Update from the US Chapter: Concerns Raised Over New “Religious Liberty Commission”

Our colleagues in the United States have shared a significant update regarding the current climate of religious freedom in their region. In a recent communication to members, the US Chapter raised serious concerns regarding the Administration’s establishment of a “Religious Liberty Commission” within the Department of Justice.

US Chapter President George Garland has alerted members to what the Board views as a troubling development, noting that the new commission appears to prioritize specific conservative religious interests in a way that conflicts with federal law. The Chapter stresses the importance of maintaining a clear separation of church and state to protect the rights of all faith communities.

In response, the IARF-US President and Board have formally endorsed a lawsuit filed by the Interfaith Alliance and a diverse coalition of partners, including Muslims For Progressive Values and Hindus For Human Rights. The legal challenge asserts that the commission was unlawfully constituted and seeks to ensure transparency regarding its recommendations.

The US Chapter is currently encouraging its members to contact their representatives in Congress to address the matter.

For the full statement from President Garland and further details on the coalition’s legal action, please visit the US Chapter website.

Read the full update at iarfus.org

Sit-in Demonstration by Yezidis in The Hague Because of Recent Dutch Policy Change

Young Yezidis are holding a sit-in demonstration this month in front of The Hague Central train station to express their concerns about a recent change in Dutch policy. Under this new policy, the government now considers it generally safe for Yezidis and other religious minority groups to return to Iraq—either to the city of Sinjar and its surroundings, or to camps in the Kurdish Autonomous Region. As a result of this change, many requests for asylum by Yezidis have been rejected in the past 1.5 years.

Yezidis believe that since the genocide of 2014, they cannot safely live in Iraq due to continuing discrimination, hate speech from other groups, a lack of law and order, and widespread impunity. Recent developments in Iraq and Syria have only increased these concerns.

In Germany, Yezidis face similar problems. Please support the Yezidis by writing to your Member of Parliament, donating to Yezidi organizations, or encouraging them by passing by their sit-in demonstration in The Hague. IARF supports the Yezidis in the Netherlands.