Brussels Conference, “A Cause For Concern in Europe,” to Debate Religious Freedom

Freedom of belief, religion and opinion, as well as religious freedoms in general, are fundamental rights, guaranteed by numerous international treaties and conventions, including several European ones. Nevertheless, many recent reports describe a large number of infringements of these rights, even in European countries. Indeed, minorities of belief are increasingly subjected to discrimination in some European countries, or even to persecution, by means of various deleterious instruments, which give an appearance of legality, but which, in reality, are at odds with European and international standards of Human Rights.

Because the believers in every religion, and the holders of any particular belief or opinion, are in the minority somewhere, the rights of the adherents of any faith or view are liable to infringement, as perpetrated by governments or as promoted by groups working as front-organizations for particular vested interests or for governments.

In this Conference, the trend in Europe to increase restrictions on freedom of opinion, religion and belief, as well as the clandestine efforts of some governments to export discriminatory systems to other countries via European institutions will be examined in detail, including the concrete effects of such things. We will examine the existing tools for protecting freedom of belief, religion and opinion (including international law, international jurisprudence and EU-jurisprudence). The speakers (in 2 different panels) will be representatives from various religious denominations, international experts in the relevant fields and specialist defenders of human rights.

Each panel-presentation will be followed by live debates.

Speakers

Bashy Quraishy
Secretary General – European Muslim Initiative For Social Cohesion – Strasbourg
Chairman – Advisory Council – European Network Against Racism – Brussels

Professor Juan Ferreiro Gualguera
Full professorship of Ecclesiastical Law at University of Coruna Former D/Director General for Promotion and Protection of Religious Freedom at the Spain Ministry of Justice

Hans Noot
President of the Gerard Noodt Foundation
Member of the board of the ICRLS

Gérard Ducrey
PhD in political sciences, Attorney at law, France

Eric Roux
Steering Committee of the European Interreligious Forum for Religious Freedom

Dr. Alessandro Amicarelli
PhD, Attorney at law. LAW Society of England and Wales
Doctor of Research in International Order and Human Rights
“SAPIENZA” University of Rome

Jasvir Singh
United Sikhs International

Patricia Duval
Attorney at Law – France
Specialist in European and international Human Rights law

Paul. Herzog Von Oldenburg
Coordinator: International Federation, Pro Europa Christiana

Moderator

Father Aethlwine
Orthodox Priest – Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch – UK

Organizers and partners of the event are The European Interreligious
Forum for Religious Freedom (EIFRF, also a cooperation circle of United Religion Initiative, URI), European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion (EMISCO), Soteria International, United Sikhs International, Pro Europa Christiana, CAPLC Europe (Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience), and the Gerard Noodt Foundation For Freedom of Religion and Belief.

This event on religious freedom will be held on October 16, 2013 at the Renaissance Brussels Hotel by Marriott, near the EU parliament, from 13:00 to 18:00. To reserve your place, please contact: Laure Ferrari, laure.ferrari@europarl.europa.eu.