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IARF July 2026: our statement on the Berlin CSD attack, the 37th IARF Congress, upcoming events, new library resources and the latest News Digest.
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International Association
for Religious Freedom
Serving liberal religious communities and individuals since 1900
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IARF Statement
Faith Must Be a Liberating Force
Following the attack near Berlin’s Christopher Street Day celebrations, in which one woman was killed and many others were injured, IARF has issued a public statement of mourning, solidarity and condemnation.
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IARF is deeply saddened by this tragedy, which took a human life, brought injury and suffering to many more, and deepened fear among people already vulnerable to hostility. We condemn this act of violence without reservation.
Difference should never be treated as a threat or become a cause of fear and hatred. Religious extremism must be named and confronted. But this attack must not be cynically used as a pretext to demonise an entire ethnic or religious group.
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The statement also reflects on the interfaith memorial service held at St Mary’s Church on Alexanderplatz and on words shared by Seyran Ateş of the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque: “Love is halal. Hatred is never permitted.”
Read the Full Statement
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Save the Date
The 37th IARF Congress
Albania · 6–13 September 2027
Please save the date for the 37th Congress in IARF’s history, which will be hosted by the Bektashi community in Albania. The gathering will include an optional pre-Congress tour, followed by three days of Congress sessions, activities and opportunities for encounter.
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Monday, 6 September
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Arrival of pre-Congress tour participants
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7–9 September
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Pre-Congress tour, concluding on Thursday evening
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10–12 September
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Congress programme in Albania
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Monday, 13 September
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Departures
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The Congress theme, detailed programme and registration information will be shared as preparations progress. For now, we warmly invite members, friends and partners across the IARF community to reserve these dates.
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Learn More About Our Hosts
The Bektashi Spiritual Path
November 2026–February 2027 · Four live sessions
In preparation for our encounter with the Bektashi community, the IARF Free Religion Institute invites you to a four-session course led by Dr Arben Sulejmani. The course offers an accessible introduction to this mystical Sufi path within Islam, known for its openness, poetry, humanism, hospitality and commitment to peace.
The sessions will explore the spiritual and historical foundations of Bektashism; the Four Gates and Ten Steps as a path of inner transformation; Bektashi poetry, hymns and symbolism; and the community’s contemporary life and witness for religious freedom.
Main sessions: 21 November, 19 December, 23 January and 20 February at 16:00 UTC / 17:00 CET. Each session is followed the next day by a shorter discussion at a Japan-friendly time.
View the Course and Enrol
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Upcoming Events and Courses
Note on time zones: Times below are shown in UTC and, where helpful, the principal local time zone. Events on the IARF E-Learning Platform will be displayed in your own local time.
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23 August · 15:00 UTC / 17:00 CEST
An exploration of the origins of the Free Religious movement and its emergence amid the intellectual, political and religious transformations of nineteenth-century Germany.
Open Course Page
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30 August–4 September · Hybrid · In German
“Stories Under One Tent” brings a multi-day programme of stories, encounters and dialogue to St Paul’s Church in Frankfurt. Participation is possible both in person and online; please note that the programme will be conducted in German.
View Event Details
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30 August · Two Sessions
Morning session: 01:00 UTC / 10:00 JST
Evening session: 10:00 UTC / 19:00 JST
Rev. Michinori Maruta begins an exploration of the Eightfold Path and its meaning for Buddhist practice, free religion and everyday life.
Open Course Page
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31 August · 17:00 UTC / 19:00 CEST
Robert Ince continues the series examining freedom from different religious perspectives with a presentation on the place of freedom in Unitarian faith, thought and practice.
Open Course Page
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Support IARF’s Work with a Donation
IARF’s international programmes, educational resources, public advocacy and spaces for dialogue are sustained in part by the generosity of members and friends. If you value this work and are able to contribute, donations of any size are sincerely appreciated. A one-time or recurring donation will help us put more of our ideas into action and broaden and deepen IARF’s work.
Donations can be made securely through Stripe using a payment card, iDEAL or Przelewy24, or by bank transfer in euros, pounds sterling or US dollars. If convenient, we prefer bank transfers because they involve lower processing costs; however, please use whichever method works best for you. If you are considering including IARF in your will, please contact us at [email protected].
Make a Donation
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Join the IARF Community
The IARF Network connects individuals and communities across the world. Join conversations with grassroots members and IARF officers, participate in groups and courses, explore the Free Library, and keep in touch through our mobile app. You can also receive a regular email digest of new Network activity.
Join the Network
Install the App
Email Digest
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New in the IARF Free Library
We have recently added several publications to the Free Library. Compatible PDF and EPUB publications can now be opened in an integrated reader with support for annotations and citations, making it easier to read, study and refer back to important passages.
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IARF News Digest
A selection of recent stories from our member communities and the wider field of freedom of religion or belief.
A note on languages: Some linked articles are published in languages other than English. Most modern browsers can translate an article automatically through the page menu or by right-clicking on the page.
The Nation and the Veil
An audio documentary exploring secularism, identity and the experiences of religious minorities in Quebec.
July’s Letter from Liz
Reflections and news from Liz Slade, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
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© 2026 International Association for Religious Freedom. All rights reserved.
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