Kingnewswire // Washington, DC – February 6, 2025 – The International Summit on Religious Freedom (IRF) 2025 brought together a diverse coalition of religious leaders, human rights defenders and political decision -makers to discuss the global challenges in matters of religious freedom. Among the participants were the European Bureau of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights and other representatives of Scientology, who actively participated in discussions aimed at establishing partnerships and advancing initiatives in favor of religious freedom.
A hundred participating organizations
The summit, co -chaired by the former itinerant ambassador for international religious freedom Sam Brownback and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, was described as “the greatest global gathering ever organized on religious freedom”. More than 90 organizations and representatives of more than 30 religious traditions participated, stressing the growing urgency of the fight against persecution and religious restrictions in the world.
On February 5, the new vice-president of the United States delivered a introductory discourse emphasizing the commitment of the United States government to protect religious freedoms at national and international levels, which each American administration has been promoting for decades. He tackled current global challenges, including religious persecutions and government abuses limiting religious activities.
Round tables and plenary sessions have examined religious persecution in Syria, Nigeria, Armenia and other countries. Experts and human rights defenders have highlighted the disastrous conditions facing many religious communities, urging governments to take more energetic measures to prevent discrimination and violence against religious groups.
In addition, the Religious Freedom Institute, in collaboration with Pepperdine University and the IRF summit, announced the next IRF summit in Africa, which will be held in Kenya on June 16, 2025. This regional event aims to Address the questions of religious freedom specific to Africa, where many countries are struggling with sectarian violence and the restrictions imposed by the government on religious practices.
During a round table led by Will Dobson, the emphasis was placed on the growing use of digital surveillance, censorship and transnational repression by authoritarian regimes to limit religious freedoms. Panelists have warned that oppressive governments use technology to silence dissent and restrict religious rallies.
Participation of the Church of Scientology and collaboration efforts
The summit saw the participation of many religious organizations, and its organization has benefited from tireless contributions from volunteers from as many civil society partners as the National Bureau of Affairs of the Church of Scientology (Washington DC), the center Religious studies of the Catholic University of America, Baptist groups, Baha’is, Uïghours, Sikhs, Yézidis, Jews, Evangelistes, Giselle Lima of the Church of Scientology of Panama and many others. Among the participants were also the European Office of the Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights, which has initiated discussions to strengthen partnerships with other organizations defending religious freedom. The representatives of the Church of Scientology, Ivan Arjona and Eric Roux, underlined their commitment to the promotion of religious tolerance and expressed their interest in working with human rights and governments for defense groups for Fight against discrimination against religious minorities in the world. During the summit, they met representatives of various governments and organizations, such as the US Department of State, the Parlacen, the President and the Commissioners of the USCIRF, and many others.
At the end of the IRF 2025 summit, the leaders and the participants reiterated the importance of continuing the plea and the collaboration to defend religious freedoms in all regions. Many have expressed hope that discussions will result in concrete political changes and international cooperation.
With the efforts in progress, Ivan Arjona-Pelado, representative of Scientology to the European Union and the United Nations, paraphrased L. Ron Hubbard, insisting that it is time that “the rights of the become a reality and no longer only an idealistic dream “, and that” stakeholders must remain determined to amplify the voice of persecuted religious communities and to ensure that religious freedoms are recognized and protected as a fundamental human right in the whole world, including in Europe ”.
source link eu news
