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IARF June 2026: Japan Study Tour, International Council Meeting, RFYN, Yezidi petition, upcoming courses and news digest.
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International Association
for Religious Freedom
Serving liberal religious communities and individuals since 1900
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A Spiritual and Religious Journey to Japan
This month we invite readers to revisit the IARF Japan Study Tour through a new website article. Below follows a short excerpt and the link to the article.
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This May, eleven IARF members from the US, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany undertook a spiritual and religious journey of two weeks to Japan. Kathy Matsui, member of IARF’s Japan Chapter and one of our UN representatives, accompanied us on the trip, supported for parts of it by Yayoi Kimura of Ittoen and Ritsuko Ushio of the Konko Church.
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The tour itinerary, with additional information about the places visited, is also available as an interactive map on the IARF Network.
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Wednesday, 24 June 2026
International Council Meeting
The next IARF International Council Meeting will take place on Wednesday, 24 June at 14:00 UTC. All IARF members are invited to participate as observers.
Please note that, due to the meeting agenda and time constraints, it may not be possible for observers to contribute actively during the meeting. We are nevertheless glad to make the meeting accessible to members who would like to follow the Council’s work.
Join the Zoom Meeting
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From the RFYN: Building a Global Youth Network
By Aayush Soni
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The Religious Freedom Youth Network is moving toward wider global participation. RFYN India has continued to organise youth programmes, interfaith gatherings, and community celebrations, including events for National Youth Day, Diwali, Holi, and Women’s Day. These activities have brought young people together in a spirit of friendship, mutual respect, and interfaith understanding.
RFYN now hopes to encourage similar activities across the world. We invite individual IARF members and IARF member communities to help us identify young people, youth groups, and local initiatives that could become part of a stronger global RFYN.
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Please share your youth programmes, upcoming events, local contacts, and ideas for collaboration. The RFYN Global Group on the IARF Network can serve as a shared digital space where young people from different countries can connect, post updates, highlight local activities, and build friendships across borders.
RFYN also looks forward to supporting the upcoming IARF Podcast initiative, which is expected to begin recording soon and be released later this fall. Young members can contribute through questions, youth perspectives, outreach, and participation.
Call to members and communities: Please invite young people in your community to join IARF and the RFYN Global Group, and encourage them to share their own events, programmes, and stories.
Join the RFYN Global Group
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A Memorable Encounter with the IARF Japan Chapter
By Johannes Spindler
Pictured from left to right. Back row: Rev. Hashimoto, Mrs. Nakajima, Rev. Maruta, Peggy, Mrs. Hirowatari, Mr. Ichikawa. Front row: Mrs. Kobayashi, Felix, Johannes, Kathy, and Mr. Nagashima.
On 1 April 2026, during a personal visit to Japan, we had the special opportunity to get to know the IARF Japan Chapter more closely. This day was made possible by Prof. Kathy Ramos Matsui and the warm support of the people we met there. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for this wonderful opportunity.
Our visit began with a guided tour of the Great Sacred Hall of Risshō Kōseikai, where we gained an impressive first insight into the history, spirituality, and work of Risshō Kōseikai. Afterwards, we shared lunch together within the Risshō Kōseikai complex and quickly felt warmly welcomed.
The museum visit was especially interesting. We learned more about the founder, Nikkyō Niwano, and the development of Risshō Kōseikai, and were moved to see an IARF Commemorative Plate from 1976 on display.
Later, we heard reports about the work of the Japan Chapter, including the work of the IALRW. These insights were very valuable: they showed not only what is being done, but also the dedication and conviction with which people carry this work forward. For me personally, this was one of those moments in which I once again felt why the work of the IARF continues to inspire me.
The day ended with an invitation to an Italian-American fusion restaurant. It became a wonderful, lively, and humorous evening, and we felt welcome throughout. Looking back, this day was not only an official visit, but a genuine encounter. What began as a visit soon felt like a meeting among friends. And along the way, we also learned a new word: やばい (yabai).
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Support Young Yezidis in the Netherlands
In recent months, IARF has supported young Yezidis in the Netherlands in their efforts to oppose a recent change in Dutch asylum policy. Under this policy, it is now considered safe for Yezidis and followers of some other minority religions to return to Iraq and resume their previous lives, while international organisations and experts continue to warn that the situation is not safe for them.
