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2013

A Special Mission for the Church’s International Ambassador

Posted January 22, 2013

In January 11-13, 2013, history was been made in the French Island of Guadeloupe, in Central America, where the department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, under the capable leadership of Madame Patricia Sablier, hosted the first symposium on religious freedom.

113th Congress Most Religiously Diverse Ever — and Why It Matters

Posted January 9, 2013

The U.S. Senate's current focus on potential filibuster reform spotlights an important question: Where do the rights of minority groups begin and end?

The 313 Syndrome

Posted February 5, 2013

It is said that those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. I can think of no better example of this than what I call the 313 syndrome.

Costa Rica: A Step Forward Say Religious Freedom Leaders

Posted March 4, 2013

Three religious freedom seminars were held in Costa Rica from January 15 to 17, 2013.

IRLA Joins Call For Pastor’s Release From Iranian Prison

Posted March 5, 2013

The International Religious Liberty Association has joined more than a dozen religious groups and human rights advocates calling for the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini, who was imprisoned in Iran in September for his religious beliefs.

Tireless Advocate for Religious Freedom Comes to California

Posted March 6, 2013

This past week, Dr John Graz, a man of many titles, including Director of Public Affairs & Religious Liberty for the Seventh-day Adventist world church, spent a busy week promoting religious freedom in California.

II World Festival of Religious Liberty

Posted March 11, 2013

In the year of 2013, the International Religious Liberty Association ( IRLA, www.irla.org) has completed 120 years in the defense of religious freedom, and we want to invite you for that great celebration.

In Pakistan, Mob Burns Homes In Anti-Christian Violence

Posted March 12, 2013

Residents of a Christian community in eastern Pakistan, among them Seventh-day Adventists, are reeling after a mob torched their homes and businesses in response to alleged insults against Muhammad.

Canada’s First Ambassador to the Office of Religious Freedom

Posted March 14, 2013

On February 19, 2013, Canada’s Prime Minister announced the appointment of Canada’s first Ambassador for Religious Freedom.

Friendship and Religious Freedom in Southern Mexico

Posted April 11, 2013

A large-scale festival of religious liberty here in the Southern Mexican state of Chiapas underscores how freedom of conscience continues to improve in this region with a history of persecution against some religions.

President Obama Hosts Easter Prayer Breakfast

Posted April 11, 2013

More than 130 religious leaders -- including Dwayne Leslie, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist church -- joined U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on April 5 for an Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House.

Address By Ambassador Bennett At Religious Liberty Dinner

Posted April 22, 2013

It gives me great pleasure to be here today as Canada’s first Ambassador of Religious Freedom. I want to thank the organizers for giving me this opportunity to talk about why religious freedom matters to Canada; to talk about how our new Office of Religious Freedom will tackle restrictions of this freedom; and how we plan to promote religious freedom as part of our principled foreign policy.

Religious Freedom Under Global Threat, Canadian Ambassador Says

Posted May 6, 2013

Calling the freedom to worship “a core human right … that is under increasing threat around the world,” Andrew P. W. Bennett, Canada’s new Ambassador of Religious Freedom, pledged his nation’s support for those believers, worldwide, whose rights are in danger in comments delivered to an audience of religious liberty advocates on April 18.

Annual Report Highlights Worsening Freedom of Belief Worldwide

Posted December 31, 1969

This year’s report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has Seventh-day Adventist human rights experts concerned over growing state-sponsored or condoned intolerance toward minority faith groups worldwide.

In Much of the World, the State of Religious Freedom Is Far From ‘Alive and Well’

Posted May 23, 2013

The U.S. Department of State this week released its annual report on international religious freedom, including an assessment of what governments around the world are doing to protect the rights of their citizens to freely worship.

Religious Freedom Celebration in Brazil Highlights Peaceful Co-existence

Posted May 30, 2013

Top regional leaders of 20 faith groups pledged to continue advocating for religious freedom in Brazil during a weekend festival sponsored by the now 120-year-old International Religious Liberty Association.

Report from the Inter-European Division (EUD) PARL Advisory, hosted in Rome, Italy, June 3-6, 2013.

Posted June 26, 2013

The Public Affairs & Religious Liberty (PARL) department of Inter-European Division (EUD) in partnership with the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists (GC) met on June 3-6, 2013 with over twenty PARL directors and other religious officials in Rome, Italy, for the EUD Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Advisory.

Religious Liberty Project in Madrid

Posted June 26, 2013

Dr. Ganoune Diop, Director of United Nations Relations and Associate Director of PARL Department to GC of SDA, was the main guest speaker at the Spanish Union on June 7-9, 2013. Three important meetings took place on Friday and Saturday in the largest churches of Madrid (Eben-Ezer/Emaus, Alenza and Sion Torejon). There were around 1,600 participants at these meetings.

Religious Liberty in Romania

Posted July 17, 2013

The guide for the leaders of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department was launched last week during the National Religious Liberty Meeting.

Third Pan-African Congress on Religious Freedom

Posted August 20, 2013

The Third Pan-African Congress on Religious Freedom was held last week at the Warda Multi-purpose Sports Complex in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Blasphemy, The ‘Crime’ That Cannot Be Spoken

Posted August 21, 2013

Imagine being hung upside down by your feet. Electric wires are tied around your ankles and you’re threatened repeatedly with electrocution. In addition, you are frequently pulled from your cell so that the police can beat you viciously.

First International Congress of Paraguay

Posted October 16, 2013

With the motto "Free to Believe" the first International Congress of Religious Freedom in Paraguay, was held on 8 and 9 August, 2013 in the city of Asuncion.

Dr. John Graz Receives Award

Posted October 16, 2013

Dr. John Graz, director of PARL and Secretary General of the IRLA was honored on Thursday, October 10, 2013.

International Religious Freedom Day

Posted October 30, 2013

Freedom of religion is a core American value, but it is not an American invention. It is the birthright of every individual, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Seoul: Religious Freedom Special Program for North Korea

Posted November 26, 2013

On Friday, November 1, 2013, more than 500 people came to the Sahmyook Central Church, a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Seoul, South Korea, to attend a Religious Freedom special program for North Korea.

A Tribute To Nelson Mandela From Ambassador Seiple, IRLA President

Posted December 10, 2013

"I used to wonder how South Africa could achieve reconciliation with only a "Truth" commission.

A Delegation of Papua New Guinea Visits IRLA Leaders

Posted November 26, 2013

On Thursday November 6, 2013, a delegation from Papua New Guinea met the IRLA Secretary General and several board members at the Silver Spring headquarters.

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