Happy Thanksgiving!
In the United States, it is customary to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Despite global challenges, there is still much to be grateful for—even as the world stands at a tipping point between hope and fear, light and darkness. This year has been fraught with war, climate inaction, and […]
Free Religion Institute: Inaugural Sessions
Join the Free Religion Institute, IARF’s new educational initiative exploring liberal religious thought through online courses, discussions, and resources. Starting October 30 with Rev. Andrew Brown’s series on Imaoka Shin’ichirō and Free Religions. Connect with liberal religious thinkers worldwide through our integrated community platform.
Empowering Foundations: Advancing Equality and Opportunity through Rural Engagement
In a significant demonstration of international interest in rural India’s development initiatives, David Moss, Senior Vice President and Head of Trading Compliance at a leading New York-based investment management company, conducted an extensive two-day visit to various IARF-RFYN projects in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, during October 19-20, 2024. The visit showcased remarkable achievements in youth empowerment, […]
From the ICCGC-CoNGO Confernece
The CoNGO-ICCGC Global Futures Conference, held on August 26 and 27, 2024, at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York, marked a significant assembly at the nexus of religion and civil society, dedicated to charting pathways toward a globally harmonious, just, peaceable, and sustainable future for people and their communities, the planet, […]
IARF Applauds Rejection of Bill to Repeal FGM Ban in The Gambia
IARF applauds The Gambia’s rejection of the bill to repeal the FGM ban. This decision upholds crucial protections for women and girls, aligning with international human rights standards. The 2015 ban on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) remains a significant milestone in the global effort to eradicate this harmful practice. IARF continues to support human rights and bodily integrity worldwide.
Sony Computer Education and GVAN Celebrates World Environment Day
Discover Sony Computer Education, GVAN, and IARF’s transformative tree plantation event at the district hospital premises on World Environment Day 2024. Join the global movement for a greener, more sustainable future and protect our planet.
Access to Worship at Native Hawaiian Shrine Denied
Explore the controversy surrounding Kane’aki Heiau, a sacred Hawaiian shrine now inaccessible due to private property laws. Learn about the clash between indigenous religious rights and U.S. property regulations, and the efforts to protest this restriction on freedom of worship at an ancient temple.
Call for Action: Support Yahaya Sharif-Aminu
The International Association for Religious Freedom urges its members and supporters worldwide to stand in solidarity with Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a 23-year-old Nigerian singer facing the gravest of injustices. Sharif-Aminu has been sentenced to death for sharing a song via WhatsApp, an act deemed blasphemous by Nigerian authorities. This severe punishment raises serious questions about the […]
President’s New Year Letter
Dear Sisters and Brothers of IARF, As the Winter Solstice ushers in a change of seasons, may the increasing light bring us hope, rebirth, and renewal. Our traditions universally celebrate the New Year with symbols of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. Christmas heralds Jesus as the Light of the World, Hanukkah […]
Commemorating the Anniversary of Professor Van Holk’s Courageous Stance
On its 83rd anniversary, we remember Professor L. van Holk’s (1893-1982) historic protest speech against the persecution of Jews at Leiden University. The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) commemorates Van Holk not only as a Remonstrant theologian and a revered scholar but also as its dedicated secretary, deeply committed to religious freedom and human […]