Categories
News Report

Faith-Based Organizations Celebrate Appointment of UK’s New FoRB Envoy

Labour MP David Smith Appointed UK Special Envoy for Religious Freedom The UK government has named Labour MP David Smith as its new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), a move welcomed by faith-based organizations as a significant step in addressing global religious persecution. Smith, the MP for North Northumberland and a […]

Categories
Special Report

Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West – 2024 Edition

Intolerance toward Christians appears to be on the rise in the West. One very dangerous symptom of this upward trend is government officials and entities targeting Christian churches, organizations, and individuals for prosecution or punishment based on their religious beliefs. Family Research Council analyzed open-source documents, reports, and media outlets to identify religious freedom violations […]

Categories
News Report

Churches seek pathways to just peace in times of war

Photo: CEC/Łukasz Troc Press Release No: 20/2416 December 2024Brussels About 80 participants, including representatives from Ukrainian and other European churches, met in Warsaw from 9 to 11 December for the European Consultation on Just Peace, organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC). The event explored theological, ethical, and practical aspects of just peace amid […]

Categories
News Report

European Leaders Unite to Combat Rising Antisemitism

Brussels, Belgium – A coalition of over 40 prominent European leaders, including former prime ministers, current members of parliament, and representatives of major Jewish organizations, has issued a joint letter calling for urgent action to combat the rising tide of antisemitism across the continent. The letter, signed by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), urges the […]

Categories
News

European Parliament Re-establishes Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Brussels, Belgium – The European Parliament has taken a significant step to protect religious freedom by re-establishing the Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief. This bipartisan initiative, co-chaired by Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP, ECR) and Miriam Lexmann (EPP), aims to address the growing global threat to religious freedom. The re-establishment of the intergroup comes at […]

Categories
News News Report

COMECE at the European Parliament: “Time is mature for the appointment of an EU Coordinator on combating anti-Christian hatred”

(Photo: EP) In the context of the 27th edition of the European Prayer Breakfast held at the European Parliament, in Brussels, on Wednesday, 4 December 2024, COMECE contributed to the conference on “Safeguarding Religious Freedom in Europe – Current challenges and future prospects”. COMECE: “The time is mature for the appointment of an EU Coordinator on combating anti-Christian […]

Categories
News Report

AJC Advocacy Mission Calls for Urgent Action to Safeguard Jewish Communities in Europe

London, Paris, Amsterdam – Ted Deutch, Chief Executive Officer of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), emphasized the critical need for European governments to prioritize the safety of Jewish communities during a week-long advocacy mission across Western Europe. Alongside AJC President Michael Tichnor and AJC’s Europe-based experts, Deutch met with high-ranking officials in London, Paris, and […]

Categories
News Report

Religious Freedom: A Fundamental Human Right, Says Tristan Azbej

Brussels, Belgium – Tristan Azbej, Hungary’s State Secretary for Programmes Assisting Persecuted Christians, has issued a call for Europe to prioritize religious freedom as a fundamental human rights issue. In a recent Facebook post, Azbej stressed the collective responsibility to support those persecuted for their faith and to honor their sacrifices. “Freedom of religion is […]

Categories
News Report

UK Parliament Debates Plight of Religious Minorities in Pakistan

A strong call for action to address religious persecution and discrimination. London, UK – On November 28th, the UK Parliament held a crucial debate on the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Pakistan. Led by Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, the debate highlighted the increasing persecution faced by religious minorities, particularly Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis, and […]

Categories
News Report

Austria Strengthens Efforts to Protect Religious Freedom and Belief

As part of ‘Red Wednesday,’ an initiative by Aid to the Church in Need, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the ongoing persecution, pressure, and threats faced by millions of Christians globally. The Ministry remains dedicated to protecting religious freedom and supporting persecuted religious minorities. In recent years, Austria has established intercultural and interreligious […]