For members and readers resident in the Netherlands
Please read, sign, and share the petition below, and show your moral support for the young Yezidis.
Read and Sign the Petition
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Upcoming IARF Institute Events
Note on time zones: Times below are shown in UTC and, where helpful, in the main local time zone for the event. When you view courses on the IARF E-Learning Platform, event times will be shown in your own local time.
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22 June 2026
Time: 17:00 UTC / 19:00 CEST
In the course A Look at the Concept of Freedom From Different Religious Perspectives, Waqar Tariq will discuss the Islamic concept of freedom. Participants are invited to join the lecture, ask questions, and take part in an evening of learning and discussion.
Open Course Page
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28 June 2026
Morning session: 01:00 UTC / 10:00 JST
Evening session: 10:00 UTC / 19:00 JST
Conducted by Rev. Michinori Maruta. The first half of the Eightfold Path — Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, and Right Action — sets the direction of Buddhist practice and invites us to look honestly at experience.
Open Course Page
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12 July 2026
Time: 09:30 UTC / 11:30 CEST
In From Diversity to Dialogue: Religion and Community in Socio-Economic Contexts, Prof. Dr. Christoph Knoblauch of the University of Education Ludwigsburg will explore how religious pluralism can foster community engagement across diverse socio-economic environments. The presentation will be followed by an interactive Q&A.
Open Course Page
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26 July 2026
Morning session: 01:00 UTC / 10:00 JST
Evening session: 10:00 UTC / 19:00 JST
Conducted by Rev. Michinori Maruta. The second half of the Eightfold Path — Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration — brings practice fully into daily life.
Open Course Page
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Stay Connected: The IARF Network & App
If you have not yet joined the IARF Network, we warmly encourage you to register and install the app on your smartphone. The Network gives members access to our E-Learning platform, member groups, interactive tour maps, the library, group discussions, and a growing space for international exchange.
You can also sign up for the IARF Digest to receive a summary of Network posts and activities by email — daily, every three days, or weekly.
Guide to Install the App
Sign Up for the Digest
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IARF News Digest
Curated stories from our member communities and from the wider field of religious freedom.
A quick note on languages: We provide English summaries for all digest items below, but some full articles are published in other languages. Most modern browsers allow you to right-click, or long-press on a mobile device, and translate the article page automatically.
Member News
A Plea for Religion Without Belief
This review of Koert van der Velde’s book explores the idea that people can be religious without accepting literal religious claims. It reflects on the distinction between belief and religion, and on how ritual, wonder, and symbolic practice can still create meaningful spiritual experience.
NSČU Assembly 2026
The Czech Unitarians report on their 2026 national assembly in Bratislava, including resolutions calling for independent public media, rejecting collective guilt, supporting broader burial options including terramation, reaffirming human rights, opposing authoritarianism, and emphasizing social understanding, environmental responsibility, and spiritual integrity.
Religious Freedom News
In Divided Sri Lanka, Buddhist Monks Create Display of Interfaith Unity
A peace walk in Sri Lanka by 12 Buddhist monks, joined by Christian, Muslim, and Hindu leaders, offered a symbol of interfaith solidarity in a context still marked by religious tensions, discrimination against minorities, land disputes, and the challenge of building social cohesion.
My Father Spent a Lifetime Fighting for Women to Become Pastors
This opinion piece tells the story of Noel, whose long campaign for women to be allowed to serve as Lutheran pastors in Australia has been recognized with an OAM. The article reflects on persistence, slow change, and the gradual overcoming of entrenched resistance.
Unholy Violence: Weaponizing Religion Against Gender Rights Defenders in Myanmar
This analysis argues that Buddhist fundamentalism in post-coup Myanmar works alongside military authoritarianism to legitimize repression, especially against women’s, gender, and sexual minority rights defenders. It also describes how civil society groups continue to respond despite surveillance, harassment, displacement, and reduced international funding.
Europe Urged to Pressure Post-Assad Syria to Respect Human Rights
Syrian activists and European politicians are urging the EU to attach clear human-rights benchmarks to deeper engagement with post-Assad Syria, including protection for minorities, women’s rights, accountability, truth, justice, and inclusive political reform.
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