24 to 27, 2010. All events were organized by the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) of Guatemala.

New IRLA Middle East Partnership

Posted April 2, 2010

On February 10, Dr. John Graz, Secretary General of the IRLA, announced a new partnership between the IRLA and the Arab Bridge Center for Human Rights & Development in Amman Jordon.

IRLA Secretary General Meets the President of East Timor

Posted April 7, 2010

On March 2, an IRLA delegation led by Dr John Graz, accompanied by Liberty magazine editor Lincoln Steed and Dr Jonathan Catholico, met East Timorese President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Mario Horta at the Timorese Presidential Palace

IRLA Secretary General Meets Senior Indonesian Religious Leaders

Posted April 7, 2010

In early March, IRLA Secretary General Dr. John Graz led a delegation to Indonesia where he met government leaders and a broad range of religious leaders to discuss ways of improving relations between Muslim and Christian populations.

IRLA Experts Meeting Tackles Tough Questions in the Middle East

Posted October 29, 2010

For the first time in its history, the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), chartered in 1893, held its Meeting of Experts in the Middle-East.

IRLA Announces Reorganization

Posted October 19, 2010

The International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), announced today that James Standish and Barry Bussey have switched portfolios.

IRLA Meets Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Posted October 26, 2010

As the newly appointed Special Rapporteur for the Freedom of Religion or Belief, Prof. Bielefeldt visits New York.

Secretary General Appears on Voice of America

Posted November 2, 2010

On September 16th, Dr. John Graz, Secretary General of the IRLA, was interviewed by the Voice of America French service about the status of religious freedom in the USA (La liberté religieuse aux USA).

IRLA Decries The Attack on Christians In Iraq

Posted November 3, 2010

“We are saddened with the reports of violence against Catholic Christians,” said Dr. John Graz, the Secretary-General of the International Religious Liberty Association.

Hearing & Religious Freedom Report Roll Out

Posted November 17, 2010

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Dr. Susan Johnson Cook for the position of U.S. Ambassador-at- Large for International Religious Freedom today.

IRLA Calls On Countries to Reject Proposed Resolution on "Vilification" of Religions

Posted November 19, 2010

Morocco, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), presented a draft resolution entitled “Combating Religious Hatred and Vilification of Religions.”

UN General Assembly Adopts Defamation of Religions Resolution But Support is Weakening

Posted November 27, 2010

The 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly has again adopted the Defamation of Religions resolution as it has since 1999 however support is waning.

The Secular Challenge to Religious Freedom

Posted November 30, 2010

The IRLA’s senior leadership voted to focus on the secular challenge to religious freedom at its 7th World Congress, scheduled for April 24 to 27, 2012, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Congress of the Republic of Peru Approved [Historic] Law of Religious Liberty

Posted December 3, 2010

The Congress of the Republic [of Peru] approved today, December 2, [2010] the bill [presently law] of Religious Liberty.