Berlin Conference Unveils Declaration to Safeguard Religious Freedom

New Declaration on Religious Freedom Seeks to Protect Traditional Believers

Berlin – Religious freedom experts from Asia, America, and Europe gathered on Wednesday evening during the Berlin ministerial meeting of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA). The focus of their discussion was a new declaration by the IRFBA, aimed at reaffirming religious freedom for all, including those adhering to traditional beliefs on marriage, family, and human nature.

The event, titled “FoRB and Tolerance for Tradition: The Challenge for the Pluralist West,” featured key speakers such as Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission’s Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism and Promoting Jewish Life. Von Schnurbein emphasized the need to safeguard religious freedom in Europe, stating, “We must find ways to reconcile religious freedom with our other values – because they are compatible, not in conflict.”

Anja Hoffmann, Executive Director of the Observatory on Intolerance Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC), raised concerns about the increasing pressures faced by individuals who express traditional religious beliefs, particularly on marriage and family. “It is very worrying that the peaceful expression of personal religious beliefs has become a threat to one’s political career or job, or even the beginning of legal proceedings. This is a serious threat to religious freedom and leads to widespread self-censorship,” Hoffmann warned.

In response to these concerns, Todd Huizinga, Senior Fellow for Europe at the Religious Freedom Institute, announced that a new declaration supporting religious freedom would be submitted to IRFBA member states. This declaration seeks to reaffirm the rights of those holding traditional religious views.

José Luis Bazán, legal adviser to the Commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), also addressed the issue, referring to Pope Francis’ warning of “polite persecution,” which he described as coercive policies and social pressures that limit Christians’ ability to live out their religious principles in modern liberal societies.

Senegal’s Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne also participated, highlighting the role of religious freedom in fostering social cohesion and peace.

The new declaration aims to strengthen global protections for religious freedom and advocate for the rights of believers, especially those upholding traditional teachings.